ML24045A306

Ltr. to Michell Hicks, Principal Chief Eastern Band of Cherokee Re Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1,2, and 3 Section 106

ML24045A306
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	02/16/2024
From:	John Moses NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ERMB
To:	Hicks M Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
References
Download: ML24045A306 (3)

Text

Michell Hicks Principal Chief Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians P.O. Box 1927 Cherokee, NC 28719

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT SITE-SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL (DOCKET NUMBERS: 50-269, 50-270, AND 50-287)

Dear Principal Chief Michell Hicks:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment the draft Site-Specific Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Subsequent License Renewal, Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3 (Oconee Station), regarding the renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 for an additional 20 years of operation for Oconee Station. Oconee Station is operated by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy), in Oconee County, South Carolina. The NRC staff-initiated consultation with you regarding this project in August 2021. In accordance with Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) Section 800.8(c), the NRC staff has elected to use the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, process to comply with its obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.

The NRC staff has prepared a draft site-specific EIS which includes the preliminary analysis that evaluates the environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action. This draft site-specific EIS evaluates, on a site-specific basis, the environmental impacts of the proposed continued operation for a period of 20 years for Oconee.

As discussed in the draft site-specific EIS, the NRC staffs preliminary recommendation is that the adverse environmental impacts of the subsequent license renewal (SLR) are not so great that preserving the option for energy-planning decision-makers would be unreasonable. The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed action, SLR, would not adversely affect known historic properties or historic and cultural resources. The draft site-specific EIS is available via the following link: Oconee Site-Specific DEIS.

The draft site-specific EIS may also be obtained online in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html under ML24033A298. To begin the search, select Begin Web-based ADAMS Search. For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or via email to pdr.Resource@nrc.gov.

February 16, 2024 M. Hicks 2 Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.28 and 36 CFR 800.8(c)(iii), the NRC wishes to ensure that Indian Tribes who might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties in the Area of Potential Effect are afforded the opportunity to identify their concerns, provide advice on the identification and evaluation of historic properties, including those of traditional religious, and cultural importance, and, if necessary, participate in the resolution of any adverse effects to such properties. By April 1, 2024, written comments should be submitted by mail to:

ATTN: Program Management Announcements and Editing Staff Office of Administration Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Electronic comments on the draft site-specific EIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing, https://www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket ID NRC-2021-0127.

The NRC staff will hold an in-person public meeting on the draft site-specific EIS on February 21, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The NRC staff is also planning a virtual meeting on February 27, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Both meetings will include a presentation on the preliminary findings and a transcribed public comment session. The public meeting details will be available on the NRCs Public Meeting or Schedule at https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Jean Trefethen at 301-415-0867 or via email at Jean.Trefethen@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, John Moses, Deputy Director Division of Rulemaking, Environmental and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 Signed by Moses, John on 02/16/24

ML24045A306 - Letter concurrence via e-mail OFFICE SME:REFS LR:REFS PM:REFS PM:REFS BC:REFS DEP.DIR:REFS NAME JTrefethen AWalker-SmithBGlowacki LRakovan SKoenick JMoses DATE 01/30/2024 02/08/2024 02/08/2024 02/12/2024 02/14/2024 02/16/2024