ML24051A193

Feb 13 Meeting Summary, Energy Solutions TMI-2 Decommissioning Overview with NRC

ML24051A193
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	02/29/2024
From:	Amy Snyder Reactor Decommissioning Branch
To:
References
Download: ML24051A193 (3)

Text

LICENSEE: ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC FACILITY: THREE MILE ISLAND STATION, UNIT 2

SUMMARY

OF FEBRUARY 13, 2024, ENERGY SOLUTIONS MEETING ON THREE MILE ISLAND STATION, UNIT-2 DECOMMISSIONING WITH THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION At the request of Energy Solutions, LLC (ES or the licensee), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) met with licensee on February 13, 2024. The purpose of the meeting was for the licensee to discuss decommissioning activities and challenges at Three Mile Island Station, Unit 2 (TMI-2). Also, the licensee wanted to present recent proprietary new technology for potential use at TMI-2. This portion of the meeting was closed. The meeting notice and agenda can be found at Agencywide Documents and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML24040A164.

No rgulatory decisions were made during the meeting.

The meeting began with opening remarks by the NRC and ES management, followed by introductions of the attendees. A list of attendees is enclosed. The licensees presentation, found in under ADAMS Accession No. ML24040A072, and covered the following:

• Introduced its management team and commitment to safety; reviewed its decommissioning experience; and provided a brief history of TMI-2 activities;

• Stressed that it participates in the TMI-2 Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (DCAP) activities to inform the community about the TMI-2 decommissioning;

• Provided an overview of its radiation protection reactor building characterization and validation of levels of radioactivity from the initial clean-up;

• Provided a summary of the types of radiation protection needed for the current stage of decommissioning;

• Stated that it is important to perform mock ups, proof of concept, and validation of new methods to ensure safety and effectiveness in addressing the unique levels of radioactivity presently at TMI-2 due to residual radioactivity remaining after the initial accident clean-up;

• Summarized its planned phases and duration of decommissioning;

• Discussed the unique challenges specific to TMI-2 as presented on page 19 of its presentation slides;

• Reviewed how it is exploring robotics and training to address the needed remote decommissioning activities in the reactor building basement and other areas of the plant where accident flooding occurred; Provided a summary of waste shipments to date and projected for remainder of February 29, 2024 2

FY24;

• Emphasized that due to the unique project challenges (page 27 of slide presentation)

(schedule challenges, procurement, hiring talent, and technology), there would be the possibility of the need to adjust schedule and be mindful of decommissioning trust fund costs required to complete decommissioning;

• Committed to keep NRC informed early and often regarding such adjustments;

• Reviewed with the NRC how it is leveraging new technologies (presentation slides 28-32); and

• Stated that the focus of the new technology is to assist in its decommissioning strategy for waste minimization and As Low As Reasonably Achievable radiological protection.

The NRC asked whether the information presented would be consistent with the updated Post Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) update that is due by the end of March 2024. ES stated yes, except there will be an approximate 3-year gap between phase 1b and Phase 2.

The NRC staff provided an opportunity for members of the public to ask question of the NRC staff on the topics discussed in the public portion of meeting. Mr. Rich Janti, representing the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Health and Safety, commented on the 3-year gap that would be shown in the update to the PSDAR that is scheduled to be submitted at the end of March 2024. He indicated that he was concerned about what would be accomplished regarding decommissioning during this period, including the available decommissioning trust fund, as well as how ES would be able to maintain staff during this period. The NRC responded that it would evaluate the update when it is submitted.

Mr. Eric Epstein, Three Mile Island Alert, Inc, asked how will ES be paying for the spent fuel casks that it need? He also stated that during a previous license amendment hearing last year, he was involved in a hearing contention and informed the NRC has part of his testimony he commented that ES plans to transfer several casks to TMI-1. The NRC replied that this topic was not part of the meeting agenda but noted that the NRC recently evaluated the Debris Management Plan at TMI-2and replied in a letter that it does not object to ES plans to use the decommissioning trust fund to clean-up the TMI-2 fuel bearing debris to include construction of the pad where such debris will be temporarily stored. Also, NRC stated that it plans to review the PSDAR update that is due the end of March and will evaluate the schedule and costs. Mr. Epstein also inquired about the relationship between TMI-2 and TMI-1, specifically how the licensees work in concert with one another.

The NRC thanked ES for providing an overview of the decommissioning activities at TMI-2 and was transparent regarding the decommissioning challenges at a unique facility. The Project Manager remarked that the summary was beneficial to the technical staff. She commented that the summary presentation was very similar to that presented at one of the recent TMI-2 DCAP. These meetings are usually attended by the NRC Project Manager and lead inspector, and she concluded that it was good that NRC staff and external stakeholders had a firsthand opportunity today to listen and ask questions.

3 The public portion of the meeting was adjourned after closing statements. The closed portion then commenced where ES reviewed with the NRC staff its proprietary clean-up testing studies and validation plans.

Please direct any inquiries to me at (301) 415-6822 or Amy.Snyder@nrc.gov.

Amy M. Snyder, Senior Project Manager Reactor Decommissioning Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 50-0320

Enclosure:

List of Attendees Signed by Snyder, Amy on 02/29/24

LIST OF ATTENDEES

ON THE FEBRUARY 13, 2024, PUBLIC MEETING

ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC

THREE MILE ISLAND STATION, UNIT 2 DECOMMISSIONING

Name Affiliation

Robert Lewis U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Jane Marshall NRC John Moses NRC Shaun Anderson NRC Christepher McKenney NRC Bruce Watson NRC Robert Sun NRC Amy Snyder NRC Greg Chapman NRC Kathryn Robertson-Demers NRC Nate Fuget NRC Stacey Imboden NRC Jean Trefethen NRC Stephen Hamman NRC Katherine Warner NRC Harry Anastopoulos NRC Dave McIntrye NRC Diane Screnci NRC Neil Sheenan NRC Jeff Richardson ES, cjrichardson@energysolutions.com David Del Vecchio ES, dcdelvecchio@energysolutions.com John Sauger ES, jtsauger@energysolutions.com Amy Hazelhoff ES, achazelhoff@energysolutions.com Chad Miltenberger ES, csmiltenberger@energysolutions.com Joe Lynch ES, jrlynch@energysolutions.com Tim Devik (Virtual) ES, timdevik@energysolutions.com Hannah Pell (Virtual) ES, hannahpell@energysolutions.com Mark Cambra (Virtual) ES, mecambra@energysolutions.com Barb Dotson (Virtual) ES, bedotson@energysolutions.com David Allard Vice-Chair, TMI-2 Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel David Blechertas TMI-2 Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel Member Bryan Werner EP Program Manager, Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Rich Janati Contractor, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Eric Epstein Three Mile Island Alert, Inc.

Members of the Public

Enclosure

ML24051A193; ML24051A193

• via email OFFICE NMSS/DUWP/RDB* NMSS/DUWP/RDB NMSS/DUWP/RDB NAME ASnyder ASSAnderson SA ASnyder AS DATE Feb 28, 2024 Feb 28, 2024 Feb 29, 2024