ML24095A289
| ML24095A289 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 02/12/2024 |
| From: | Sivak T US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| To: | Whitmer G Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, State of MI, Governor |
| References | |
| Download: ML24095A289 (1) | |
Text
U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Region 5 536 S. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60605 www.fema.gov February 12, 2024 Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan P.O. Box 30013 Lansing, MI 48909
Dear Governor Whitmer:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has officially notified the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of granting an exemption to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (Holtec) from certain provisions of 10 C.F.R. § 50.54 (q) concerning emergency response planning. Specifically, this exemption allows Holtec to discontinue certain offsite radiological planning activities; and as a result, no longer requires FEMA to review, monitor, and report activities associated with offsite radiological emergency planning and preparedness for the Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP). The NRC approved the amendments to the operating license that support this exemption on January 4, 2024.
The NRC exemption documentation states that the Emergency planning and preparedness program at PNP will consist of performing licensee on-site emergency response activities, such as exercises, notifying off-site authorities in the event of an emergency classification, and maintaining arrangements for only off-site response organizations (OROs) that may respond to on-site emergencies (e.g., law enforcement, fire and medical services)."
This letter serves to officially notify the State of Michigan that, as a result of this exemption by the NRC, FEMA's Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program will discontinue all offsite emergency planning and preparedness activities for the site effective December 22, 2023. However, as part of FEMAs ongoing consultation with the NRC to formalize the decommissioning process and potential associated requirements, we will seek to identify opportunities to assist the state and the involved counties to continue to assure adequate levels of radiological emergency preparedness. Further, the technical assistance provided through FEMA's National Integration Center and the Office of Emerging Threats, in coordination with FEMA Region 5, remains available to support all-hazards (including rad/nuc) emergency planning and preparedness activities.
I would like to commend the staff from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, and Van Buren, Berrien, and Allegan Counties for their dedicated participation in the offsite radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities for PNP for the past 40+ years, and for updating their all-hazard preparedness plans as the PNP site commences decommissioning activities.
2 Should you have any questions, please contact me at (312) 408-5501 or thomas.sivak@fema.dhs.gov, or Bruce C. Foreman, Director, FEMA Technological Hazards Division, at (202) 646-3567 or bruce.foreman@fema.dhs.gov.
Sincerely, Thomas C. Sivak Regional Administrator FEMA Region 5 CC:
Bruce C. Foreman, Director Technological Hazards Division Thomas K. Warnock, Chief Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Branch Sean OLeary, Chief Technological Hazards Branch, FEMA Region 5