ML24221A258

Response to Request for Re-Engagement Regarding the Subsequent License Renewal Environmental Review for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3

ML24221A258
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	09/06/2024
From:	Michele Sampson NRC/NRR/DNRL
To:	Wilson C Constellation Energy Generation
References
Download: ML24221A258 (1)

Text

Christopher D. Wilson Director, License Renewal Constellation Energy Generation, LLC 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR RE-ENGAGEMENT REGARDING THE SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3 (DOCKET NUMBERS:

50-0277 AND 50-0278)

Dear Christopher D. Wilson:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is in receipt of your letter dated June 5, 2024, regarding the subsequent license renewal (SLR) of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 (Peach Bottom) (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) ML24157A069). Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (CEG) requests that the NRC staff provide a plan for completing the environmental review for Peach Bottom and for restoring the end dates for the subsequent renewed licenses. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on the NRC staffs plan for completing the required regulatory activities associated with this action.

As noted in your letter, the Commission on May 16, 2024, approved the final rule, SECY 0017 - Final Rule: Renewing Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses-Environmental Review, which includes updates to Table B-1, Summary of Findings on NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, in Appendix B, Environmental Effect of Renewing the Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant, to Part 51, Subpart A, National Environmental Policy Act-Regulations Implementing Section 102(2) ( ML24137A213).

The updates to Table B-1 are supported by the revised NUREG-1437, Revision 2, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS). The NRC published the final rule, revised LR GEIS, and associated guidance on August 6, 2024; the rule will become effective 30 days following publication in the Federal Register. Compliance by license renewal applicants is not required until 1 year from the date of publication. However, the NRC staff must now consider and analyze the additional environmental issues and any new and significant information associated with subsequent license renewal resulting from issuance of the 2024 LR GEIS and final rule.

In order to complete the environmental review for subsequent license renewal of Peach Bottom, the NRC staff must prepare and issue for public comment a draft supplement to the January 2020 final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) (NUREG-1437, Supplement September 6, 2024 C. Wilson

10, Second Renewal) (ML20023A937) in accordance with 10 CFR 51.92. The NRC staff will also prepare and publish in the Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare the supplement in accordance with 10 CFR 51.26(d). The NRC staff will consider any comments received on the draft supplement, which will be followed by the issuance of a final supplement, which will incorporate any changes made to the draft supplement. Completion of this process would culminate in the issuance of an amended record of decision regarding CEGs application for subsequent renewed licenses for Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3.

Consistent with 10 CFR 51.92, the staffs updated environmental review will focus on new and significant circumstances or information including new and revised environmental issues contained in the final rule and revised LR GEIS. The staff must specifically consider any new and significant information with respect to generic (i.e., Category 1) environmental issues. The staff will also request updated information from CEG to include any new and potentially significant information relevant to the previously submitted environmental report (ML18201A219) and the NRC staffs January 2020 final SEIS. Further, the staff will update interagency consultations, such as consultations regarding Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

The NRC staff agrees that an environmental audit would assist the staff in evaluating new and potentially significant information and otherwise facilitate completion of the staffs environmental review for Peach Bottom SLR. As part of the audit process, the staff will be seeking any new and updated information regarding operational aspects of ongoing and continued nuclear plant operations and any refurbishment. This would include, but would not necessarily be limited to, changes to land use, air pollutant emissions and sources including greenhouse gas emissions, surface water and groundwater usage, cooling system operations and configuration, the presence of any Federally protected ecological resources, the presence of historic or cultural resources, plant employment and outage employment, environmental justice, socioeconomic impacts, non-radiological and radiological effluents, occupational and public doses, onsite waste management activities and disposal, environmental monitoring programs, status of compliance (i.e., Federal, State, and local permits and related authorizations), cumulative effects, and reasonably foreseeable future actions that may be undertaken during the subsequent license renewal term. CEG has the option, at any time, to supplement its environmental report with updated information, including any new and significant information of which it is aware (see 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iv)).

The NRC staff is developing a detailed schedule to complete the referenced activities. We anticipate restart of the environmental review in October 2024 to align with ongoing license renewal environmental reviews and related work. The estimated resources to complete the environmental review will depend on the amount of new and significant information, therefore the staff will provide the resource estimates after the audit.

Kevin Folk and Karen Loomis are the assigned environmental project managers for Peach Bottom. Kevin can be reached via email at kevin.folk@nrc.gov or by phone at 301-415-6944 and Karen can be reached via email at karen.loomis@nrc.gov or by phone at 301-415-5142.

The NRC staff will provide status updates concerning its review on the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/peach-bottom-subsequent.html.

Sincerely, Michele Sampson, Director Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-0277 and 50-0278 cc: Listserv Signed by Sampson, Michele on 09/06/24

ML24221A250 (Letter) *via email OFFICE PM:REFS/EPMB1 LA:REFS OGC BC:REFS/EPMB1 NRR DIR/NRR/DNRL NAME KFolk AWalker-Smith *STurkin SKoenick LGibson MSampson DATE 08/08/2024 9/5/2024 09/05/2024 9/6/20249/620249/6/2024