ML24267A054

Clarification Regarding Area of Potential Effect for the Subsequent Operating License Renewal for Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Fairfield County, South Carolina (SHPO Project Number: 22-EJ0147) (Docket Number: 50-395)

ML24267A054
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	09/23/2024
From:	Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1
To:	Hoskin C Cherokee Nation
References
22-EJ0147
Download: ML24267A054 (1)

Text

Chuck Hoskin, Principal Chief Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465

SUBJECT:

CLARIFICATION REGARDING AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT FOR THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATING LICENSE RENEWAL FOR VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA (SHPO PROJECT NUMBER: 22-EJ0147) (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-395)

Dear Chief Chuck Hoskin:

In a letter dated November 3, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff initiated consultation with the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Catawba Indian Nation, Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation regarding the subsequent license renewal application for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit No. 1 (V.C. Summer) (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System ML23289A116 and ML23289A117). Issuance of a subsequent license renewal is an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA), 54 U.S.C. 306108, and its implementing regulations, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) Part 800. The NRC staff informed potential consulting parties by letter that, in accordance with 36 CFR § 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 NHPA. As part of the NRCs subsequent license renewal review for V.C. Summer, a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be prepared in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 51, the NRCs environmental protection regulations.

In the November 3, 2023 letter, the NRC staff defined the area of potential effects (APE) as the area at the nuclear power plant site and its immediate environs that may be impacted by ongoing routine maintenance and operation activities during the subsequent license renewal period. The NRC staff also acknowledged that the APE may extend beyond the immediate V.C.

Summer environs if Dominion Energys maintenance and operational activities affect offsite historic properties.

In response, in a letter dated November 22, 2023, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred with an archaeological APE, defined by the licensee in its ER as the V.C. Summer 2,200-acre site, and an aboveground APE, defined as the area encompassing a 6-mile radius of V.C. Summer. However, SHPO requested the NRC officially determine the APE pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.4(a)(1) and provide maps delineating the APE. No other responses were received.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the agency proposed APE and seek information on known or potential historic properties in the APE. The subsequent license renewal would allow continued operations and maintenance activities at V.C. Summer, which may include reactor operations, waste management, security, office and clerical work, laboratory analysis, refueling, September 23, 2024 C. Hoskin 2 vegetation management, and other activities. These activities may occur within the approximately 2,200-acre nuclear power plant site and within the 100 feet (ft). wide transmission line corridor, which extends approximately 2.6 miles (mi) (Enclosures 1 and 2). Six hundred feet of the transmission line is underground, and the remaining is overhead on wood H-frame and steel monopoles, 60-65 ft. in height. No refurbishment activities are expected during the license renewal term and the proposed undertaking does not include future decommissioning activities.

Therefore, the NRC determines that the APE consists of the approximately 2,200-acre power plant site, the 2.6-mile transmission line, and a 0.19 mi (300 meter) buffer around the transmission line to encompass the area where vegetation management activities may expose the transmission line and cause visual effects to historic properties. There are no federal or tribal lands, as defined pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.16(x), within the APE.

The NRC staff expects to publish a draft SEIS in November 2024 and will forward the draft SEIS for your review and comment. This draft will include a description of operations and maintenance activities, identification of historic properties, and a finding of effect. After consideration of consultations and public comments received, the NRC staff will prepare a final SEIS, which we expect to publish in June 2025.

After completing your review of the information above, please provide the NRC with your comments on the proposed APE and any information regarding known or potential historic properties the NRC should take into consideration during review. Please provide your comments and recommendations electronically, to sarah.lopas@nrc.gov within 30 days of your receipt of this request. Please direct any comments or questions you may have to Sarah Lopas via email at sarah.lopas@nrc.gov or the Environmental Project Manager, Kim Conway, via email at kim.conway@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Michelle Rome, Chief Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No: 50-395

Enclosures:

1. Area of Potential Effect Topographic Map

2. Area of Potential Effect Aerial Imagery cc: Elizabeth Toombs, THPO Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 Signed by Rome, Michelle on 09/23/24

C. Hoskin 3

SUBJECT:

CLARIFICATION REGARDING AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT FOR THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATING LICENSE RENEWAL FOR VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA (SHPO PROJECT NUMBER: 22-EJ0147) (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-395)

DATED:

DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC ADAMS Package Accession No: ML24221A211 (LTR) *concurred via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS OGC NAME SLopas AWalker-Smith KConway MRome Megan Wright DATE 09/09/2024 09/09/2024 09/10/2024 09/12/2024 09/16/2024 OFFICE NMSS/REFS NAME MRome DATE 09/23/2024 OFFICIAL RECORD COPYSeptember 23, 2024