ML24277A147
| ML24277A147 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/08/2024 |
| From: | Lance Rakovan NRC/NMSS/DREFS/EPMB1 |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML24277A125 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML24277A147 (1) | |
Text
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Summary of Public Meeting
Title:
Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE)
Act Congressional Report on Environmental Reviews of Nuclear Reactor Applications
Meeting Identifier: 20241112
Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Location: Webinar
Type of Meeting: Comment-Gathering Meeting
Purpose of the Meeting:
To seek input from external stakeholders as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff prepares a report to Congress on efforts to facilitate efficient, timely, and predictable environmental reviews for nuclear reactor applications
General Details:
On September 25, 2024, the NRC held a public meeting as part of its efforts to respond to Section 506 of the ADVANCE Act, where Congress directed the NRC with developing a report on the agencys efforts to facilitate efficient, timely, and predictable environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications under Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C.
2133). The meeting started at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time (ET) and ended at approximately 3:40 p.m. ET. The meeting began with a brief review of ground rules and an introduction of the NRC staff, followed by a presentation by the NRC staff on Section 506 of the ADVANCE Act and the NRCs efforts to respond. The presentation emphasized that input on how the NRC can conduct efficient, timely, and predictable environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications was welcome and would help NRC write the report. There was an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the NRC staffs presentation followed by an opportunity for participants to provide suggestions.
Approximately 70 people attended the meeting, not including the NRC staff in attendance.
Participants included: members of the public, representatives of government agencies, NRC licensees, and members of public advocacy organizations.
Summary of Presentation:
On September 9, 2024, the President signed into law the ADVANCE Act - bipartisan legislation to provide a major boost to the future of nuclear energy in America. Under Section 506 of the ADVANCE Act, Congress directed the NRC with developing a report on the agencys efforts to facilitate efficient, timely, and predictable environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications under Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133), including expanded use
Enclosure of categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and generic environmental impact statements.
The scope of the NRCs report will include modernization of environmental reviews for all types of nuclear reactor applications (e.g., advanced reactors, license renewals, power uprate amendments, etc.) but will not include other licensing actions unrelated to Atomic Energy Act Class 103 nuclear reactor applications. The NRC staff, led by the NRCs Environmental Center of Expertise, will leverage the Fiscal Responsibility Act amendments to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the ADVANCE Act itself to enhance ongoing efforts to improve environmental review cost, timeliness, and predictability.
The NRC staff is examining lessons learned from recent environmental reviews across business lines, as well as stakeholder feedback, to achieve efficiencies beyond the new NEPA requirements. Section 506 of the Act contains several items that NRC has been directed to consider as part of its report. The remainder of the meeting was spent collecting input from public participants, including using the considerations in Section 506 of the ADVANCE Act to frame discussions.
Public Participation Themes:
Numerous speakers provided remarks. Comments focused on a wide spectrum of topics both pertinent to the meeting purpose and more general to include the implications of the ADVANCE Act, the mission of the NRC, etc.
Action Items/Next Steps:
The NRC staff will consider all comments received during the meeting, as well as written input received within a short timeframe, as it drafts the report to Congress. The report is due January 5, 2025.
References:
- Meeting Description and Agenda - ML24268A040
- NRC Staff Presentation - ML24255A788
- Meeting Transcript - ML24277A149
2 List of Attendees February 21, 2024, Public Meeting Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE)
Act Congressional Report on Environmental Reviews of Nuclear Reactor Applications
NRC ATTENDEE ATTENDEE ATTENDEE Christopher Regan Bill Dam Paul Guill Ted Smith V.A. Stephens Jason Zorn Lance Rakovan Benjamin Beasley Jimmy Glotfelty Sarah Lopas Kristin Meek RJ Roux Michelle Albert Raleigh, Deann Adam Stein Ryan Alexander Connie Kline Madison Schroder Jill Caverly Bowman, Andrew Emma Redfoot Sheldon Clark Andrew Mauer Hannah Pell Kim Conway Tony Brown Palash Kumar Bhowmik Peyton Doub Michael Pearce Pat Marida Ann Dublin Brian Glowacki Michael Stoddard Julie Ezell Kevin Kamps Ernie Kee Brian Glowacki Eric Oesterle Edwin Lyman Stacey Imboden Andrew Zach Joy Jiang Marieliz Johnson Jarred Shaffer George Frederick Joslin Ethan Licon Arden Rowell Sean McGinnis Nancy Martinez Keith J Miller Spencer Toohill Aaron McCraw Damian Ortega Kalene Walker Ed Miller Darani Reddick Philip Hult Viktoria Mitlyng Kenneth L. Fossum John Laforge John Moses Trace Orf Madison Schroder Donald Palmrose Maddie Blalock Mory Diané Leah Parks Lisa Bruedigan Jeffrey S. Merrifield Jesse Quintero Martin O'Neill Bob Meyer Mary Richmond Joseph McManus Jackie Toth Jeffrey Rikhoff Stephen J. Burdick Jeff Luse Michelle Rome Bryson Roberson Michael McLean Angela Sabet Heather Galloway Karl Pauls Candance Starks Bobby Janecka Zach Turner Chris Bergan Carolyn Wolf Edith Williams Angela Wu Ryan Madsen Michael Keegan Zahra Mohaghegh Diane D'Arrigo
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