ML24285A013
| ML24285A013 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/30/2024 |
| From: | Martinez N NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB2 |
| To: | Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1 |
| References | |
| Download: ML24285A013 (1) | |
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MEMORANDUM TO:
Michelle Rome, Chief Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM:
Nancy Martinez Environmental Scientist Environmental Technical Review Branch 2 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF VISIT TO THE MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 1 REGARDING NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT SECTION 106 CONSULTATION Participants U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Allan Barker, Steve Koenick, Nancy Martinez, Angela Sabet, and Jessica Umana Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Caitlin Condon and Lindsey Renaud Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: Susan Klapel, Charlie Lippert, and Luther Sam Xcel Energy: Marc Anderson, Justin DeHarty, Nick Martin, Max Smith, and Stephen Sollom Westwood: Ryan Grohnke and Dean Sather Location Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 1 (Monticello)
CONTACT:
Nancy Martinez, NMSS/REFS 630-829-9734 October 30, 2024 Signed by Martinez, Nancy on 10/30/24
M. Rome Date September 17, 2024
Background
On March 13, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff-initiated consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe regarding the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 1 (Monticello) subsequent license renewal application (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) ML23069A280). Over the course of the Section 106 consultation to date, our offices have exchanged additional correspondence and held meetings to discuss this undertaking. During an August 9, 2024, teleconference, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe informed NRC staff of cultural resources within the Monticello site not identified in the draft environmental impact statement (EIS), NUREG-1437, Supplement 26, Second Renewal, Site-Specific Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Subsequent License Renewal for Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 1, Draft Report for Comment.
Furthermore, during the August 9, 2024, teleconference, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe requested to review Xcel Energys procedure on the protection of cultural resources for the Monticello site.
The NRC staff coordinated a site visit to the Monticello site to locate and gather information on the identified cultural resources, review site procedures, and to continue dialogue and consultation with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe under Section 106.
Summary of Site Visit The NRC staff conducted a limited walkthrough with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe through a portion of the 2,000-acre Monticello site (area of potential effect) to learn more about the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwes natural and cultural resources. During the walkthrough, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe shared Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The resources identified during the walkthrough were representative of resources that may be throughout the entire Monticello site.
After the walkthrough, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe reviewed Xcel Energys fleet procedure on the protection of cultural resources, a Phase 1A cultural resources literature search of the Monticello site (ML24088A215), a red cedar tree survey of the Monticello site (ML24088A215),
and wild rice survey of the Monticello site (ML24281A054). The review of documents was followed by discussions between NRC staff and representatives of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Discussions between the NRC staff and representatives of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe focused on Xcel Energys fleet procedure on the protection of cultural resources, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwes traditional cultural properties, and NRCs Section 106 finding with respect to the undertaking (subsequent license renewal of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant). With respect to Xcel Energys fleet procedure, Xcel Energy updated the procedure to stipulate that for projects where ground disturbance would occur in areas of higher potential for intact archaeological deposits, a Phase 1 survey will be conducted, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will be notified and invited to monitor ground disturbing activities. The Mille Lacs Band found this update acceptable. However, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe commented that the procedure should clearly distinguish between the actions that should be taken for the Monticello Nuclear Generating Station site and those for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant site, another
M. Rome power plant in Minnesota owned by Xcel Energy. Additionally, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe commented that there should be an administrative mechanism to prevent the removal of the recent procedure updates that stipulate when a Tribal monitor will be invited to the Monticello site related to ground disturbing activities should the procedure be revised in the future.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe discussed that the natural and cultural resources within the Monticello site are and continue to be culturally important to them. The natural and cultural resources within the Monticello site are a reflection of the continued importance the area has for their community. Additionally, based on the walkthrough conducted of the site, natural and cultural resources exist which may be of interest to other Tribes. While Xcel Energy does not have any plans to alter areas beyond the existing disturbed footprint as part of the undertaking (subsequent license renewal), the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe discussed that any impacts to natural and cultural resources important to their Tribe may have the potential to be adverse, depending on the location and nature of the project.
The NRC staff discussed the consideration of comments received from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office recommending a change in the Section 106 finding from no adverse effect to historic properties to no historic properties affected. The NRC staff further discussed that the recommended change in the Section 106 finding is not an indication that there are no cultural resources within the Monticello site and that the Final EIS will acknowledge the natural and cultural resources that are important to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
After the discussions between the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the NRC staff, the comments the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe identified for the site procedure were shared with Xcel Energy.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe identified areas within the procedure that could be revised and clarified and the concern of a potential update that would result in a change that could remove the steps of when to notify and invite the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to monitor ground disturbing activities. Xcel Energy stated that they will revise the procedure to provide clarification in the areas commented on and to find an administrative mechanism to prevent the recent updates that have resulted from consultation.
Action Items 1.) NRC staff will update the site-specific EIS regarding subsequent license renewal for Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant to reflect the site visit and knowledge gained during the visit. This information will be reflected in the Final EIS.
2.) Xcel Energy will revise the procedure in response to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwes comments as discussed above.
- ML24285A013
OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NAME AWalker-Smith NMartinez JUmana MRome NMartinez DATE 10/16/2024 10/16/2024 10/16/2024 10/30/2024 10/30/2024