ML24291A020

NRC Letter to J. Loichinger Achp Request for Comments Concerning the Environmental Review of DNPS Units 2 and 3 Subsequent License Renewal Application

ML24291A020
Person / Time
Site:	Dresden
Issue date:	10/31/2024
From:	Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB2
To:	Loichinger J US Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Office of Federal Agency Programs
References
Download: ML24291A020 (1)

Text

Jaime Loichinger, Director Office of Federal Agency Programs Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 401 F Street NW, Suite 308 Washington, DC 20001

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF DRESDEN NUCLEAR POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3, SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBERS: 50-237 AND 50-249)

Dear Director Jaime Loichinger:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting a review of the environmental effects of renewing the operating licenses for Dresden Nuclear Power Station (DNPS) Units 2 and 3. DNPS is operated by Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (CEG) and is located in Grundy and Will Counties, Illinois (see Enclosure 1). CEG submitted an application for the subsequent renewal of DNPS operating licenses in a letter dated April 17, 2024, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 54.

The NRC has defined subsequent license renewal to be the period of extended operation from 60 years to 80 years. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, authorizes the NRC to issue 40-year initial licenses, and upon application and approval, renew licenses for nuclear power reactors. The NRCs regulations limit these renewals to 20-year increments. Approval of a renewed license is based on the outcome of a safety and environmental review. The NRC renewed the operating licenses on October 28, 2004; the current Unit 2 operating license expires on December 22, 2029, and the Unit 3 operating license expires on January 12, 2031. If approved, the requested renewals would extend the operating license expiration dates to December 22, 2049, for Unit 2, and January 12, 2051, for Unit 3.

As part of the NRCs license renewal review, a plant-specific supplement to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, is prepared in accordance with 10 CFR 51 of the NRCs environmental protection regulations.

These regulations also implement Section 102(2) of the National Environment Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). In accordance with 36 CFR 800.8(c), the NRC intends to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA),

through the NEPA process. Accordingly, the NRC is inviting parties who may be interested in the proposed action to consult on this matter. The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the NRCs environmental review and to initiate Section 106 consultation with your office under NHPA.

In the context of NHPA, the NRC has determined that the area of potential effects (APE) for this license renewal includes lands within the nuclear power plant site boundary and the transmission lines up to the first substation that may be directly or indirectly affected by October 31, 2024 J. Loichinger 2 land-disturbing or other operational activities associated with continued plant operations and maintenance and/or refurbishment activities (see Enclosures 2 and 3). The APE may extend beyond the DNPS site if CEG maintenance and operational activities affect offsite historic properties. This determination is made irrespective of land ownership or control.

The application is available through the web-based version of the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The environmental report portion of the application is listed under ML24108A011.

The NRC expects to publish a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) in June 2025. The NRC will forward the draft SEIS to you for your review and comment. This draft SEIS will include identification of historic properties, historic and cultural resources, assessment of impacts, and a preliminary determination. After consideration of public comments and comments received from consulting parties, the NRC plans to issue the final SEIS, in October 2025.

Please provide any comments that you may have within 30 days of the date of this letter. If you have any questions concerning the NRCs license renewal review, please contact Jennifer Davis, Staff Archaeologist, by phone at 301-415-3835 or via email at Jennifer.Davis@nrc.gov; or Tam Tran, Environmental Project Manager, by phone at 301-415-3617 or via email at Tam.Tran@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Michelle Rome, Chief Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environment, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos: 50-237 and 50-249

Enclosures:

1. DNPS Site and 50-Mile Radius

2. 1961 Topographic Map

3. DNPS Area of Potential Effect cc: Listserv Bill Marzella, Program Analyst bmarzella@achp.gov Signed by Rome, Michelle on 10/31/24

ML24291A020 *concurred via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NAME JDavis MCampestrin TTran SKoenick JDavis DATE 10/17/2024 10/17/2024 10/21/2024 10/23/2024 10/24/2024 OFFICE NMSS/REFS NAME MRome DATE 10/31/2024

Dresden Nuclear Power Station Site and 50-Mile Radius

Enclosure 1 1961 Topographic Map

Enclosure 2 Dresden Nuclear Power Station Area of Potential Effect

Enclosure 3