ML24312A242
| ML24312A242 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 11/07/2024 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| References | |
| Download: ML24312A242 (7) | |
Text
From:
Alyssa Zandstra Sent:
Thursday, November 7, 2024 10:30 AM To:
PalisadesRestart-EnvDocsPUBLICem Resource
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Palisades Scoping Posters Attachments:
Palisades Scoping Posters.pdf
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commision (NRC) nrc.gov WELCOME Public Scoping Meeting for:
Palisades Nuclear Plant Reauthoriztion of Power Operations July 11, 2024 5:00 - 6:00 ET Open House Session 6:00 ET Meeting Session
What is Scoping?
How to make a comment The scoping process is part of the NRC's environmental review process, designed to identify and de"ne the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered in preparing an environmental document. When the NRC conducts a public scoping, the process starts with the NRC issuing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental document, an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, which is published in the Federal Register. A key and necessary feature of the scoping process is public participation. The NRC holds public meetings and invites comments from individuals, organizations, and other governmental agencies. The scoping comments help de"ne the scope of the environmental analysis. The NRC's scoping process is a critical avenue for ensuring that the environmental impacts of nuclear activities are thoroughly reviewed, and that the public has a voice in these important decisions.
During scoping, the NRC identi"es signi"cant issues to be analyzed in depth in its environmental document. It also eliminates from detailed study those issues that are not signi"cant or have been addressed by prior environmental reviews. After considering all comments and inputs, the NRC will prepare a scoping summary report. This report will summarize comments received and outline the scope of the environmental document and any major issues identi"ed during the scoping process.
Palisades Potential Reauthorization of Power Operations The Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP) is a single unit pressurized water reactor located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Covert Township. After more than 40 years of commercial operation, PNP permanently ceased operations on May 20, 2022. On June 13, 2022, certifications for permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel were submitted to the NRC. With the docketing of these certifications, PNPs license to operate no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel.
Although PNP has ceased power operations and commenced decommissioning, with support from the State of Michigan and subsequent award from the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI) has decided to pursue a path to resume power operations at PNP. HDI is seeking reauthorization of power operations at PNP through March 24, 2031, the end of the current operating license term under PNPs Renewed Facility Operating License.
The current regulatory path for the reauthorization of power operations, includes a series of submissions for NRC approvals. Specifically: (1) a request for an exemption from the requirement in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) that prohibits operation of the PNP reactor, or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel; (2) a request for a license transfer from HDI (currently responsible for decommissioning activities at PNP) to Palisades Energy, LLC (which would be authorized to operate the reactor);
and (3) four license amendment requests. If granted, the requested exemption, license transfer, and license amendments would allow Palisades Energy, LLC to place fuel into the PNP reactor vessel and resume power operations through March 24, 2031, the end of the renewed operating license term under the PNP RFOL No.
NRCs Proposed Federal Action The scope of the NRCs environmental review encompasses the determinations whether to grant or deny the interdependent NRC actionsthe exemption request, license transfer request, and four license amendment requests necessary to reauthorize power operations of PNP. That is, the NRC must determine whether to grant or deny the application for transfer, the exemption request, and the requisite license amendment requests to support the reauthorization of power operations at PNP.
National Environmental Policy Act-Lead and Cooperating Agency Roles In addition to NRCs Federal action to reauthorize power operations at PNP, HDI submitted an application for a loan guarantee from the DOE to support the restoration and resumption of service of PNP. Because the issuance of a Federal loan is considered a major Federal action, DOE also has a major Federal action: whether to approve or deny the loan guarantee and subsequent releases of loan money in support of the resumption of power operations at PNP. Where more than one Federal agency is involved in the same or connected action, to increase the efficiency of NEPA reviews, lead and cooperating agencies are identified. The NRC is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA analysis for the proposed Federal action.
Potential Environmental Issues for Analysis Land Use Air Resources (Meteorology and Air Quality)
Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater)
Geology Ecological Resources (Aquatic and Terrestrial)
Historical and Cultural Resources Socioeconomics Environmental Justice Radiological Health and Radiological Waste Management Nonradiological Health and Nonradiological Waste Management Fuel Cycle, Transportation, and Decommissioning Postulated Accidents Climate Change Ways the Public Can Submit a Scoping Comment 1.
Public Meetings: Attend a public scoping meeting and make comments at the designated time during the meeting.
2.
Email comments to:
PalisadesRestartEnvironmental@nrc.gov.
3.
Mail Comments: Submit written comments via mail to:
Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff. Please include Docket ID NRC-2024-0076 in your comment submission 4.
Regulations.gov: Use the Federal governments online rulemaking portal, regulations.gov, to submit comments electronically: Go to https://regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2024-0076. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; telephone: 301-415-0624; email:
Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov.
5.
Note about personally identifiable information: The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions and does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information.
Making Your Comments Count 1.
Awareness of Submission Dates: Be aware of the deadline for submitting comments, 30 days after date of publication of the notice of intent in the federal register or July 29, 2024. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date.
2.
Informative and Relevant: Ensure that your comments are speci"c, informative, and relevant to the scope of the environmental analysis. Generic statements or those not directly related to scoping may have less impact.
3.
Stay Informed: Keep track of the process through the NRCs website or mailing lists, GovDelivery, to stay informed about the progress and further opportunities for public participation. Information regarding the PNP, including licensing, previous operation, decommissioning, and the potential reauthorization of operation is available at https: //www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/pali.html.
Notice of Intent June 27, 2024
- Published NRC's Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental assessment.
Public Scoping Period June 27, 2024 -
July 29, 2024
- Public process to review and comment on the scope and issues to be considered for analysis in the environmental assesssment.
Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI
- The NRC will consider all relevant comments received during the public scoping period and draft the environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Public Comment on Draft Environmental Assessment
- The NRC will provide the opportunity for public comment on the draft environmental assessment.
Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI
- The NRC will consider all substantive comments received during the public comment period in development of the final environmental assessment and FONSI.
Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Potential Reauthorization to Resume Power Operations nrc.gov
Background
The Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP) is a single unit pressurized water reactor located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Covert Township. After more than 40 years of commercial operation, PNP permanently ceased operations on May 20, 2022. On June 13, 2022, certi"cations for permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel were submitted to the NRC. With the docketing of these certi"cations, PNPs license to operate no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel.
Although PNP has ceased power operations and commenced decommissioning, with support from the State of Michigan and subsequent award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI) has decided to pursue a path to resume power operations at PNP.
HDI is seeking reauthorization of power operations at PNP through March 24, 2031, the end of the current operating license term under PNPs Renewed Facility Operating License (RFOL). HDIs request to resume power operations at PNP involves a "rst-of-a-kind NRC licensing review to potentially reauthorize power operations at a nuclear power plant after the commencement of decommissioning.
Regulatory Path NRC regulations do not speci"cally describe the process for the reauthorization of power operations for a reactor that has entered decommissioning. The currently proposed regulatory path includes requisite submissions for NRC approvals necessary for the reauthorization of power operations at PNP. Speci"cally:
- An exemption from the 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) requirement that prohibits reactor power operations and retention or emplacement of fuel into the reactor vessel due to docketing the 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) certi"cations.
- Approval of an order to transfer operational authority of PNP under the RFOL from HDI to Palisades Energy, LLC.
To ensure all aspects of the potential resumption of power operations at PNP are meeting the NRCs safety, security, and environmental requirements, the NRC established the PNP Restart Panel to guide staff efforts in reviewing HDIs requisite submissions and in its inspection efforts to con"rm PNP is ready to be returned to an operating facility.
The Proposed Federal Action The NRCs proposed actions are decisions on whether to grant or deny HDIs interdependent connected licensing requests, including HDIs request for an exemption request under from 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2),
application for transfer, and the associated LARs, that, if approved, collectively, would support reauthorization of power operations at PNP and refueling of the PNP reactor.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA requires Federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of proposed major Federal actions prior to making decisions. The proposed Federal actions, in support of the reauthorization of power operations at PNP, require a NEPA review.
A proposed Federal action can involve one of three different levels of analysis, depending on the signi"cance of a proposed Federal actions potential effects on the environment. The NRC staff recommends completing an enhanced environmental assessment (EA), with scoping and a draft comment period to assure public participation to the greatest extent. An EA is a decisional document. That is, the NRC determines, based on the environmental analysis in the EA, one of two actions: preparation of a "nding of no signi"cant impact (FONSI) if the action will not have a signi"cant impact on the environment; or, preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) if the proposed action has the potential to signi"cantly impact the environment.
NEPA Lead and Cooperating Agency Roles The NRC is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA analysis for the proposed Federal action. Where more than one Federal agency is involved in the same or connected action, to increase the ef"ciency of NEPA reviews, lead and cooperating agencies are identi"ed.
In addition to NRCs Federal action to reauthorize the restart of power operations at PNP, HDI submitted an application for a loan guarantee from the DOE to "nance the restoration and resumption of service of PNP. Because the issuance of a federal loan is considered a major Federal action, DOE, also has a major Federal action, whether to approve or deny the loan guarantee and subsequent releases of loan money in support of the resumption of power operations at Palisades.
Scoping To provide concise and informative environmental documents, the NRC scoping process is used to: (1) de"ne the proposed action; (2) to determine the scope of the statement and identify the signi"cant issues to be analyzed in depth; and (3) identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues that are not important or have been covered by prior environmental review(s), narrowing the discussion of these issues to a brief presentation of why they will not have a signi"cant effect on the human environment or providing a reference to their coverage elsewhere. As part of the scoping process, the NRC is seeking public input on the alternatives and range of issues that should be considered for the project.
Potential Environmental Issues for Analysis
- Land Use
- Air Resources (Meteorology and Air Quality)
- Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater)
- Geology
- Ecological Resources (Aquatic and Terrestrial)
- Historical and Cultural Resources
- Socioeconomics
- Radiological Health and Radiological Waste Management
- Nonradiological Health and Nonradiological Waste Management
- Fuel Cycle, Transportation, and Decommissioning
- Postulated Accidents
- Climate Change How to Comment Scan the QR code to send your comments via email to:
PalisadesRestartEnvironmental@nrc.gov with the subject line:
Email Comment Related to the Environmental for the Palisades Potential Restart or visit https://regulations.gov and search for Docket ID: NRC-2024-0076 For Further Information,
Contact:
Laura Willingham (301) 415-0857 laura.willingham@nrc.gov or visit the project website:
https://www.nrc.gov/info-"nder/reactors
/pali.html Activities and Timeline
- 30 calendar days for acceptance
- review, depending on quality of submittal
- Preceded by early engagement with Tribes and consulting parties, when appropriate
- Notice of Intent for Public Scoping and 30-day Comment Period
- Public Scoping Meeting
- Conduct Environmental Regulatory Audit
- Issue Requests for Additional Information
- Final decision cannot be made until all consultations are complete and all necessary permits are issued
- At least 30 calendar days
- Consultation meetings
- Other Government-to
-Government metings held Submittal of Licensing Action(s)
Pre-Submittal Activities Scoping Activities Acceptance of Licensing Action(s)
Comments on Draft Draft NEPA Document Hearing(s)
& Commission Decision Final NEPA Document
Alternative Sites/
Energy Sources Groundwater Use/Quality Surface Water Use/Quality Human Health/
Waste Visual/Noise Impacts Air Quality/
Meteorology Historic/Cultural Resources Socioeconomics/
Environmental Justice Land Use Terrestrial Ecology Typical Resource Areas Analyzed in NRC NEPA Reviews nrc.gov Fuel Cycle/Decom m
issioning/
Transportation of Fuel and W aste Greenhouse Gases/
Climate Change Radiation Protection/
Postulated Accidents Aquatic Ecology Analyze alternatives to the proposed action.
Analyze cumulative impacts from past, present, or reasonably foreseable future actions.
Determine the consequences of construction and operation on resource areas (impact level).
Describe the need for the project and the affected environment (baseline conditions) for each resource area.
NRC NEPA REVIEW PROCESS Radioactive Waste