ML24340A140
| ML24340A140 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/21/2024 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24340A140 (1) | |
Text
ADVANCE Act Section 206:
Evaluating Potential Regulatory Issues for Nuclear Facilities at Brownfield Sites NRC Licensing at Brownfield Sites - Information Exchange November 21, 2024
Agenda Time Topic Speaker 1:00 - 1:10 p.m.
Welcome, Logistics, Agenda, Sam Lee, NRC/NRR Sarah Lopas, NRC/NMSS 1:10 - 1:30 p.m.
Section 206, Evaluating Potential Regulatory Issues for Nuclear Facilities at Brownfield Sites Shilp Vasavada, NRC/OEDO Allen Fetter, NRC/NRR Sarah Lopas, NRC/NMSS 1:30 - 1:50 p.m.
Overview of Coal-to-Nuclear Transition Efforts - Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN)
Christine King, Director, INL/GAIN Doug Hardtmayer, Senior Nuclear Engineer, MPR Associates, Inc.
1:50 - 2:10 p.m.
Overview of NEI Siting Task Force Efforts - Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
Kati Austgen, Senior Project Manager for New Nuclear, NEI 2:10 - 2:30 p.m.
Overview of EPRI Brownfield and Coal Repurposing Research - Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) -
Daniel Klein, PMP, Principal Team Lead for Nuclear Beyond Electricity, Advanced Nuclear Technology, EPRI 2:10 - 2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion NRC and Panelists
Agenda Time Topic Speaker 2:50 - 3:00 p.m.
BREAK N/A 3:00 - 3:20 p.m.
Perspectives on plant siting and previously collected data - Duke Energy Chris Nolan, Vice President of New Nuclear Generation Strategy &
Regulatory Engagement, Duke Energy 3:20 - 3:40 p.m.
Industrial/nuclear site reuse/addition - Energy Northwest Greg Cullen, Vice President for Energy Services & Development, Energy Northwest.
1:50 - 2:10 p.m.
The Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, DOE/industrial site reuse - Oklo Caroline Cochran, Chief Operating Officer, Oklo Inc.
3:40 - 4:00 p.m.
Preview for Transition of workforce considerations and community activities Christine King, INL/GAIN 4:10- 4:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion NRC and Panelists 4:30 - 4:55 p.m.
Public Comments and Questions Public, NRC and Panelists 4:55 - 5:00 p.m.
Meeting Close Out NRC
Scope of Todays Meeting
- Todays meeting will discuss topics related to Section 206 of the ADVANCE Act, Regulatory issues for nuclear facilities at brownfield sites.
- Per NRCs public meeting policy (86 FR 14964), this is an Information Meeting with Question and Answer.
- This meeting was noticed on the NRCs Public Meeting Schedule page on November 7, 2024.
To Stay Informed of NRCs Progress Follow NRCs ADVANCE Act implementation with this Dashboard https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws/advance-act.html#dashboard
For Upcoming and Past Meetings For NRCs public meeting information on ADVANCE Act https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws/advance-act.html#related
For Your Questions and Ideas Contact us with ADVANCE Act questions, comments and ideas https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws/advance-act/contactus.html
Section 206. Regulatory Issues for Nuclear Facilities at Brownfield Sites Direction: Evaluate the extent to which modification of regulations, guidance, or policy is needed to enable efficient, timely, and predictable licensing reviews for, and to support oversight of, production and utilization facilities at brownfield sites.
Objective: Streamline licensing of NRC facilities at or near brownfield or retired fossil fuel sites by leveraging: (1) existing site infrastructure, (2) existing emergency preparedness organizations and planning; (3) availability of historical site-specific environmental data; (4) previously completed environmental reviews; (5) activities associated with potential decommissioning of facilities or decontamination and remediation; and (6) community engagement and historical experience with energy production.
Scope of the NRCs Brownfield Evaluation Per Section 206, the NRCs evaluation will focus on both brownfield sites (as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) and retired fossil fuel sites.
- The term brownfield site means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
The scope of the staffs brownfields evaluation will include reviews of safety, security, emergency preparedness, environmental, financial, construction oversight, decommissioning, and community engagement considerations.
NRC Experience with Brownfield Sites PSEG ESP Site (source: PSEG Power, LLC)
Clinch River artist rendering (source: TVA)
Kairos Hermes site (source: Kairos Power, LLC)
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (source: S. Egli)
North Anna Nuclear Generating Station (source: VEP Co.)
Safety Review Considerations NRC staff will evaluate the how the potential reuse of existing site infrastructure could expedite safety licensing reviews of brownfield sites, specifically
- electric switchyard components and transmission infrastructure
- heat-sink components
- steam cycle components Consideration of different reactor sizes and types will be factors in this evaluation.
NRC Review - Reusing Electrical Switchyards and Transmission Infrastructure Reuse of electrical switchyards and transmission lines for new nuclear plants can result in expedited NRC reviews if the plant nuclear safety design is not dependent on AC electric power and satisfies FERC/NERC standards for the grid interface of the nuclear generator based on its electrical power output, reactive capability and power ramping control/capability There are opportunities for additional time savings in NRC application reviews of passive plant designs and systems that do not rely on offsite A/C power
NRC Review - Reuse of Water Supply, Heat Sink and Steam Cycle Components Reuse of available water supply and heat sink on a brownfield site or other industrial site would be dependent on plant design and demands.
Considerations to support reuse could include:
- Water Quantity
- Water Quality
- Water Temperature Risk evaluation of flooding and seismic concerns also require NRC review The use of existing structures, systems, and components will depend on the specifics of the chosen reactor design and will require meeting applicable regulations.
Safety Review Considerations NRC staff will also evaluate the how safety licensing reviews of brownfield sites could be expedited by leveraging
- early site permits
- plant parameter envelopes or similar standardized site parameters on a portion of a larger site
- standardized applications for similar sites
Physical Security & Emergency Planning Review Considerations Physical Security
- Evaluation of site-specific characteristics already encompassed in security regulations and guidance, and any implications for brownfield sites Emergency Planning (EP)
- Evaluation of whether an applicants hazard analysis required for EP could be impacted by brownfield sites (source: NRC)
Environmental Review Considerations
- Reuse of existing infrastructure could reduce environmental impacts and simplify consultation with resource agencies.
(source: NRC)
- Availability of site characterization studies or previous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents could expedite the staffs environmental review and streamline the NEPA document.
Decommissioning Considerations Non-nuclear to Nuclear
- We are strengthening partnerships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State agencies to make future engagement more efficient and effective
- Early engagement with EPA and State agencies will improve understanding of site challenges and allow solutions to be found earlier in the process (e.g., earlier use of non-impacted areas or use of decommissioning surveys as site characterization data)
(source: iStock)
Decommissioning Considerations Nuclear to Nuclear
- Historical site assessment information could support partial site releases to facilitate earlier start to new construction
- Using license transfers rather than license termination could streamline dispositioning of buildings and equipment
- Considering practical implications of new nuclear development on a site could streamline NRC dose assessments for decommissioning facilities
Financial Considerations
- Applicants for a nuclear power plant license from the NRC must demonstrate reasonable assurance that they have funds necessary to construct and operate a nuclear power plant, and that these funds are currently possessed or can be obtained.
- Additionally, commercial nuclear power reactors are required to demonstrate they have adequate funds for radiological decommissioning of the reactor site.
- At some sites, financial requirements could be complicated by the potential presence of radiological contamination from prior site use, resulting in additional financial resources required for initial licensing and/or decommissioning. Each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Community Engagement
- The NRCs NEPA reviews include community engagement through public comment periods, outreach to State and local governments, and consultation with affected Tribes
- Historical community experience with energy production will be considered in the socioeconomic and environmental justice reviews for the NEPA analysis
Section 206 Major Milestones Report to Congress outlining changes to regulations, policy, or guidance due September 2025 NRC staff to develop strategies to implement those changes or initiate rulemaking by July 2026 Report to Congress documenting implementation actions due July 2027