ML24352A034
| ML24352A034 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902121 |
| Issue date: | 12/23/2024 |
| From: | Bill Gleaves NRC/NRR/DNRL/NLIB |
| To: | Hayes M NRC/NRR/DNRL/NLIB |
| Gleaves W | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24352A034 (5) | |
Text
December 23, 2024 MEMORANDUM TO:
Michelle W. Hayes, Chief Licensing and Infrastructure Branch Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
William (Billy) Gleaves, Senior Project Manager
/RA/
Licensing and Infrastructure Branch Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF DECEMBER 12, 2024, DUKE ENERGY BELEWS CREEK SITE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STATUS MEETING On December 12, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a hybrid public meeting with Duke Energy (Duke). The purpose of the meeting was to hear Dukes update on the environmental and community outreach activities associated with the preapplication work on the proposed Early Site Permit (ESP) application for the Belews Creek, NC site.
Preapplication engagements, including this meeting, provide an opportunity for the NRC staff to engage in early discussions with a prospective applicant, offer licensing guidance, and identify potential licensing issues early in the licensing process. No decisions or commitments were made during the preapplication meeting.
Chris Nolan, the Vice President of New Nuclear Strategy and Regulatory Engagement for Duke, offered kickoff comments regarding Dukes transition to net zero, coal-to-nuclear activities, and the site selection and community outreach considering the eventual retirement of the associated coal power plant. The primary objective of this meeting was to provide an update to the NRC staff on these plans and activities and solicit feedback from the staff.
The NRC staff made a 10-minute presentation on the NRCs role in the environmental review of a site similar to Belews Creek, NC, site (Agencywide Documents and Access Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML24344A038). Following that presentation, Duke staff presented a summary of the progress made to date and its engagement with state and federal agencies. Duke staff also discussed its community outreach activities related to site planning and review supporting the proposed ESP for the Belews Creek, NC site. The Duke presentation slides for this meeting are found in ADAMS at ML24344A268.
A list of attendees at this meeting is enclosed. There were approximately 44 participants all remotely joining the meeting, including the NRC staff, Duke staff and contactors, and 15 members of the public.
The following comments were made by the NRC staff:
M. Hayes
- 1) On Slide 11, the NRC staff asked Duke to clarify the water allocation for the plant. Duke responded that it is modelling the water usage to estimate the changes that would result from transitioning from a coal power plant to a nuclear plant and will have a public meeting in the Spring to discuss those water resources.
- 2) On Slide 13, the NRC staff commented on the independent verification by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality on state versus federal wetland distinction. In response, Duke stated it is familiar with that process.
- 3) On Slide 13, the NRC staff commented on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).
Duke stated that the final verification or decision on Corps permit had not been made and it is likely that a Corp permit will be needed. The staff stated that the NRC is a cooperating agency with the Corps.
- 4) On Slide 13, the NRC staff asked for clarification on the Belews lake reservoir and its ownership. Duke stated that it built the reservoir in the 1970s to support the coal facility and although it is considered to be waters of the U.S., it is not a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reservoir.
- 5) On Slide 14, the NRC staff stated that engagement on the topic of recognized Tribes should be held as early as possible. The staff asked further if there was tribal input to survey plans. Duke stated that tribal inputs to the plan and further outreach will be done.
- 6) On Slide 15, the NRC staff stated that once the tribal list is updated, Duke should consider meeting with the staff to compare tribal lists and meet in concert with Duke and tribal nations.
- 7) On Slide 20, the NRC staff commented on the current land use. Duke stated that the land currently is largely forested, has small parking lot, a construction lay down yard in the South of the site, and a small area associated with the coal power plant. The area associated with the coal power plant is being closed and remediated by excavation and removal of all material.
- 8) At the conclusion of the presentation, the NRC staff discussed Section 7 consultation with Duke and Main and Startup Feedwater System to understand the extent of the consultation in early 2025.
There were no questions or comments from members of the public. The meeting ended at 1:52 pm EST.
CONTACT: William (Billy) Gleaves 301-415-5848 Docket No. 99902121
Enclosure:
List of Attendees cc w/encls: GovDelivery.com list for Duke Energy Belews Creek ESP
ML24352A034 *via email NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DNRL/NLIB: PM NRR/DNRL/NLIB: LA NRR/DNRL/NLIB: BC NAME BGleaves SGreen VHuckabay for MHayes DATE 12/17/2024 12/19/2024 12/23/2024
Enclosure
SUMMARY
OF DECEMBER 12, 2024, PUBLIC MEETING WITH DUKE ENERGY ON BELEWS CREEK, NC SITE ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE LIST OF ATTENDEES Name Organization Billy Gleaves Michelle Hayes Anthony Ponko Daniel Barnhurst Kevin Quinlan Laura Willingham Mary Richmond Michael Gallagher Michelle Rome Nicole Coovert Peyton Doub Sarah Tabatabai Sean Gallagher U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Rounette Nader Chris Nolan Lee Grzeck Norman Kunkel Heather Danenhower Shannon Langley Chet Sigmon Scott Davies Paul Finch Elizabeth Glenn Tracey LeRoy Melonie Martin Matt McKinney Eric Morris Art Zaremba Amy Dierolf Duke Energy Bill Dam Sofia Bouhrizi Steve Cahoon Derek Young Grant Stuller Jonathan Magalski Joy Jiang Kimberly Hilty Members of the Public
2 Name Organization Nicole Spangler Emily Portanova Randy Keefer Shareef Gunseli Kevin Taylor Tim Seifer Addison Hall