ML25042A689
| ML25042A689 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 02/11/2025 |
| From: | Public Commenter Public Commenter |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| NRC/NMSS/DREFS | |
| References | |
| 89FR97077 | |
| Download: ML25042A689 (5) | |
Text
From:
Kajumba, Ntale <Kajumba.Ntale@epa.gov>
Sent:
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 7:29 PM To:
Kim Conway Cc:
Long, Larry; Holliman, Daniel
Subject:
[External_Sender] RE: EPA Comments on V.C. Summer SLR final EIS Attachments:
20240225_V.C.Summer SLR GEIS FEIS.pdf Good evening Ms. Conway, Attached are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency comments on the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit 1, Subsequent Licence Renewal Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this letter.
- Thanks, Ntale Ntale Kajumba Manager National Environmental Policy Act Section U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Office: (404) 562-9620 Email: Kajumba.ntale@epa.gov
Federal Register Notice:
89FR97077 Comment Number:
6 Mail Envelope Properties (SA0PR09MB7322894FAEC578F3DE678C61F9FC2)
Subject:
[External_Sender] RE: EPA Comments on V.C. Summer SLR final EIS Sent Date:
2/11/2025 7:28:58 PM Received Date:
2/11/2025 7:29:12 PM From:
Kajumba, Ntale Created By:
Kajumba.Ntale@epa.gov Recipients:
"Long, Larry" <Long.Larry@epa.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Holliman, Daniel" <Holliman.Daniel@epa.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Kim Conway" <Kimberly.Conway@nrc.gov>
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February 11, 2025 Kim Conway U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Mail Stop T-4B72 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Docket ID NRC-2023-0152 RE: The EPA Comments on the NUREG-1437, Supplement 15, Second Renewal, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Subsequent License Renewal of Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit 1; CEQ No: 20240225.
Dear Kim Conway:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) NUREG-1437, Supplement 15, Second Renewal, Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Subsequent License Renewal (SLR) of Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit 1, in accordance with Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CAA Section 309 role is unique to EPA. It requires the EPA to review and comment on any proposed federal action subject to NEPAs environmental impact statement requirement and to make its comments public.
The draft supplemental GEIS states that the purpose and need for this project is to provide an option that allows for power generation capability beyond the term of a current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs, and to address the environmental effects associated with obtaining relicense renewals for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station located in Jenkinsville, South Carolina. According to the draft supplemental GEIS, the SLR operating licenses would authorize the applicant Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc. (Dominion) to operate the Vigil C.
Summer Nuclear facility for an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in each for the current licenses. The current operating license expires August 6, 2042.
The NRC considered 17 replacement power alternatives to the proposed action and eliminated 13 of these from the detailed study. The four remaining replacement power alternatives include natural gas, new small modular reactor, natural gas and solar combination and new nuclear and solar combination.
The draft supplemental GEIS also evaluated the no action alternative, which would result in NRC not issuing a license renewal, and the proposed action for a SLR for 20 years.
2 The EPA provided scoping comments for this project on November 27, 2023. The scoping comments included recommendations on groundwater, waste, wetland and streams, resiliency, and impacts to communities. The EPA appreciates the response to the EPAs comments. Based on the EPAs review of the supplemental draft GEIS, the EPA has remaining comments on groundwater and community engagement for the final GEIS.
The EPA appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed project. If you have any questions regarding our comments, please contact Ntale Kajumba, NEPA Section Manager, at 404-562-9620 or at kajumba.ntale@epa.gov, or Larry Long of the NEPA Section at 404-562-9460, or by e-mail at long.larry@epa.gov.
Sincerely, Daniel Holliman Acting Branch Manager National Environmental Policy Act and Special Programs Coordination Enclosure DANIEL HOLLIMAN Digitally signed by DANIEL HOLLIMAN Date: 2025.02.11 17:40:33 -05'00'
3 EPA Detailed Comments on the NUREG-1437, Supplement 15, Second Renewal, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Subsequent License Renewal of Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit 1.
CEQ No: 20240225; Docket ID NRC-2023-0152 1). Groundwater Resources - Section 3.16.2.2, Page 3-171 states that tritium has been detected in the groundwater, but the tritium level is below the maximum contamination level. Virgil C. Summer will continue to implement its groundwater protection program and spill prevention control plans to reduce groundwater impacts.
Recommendations:
Provide groundwater protection and spill prevention control plans or a link to the plans in the final supplemental GEIS. Incorporate groundwater monitoring within the plan throughout the term of the SLR.
- 2) Community Engagement - The draft supplemental GEIS does indicate that the NRC conducted detailed local reconnaissance as part of the environmental review as stated on page 146 Section 3.1.2.1.1 for local communities within a 50-mile radius of the Virgil C. Summer facility along with local community engagement. The reconnaissance revealed that subsistence fishing, hunting, and backyard gardening are practiced in the local vicinity of V.C. Summer, including the Monticello Reservoir, the Broad River, and in the Jenkinsville, Dawkins, and Blair communities.
Recommendations:
Continue to engage communities and incorporate and address the community's input and concerns in the final GEIS. Robust community engagement can help identify potential benefits, burdens, and mitigation opportunities associated with relicensing decisions. Adaptive and innovative approaches to both public outreach and community involvement should be implemented. The final GEIS should describe how community concerns or recommendations have been used to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts on human health and the environment. The EPA notes that NRC did extend the comment period to February 11th to allow for a public meeting on January 28th.