ML25057A337
| ML25057A337 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Vallecitos |
| Issue date: | 02/26/2025 |
| From: | John Moses NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| To: | Gould C Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation |
| References | |
| Download: ML25057A337 (1) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Corrina Gould, Chairperson Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation 10926 Edes Avenue Oakland, CA, 94603
SUBJECT:
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INITIATION OF SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND FINDING OF ADVERSE EFFECT RE: VALLECITOS BOILING WATER REACTOR AND GENERAL ELECTRIC TEST REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING AND DEMOLITION ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (DOCKET NUMBERS: 05000018 AND 05000070 )
Dear Chairperson Corrina Gould:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering a license amendment request (LAR) pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50 for the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR) and General Electric Test Reactor (GETR) (Project) in Alameda County, California (ML24270A224).
If the NRC accepts the LAR, the Project will be an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 54 U.S.C. 306108, and its implementing regulations, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) Part 800.
In the LAR, the licensee requests NRC review major decommissioning activities, as defined in 10 CFR 50.2, that could diminish the historic integrity (e.g., physical demolition) of select Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) structures deemed potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
The removal, dismantlement, and disposal of contaminated, radioactive mechanical systems and components, as well as the eventual physical demolition of the facility, is imperative to protection of public health and safety and maintaining environmental welfare, and there is no viable alternative to decommissioning that achieves this goal.
The NRC defines the area of potential effect (APE) as 200 series and 300 series building complexes (see Enclosed images). The APE does not include Federal or Tribal lands as defined pursuant to 36 CFR 800.16(x).
Archaeological/Historical Consultants completed a survey for the State of California, Department of Transportation State Highway 84 Widening Project Environmental Impact Report (Reference 1). As part of their evaluation, a background search and a drive-by survey of the VNC were completed. Archaeological/Historical Consultants concluded that the VNC appears eligible for inclusion in the NRHP based on the significance of the facilitys contribution to the scientific and technological development of nuclear power generation.
February 26, 2025
C. Gould 2
In July 2022, SEARCH Inc. conducted an onsite historic architectural survey and NRHP evaluation of the VNC, for S2S Environmental Resource Management (Reference 2). The scope of this evaluation covered the GETR 200 Area and the VBWR and Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor 300 Area (see Enclosed images). SEARCH Inc. concluded that the loss of integrity at the 200 series and 300 series building complexes (30 percent and 69 percent of original buildings nonextant, respectively) would likely preclude those areas from recommendation as a standalone historic district.
SEARCH Inc. recommended the VBWR and GETR containment buildings as eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria A for their respective roles in the advancement of nuclear technology and Criterion C as leading engineering examples in the management of nuclear material. Additionally, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers History and Heritage landmarks program formally recognized the VBWR as the first privately owned and operated nuclear facility to deliver significant quantities of electricity to the public utility grid. In 1987, a ceremony was held, and a commemorative plaque was installed on the VBWR.
Montrose Environmental conducted a cultural resources records search of the VNC on June 8, 2023, for GE Hitachi Energy, LLC (Reference 3), at the Northwest Information Center (NWIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System to identify previous cultural resource studies and records for the VNC and vicinity (NWIC File #22-1913). The NWIC, an affiliate of the Office of Historic Preservation, is the official state repository of cultural resource records and reports for Alameda County. The search consisted of a review of records for built-environment resources as well as archaeological resources within 0.25 miles of the VNC. Additionally in July 2023 (Reference 3), Montrose Environmental performed a Cultural Resources Screening. The background research consisted of a records search and literature review at the NWIC, archival map review, and geological map review. The Montrose Environmental records search found that no known and previously recorded archaeological resources are located in the VNC.
The NRC staff identified the following consulting parties who are receiving this notification of initiation of Section 106 consultation and finding of adverse effect: California State Historic Preservation Office; California Valley Miwok Tribe; Lytton Rancheria of California. Additionally, the NRC contacted the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to assist in identifying other potentially interested Tribes. The NAHC provide these additional Tribes: Amah Mutsun Tribal Band; Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Mission San Juan Bautista; Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation; Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe; Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan; Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area; Northern Valley Yokut/Ohlone Tribe; Tamien Nation; The Ohlone Indian Tribe; Wilton Rancheria; and the Wuksachi Indian Tribe/Eshom Valley Band. If additional Tribes are identified, the NRC will invite them and provide the adverse effects finding.
C. Gould 3
As a result of the background research, the NRC staff is providing a finding of Adverse Effect pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.5(d)(2) and supporting documentation for your review and consideration. Please provide your concurrence or objection, electronically, to jean.trefethen@nrc.gov within 30 days of your receipt of this finding of effect. Unless provided objection and information for the NRC staff to reconsider the effect assessment, the NRC staff will proceed with consultation on a resolution on adverse effects pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.6.
Sincerely, John Moses, Deputy Director Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos: 05000018 and 05000070
Enclosures:
- 1. Area Map
- 2. Area of Potential Effects Map cc: Cheyenne Gould, Tribal Cultural Resource Manager cvltribe@gmail.com Non-public References available upon request to Jean.Trefethen@NRC.gov:
- 1. State of California, Department of Transportation, and the Alameda County Transportation Commission. 2018. SR 84 Expressway Widening and SR84/I-680 Interchange Improvement Project. Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment with Finding of No Significant Impact.
- 2. SEARCH. Historical Architectural Survey at Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Alameda County, California. SEARCH Project No. E22099. September 2023
- 3. Montrose Environmental Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Cultural Resources Baseline Screening Memorandum. July 6, 2023. To Robert M. Masuoka from Laura Holland.
Signed by Moses, John on 02/26/25
C. Gould 4
SUBJECT:
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INITIATION OF SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND FINDING OF ADVERSE EFFECT RE: VALLECITOS BOILING WATER REACTOR AND GENERAL ELECTRIC TEST REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING AND DEMOLITION ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (DOCKET NUMBERS: 05000018 AND 05000070 )
DATED:
DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC JCaverly, NMSS/REFS WAllen, NMSS/DUWP JParrott, NMSS/DUWP ADAMS Package Accession No: (PKG) ML25007A131 (Ltr) ML25057A337
- concurred via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/DUWP NMSS/REFS NAME JTrefethen AWalker-Smith WAllen MRome DATE 01/21/2025 01/23/2025 01/24/2025 02/26/2025 OFFICE NMSS/REFS NAME JMoses DATE 02/26/2025 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY February 26, 2025