ML25079A324
| ML25079A324 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kemmerer File:TerraPower icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/23/2025 |
| From: | Sarah Lopas NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1 |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25079A323 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML25079A324 (1) | |
Text
ML25079A324 Summary of February 25, 2025, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tribal Information Workshop on the TerraPower Construction Permit Application for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 in Lincoln County, Wyoming Attendees U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): John Moses, Sarah Lopas (NHPA Section 106 Point of Contact for the TerraPower Project), Michelle Rome, Pat Vokoun, Dan Barnhurst, Bill Burris, Mallecia Sutton, Connor McCune Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (NRC contractor): Cyler Conrad (Project Archaeologist)
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED): Gretchen Applegate, Amy Shanahan, Katherine Tipton Tribal Representatives: Trina Lone Hill (Oglala Sioux), Carolyn Smith and Louise Dixey (Shoshone-Bannock Tribe), Gary LaFranier (Northern Cheyenne Tribe), Dyan Youpee (Fort Peck Tribe), Crystal CBearing (Northern Arapaho Tribe), Martina Minthorn (Comanche Nation)
TerraPower Representatives (present for first half of meeting): Eric Williams, George Wilson, Nick Kellenberger, Beth Dalick, Mark Karpinski (Tetra Tech - archaeological contractor),
Lisa Matis (Tetra Tech - archaeological contractor), Kyra Perkins (Bechtel - environmental contractor)
NRC Introductory Presentation NRCs publicly available slides are available in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System at ML25070A002.
Sarah Lopas began the meeting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time by introducing herself as the point-of-contact for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review and consultation for the TerraPower Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 project. She noted that on February 5, 2025, she sent to all consulting Tribes an adverse effects letter (ML24358A177) and TerraPowers Class III archaeological survey report (publicly available version of report available at ML25049A292).
John Moses, Deputy Director of the NRCs Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support, welcomed everyone, and he noted the importance of ensuring that the NRC provides Tribes with ample opportunity to engage and consult on the TerraPower Kemmerer Unit 1 project.
Sarah Lopas covered the goals of the workshop: to provide overview information on the TerraPower construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1, the NRCs licensing review process, historic and cultural resources at the Kemmerer Unit 1 site, the NRCs adverse effects determination, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) process, next steps in the NHPA Section 106 consultation, and beginning a dialogue with Tribes on the adverse effects and MOA development as part of the government-to-government consultation process.
Summary of 02/25/2025 NRC Tribal Workshop for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Page 2 of 6 Sarah Lopas walked through the NRCs mission statement, how TerraPower will need both a construction permit and an operating license from the NRC to build and operate Kemmerer Unit 1, and how the NRC is conducting both a safety review and an environmental review (as required by the National Environmental Policy Act) of the TerraPower construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1.
Sarah Lopas noted that the NRC is leading both the NHPA Section 106 consultation and the NEPA review, and that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is a cooperating agency for both of those reviews.
Sarah Lopas then introduced Eric Williams, Senior Vice President, Project Director & Design Authority at TerraPower.
TerraPower Presentation TerraPowers publicly available slides are available in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System at ML25058A245.
On Slide 2 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams provided an overview of the Kemmerer Unit 1 project and background, and what the Natrium advanced reactor technology involves.
Eric Williams described that the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 project began back in 2020 when TerraPower submitted an application to the DOE for their advanced reactor demonstration program. TerraPower signed a contract with DOE in 2021 for 50/50 cost share award for the Natrium reactor project. TerraPower submitted the Kemmerer Unit 1 construction permit application to the NRC in May 2024. Eric Williams described the Natrium reactor that would be at the Kemmerer site - the Natrium reactor project can deliver about 840 megawatts-thermal of energy and it can convert 500 megawatts to the electrical grid for power. The Natrium reactor is a design that doesnt use water for cooling and uses a more innovative type of fuel than traditional large light water nuclear reactors.
On Slide 3 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams explained that TerraPower created a new entity called USO company that was set up to become the recipient of the DOE award, is the applicant to the NRC for the Kemmerer Unit 1 license and is the entity would own the plant.
Eric Williams reviewed the large number of partners that are helping with the project, including Hitachi, Bechtel, PacifiCorp, Global Nuclear Fuel, Energy Northwest, Centrus, Orano, Duke Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of Wisconsin.
On Slide 4 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams explained the area where the project is located in Lincoln County, Wyoming, near the Naughton Coal Plant (which is scheduled to go offline/be retired in the coming years).
On Slide 5 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams showed the main features of the site, including the nuclear island and the molten salt piping that leads to the steam generation portion of the site.
Slide 6 of the TerraPower presentation featured a video that can be accessed at https://youtu.be/Na5Nkl0p3rs - this video shows a 3-D model of the planned site.
On Slide 7 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams discussed a detailed figure of the nuclear island and noted that the radiological equipment is underground.
Summary of 02/25/2025 NRC Tribal Workshop for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Page 3 of 6 On Slides 8 and 9 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams covered the safety features of the Natrium reactor - control, cool, and contain - and the fact that the reactor operates at atmospheric pressure and can be kept cool even in an emergency type of situation.
On Slide 10 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams talked about the 400-meter emergency planning zone that is completely contained within the site boundary, and that this small emergency planning zone is one of the benefits of having robust safety features.
On Slide 11 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams discussed the type of fuel the Natrium reactor will use - high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). The fuel tubes are made of steel, they will contain fuel pellets and will be about 16 feet long.
On Slide 12 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams spoke about spent nuclear fuel storage and how the Kemmerer facility would have a license to store spent nuclear fuel onsite in horizontal or vertical spent fuel storage casks.
On Slide 13 of the TerraPower presentation, Eric Williams covered the Project Phases and Timeline, explaining some major milestones including construction permit submittal, when site preparation and construction is planned to occur, and when an operating license application will be submitted to the NRC. TerraPower plans to eventual start the plant in 2030.
At this point, the presentation was handed over to Mark Karpinski, Tetra Tech cultural resources project manager.
On Slide 15 of the TerraPower presentation, Mark Karpinski gave an overview of Tribal engagements for the TerraPower project, including Tribal participation in field surveys for the Class III Cultural Resources Inventory (publicly available report ML25049A292); a Tribal Summit hosted by TerraPower in October 2022; a Tribal Blessing organized by TerraPower in April 2024; and the Wind River Job Corp Tour hosted by TerraPower in October 2024.
On Slide 16 of the TerraPower presentation, Mark Karpinski stated that based on the results of the Class III Cultural Resources Inventory, TerraPower developed training for avoidance and protection, including procedures to remain outside of exclusion areas, notifying supervisors of possible discoveries, archaeologist monitors work conducted near exclusion areas, and archaeologist conducts monthly inspections. Mark Karpinski stated that this cultural resource protection plan has been implemented successfully so far.
On Slides 17-20 of the TerraPower presentation, Mark Karpinski showed maps of the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 construction areas overlain with the cultural sites and detailed figures of historic properties 48LN740 and 48LN8940 (these figures are redacted in the publicly available presentation). As noted in the February 2025 letters to tribes, Mark Karpinski reiterated that sites 48LN740 and 48LN8940 could be adversely affected by the currently planned construction of the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1. (The currently planned construction could be changed to potentially avoid impacts. TerraPower is planning to conduct additional archaeological testing to determine if the sites can be avoided.)
On Slide 21 of the TerraPower presentation, Mark Karpinski reviewed next steps, including NRCs letters notifying Tribes (ML24358A177), the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ML24358A091) of adverse effects to sites 48LN740 and 48LN8940 and transmittal of the Class III Cultural Resource Survey report. Mark Karpinski explained that Tetra Tech has prepared a historic properties treatment plan - which
Summary of 02/25/2025 NRC Tribal Workshop for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Page 4 of 6 includes the methodology to mitigate adverse effects based on standards for these types of sites and to further investigate potential adverse effects and methods for mitigation. Mark Karpinski notes that the forthcoming MOA being prepared by the NRC will stipulate what the plan is to mitigate any adverse effects.
This concluded TerraPowers presentation. TerraPower left the workshop so the NRC could proceed with the government-to-government portion of the workshop.
NRC Concluding Presentation NRC picked up the presentation with Sarah Lopas introducing Cyler Conrad, who is an archaeologist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (NRC contractor) and who is project archaeologist for the NRCs review of the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1.
Cyler Conrads presentation on behalf of the NRC began with overview information the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 site, located 3 miles south of Kemmerer, WY. Cyler Conrad gave some information on the Kemmerer site environment, and the field work that was completed by Tetra Tech from 2022 through 2024 to survey the site for historic and cultural resources. Cyler Conrad noted that three Tribes participated in the 2022 field work: the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the Comanche Nation, and the Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma.
Cyler Conrad provided some details on the cultural resources found at the site, including National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible sites 48LN740 and 48LN8940.
48LN740: This historic property is a multi-component prehistoric and historic-era artifact scatter with both surface and sub-surface contexts. Identified artifacts include Middle Archaic to Late Prehistoric projectile points, worked stone tools and debitage, heat-altered rocks, and various metal and glass historic items. The site is eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for its information potential. Currently planned construction of Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 will have an adverse effect on 48LN740 because this area will be graded, disturbed, and modified for the construction of a parking lot and other associated structures.
48LN8940; This historic property is a multi-component prehistoric and historic-era artifact scatter with both surface and sub-surface contexts. Identified artifacts include one Late Archaic and one non-diagnostic projectile point, other worked stone tools and debitage, and various metal and glass historic items. The site is eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for its information potential. Currently planned construction of the transmission and water supply lines will have an adverse effect on 48LN8940 because this area will be graded, disturbed, and modified for the construction and installation of these utilities.
Cyler Conrad handed the presentation back over to Sarah Lopas of the NRC to discuss the MOA process. Sarah Lopas stated that the MOA will follow the ACHP template and will include TerraPowers Historic Properties Treatment Plan. Sarah Lopas also stated that TerraPower was planning on conducting additional archaeological testing of site 48LN740 to determine whether TerraPower could avoid the contributing portion of the site. So, there was the possibility that based on further investigation, the preliminary draft MOA could be updated based on the results of that testing.
On the final two slides of the NRC presentation, Sarah Lopas went over the schedule for the MOA - stating that a preliminary version of the draft MOA will be shared with Tribes in late March, the NRC was hoping to arrange for a site visit for interested in Tribes in the second half
Summary of 02/25/2025 NRC Tribal Workshop for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Page 5 of 6 of April, and that the NRC was hoping to get any early feedback and comments on the preliminary draft MOA by early May. The NRC would then publish the draft MOA for public comment in summer, around the same time as the draft environmental impact statement is published for public comment. Sarah Lopas reiterated that the MOA would likely evolve over time based on feedback from Tribes and other consulting parties, and any results of TerraPowers additional investigation of the historic sites and whether they can avoid the sites.
Sarah Lopas ended the NRC slide presentation by stating that next steps included sending out a summary of the workshop and working with Tribes to schedule a site visit the week of April 21 or April 28, 2025.
Feedback Heard from Participating Tribes The NRC should be aware of specific government-to-government consultation protocols required by Tribes. Some Tribes may not consider government-to-government consultation to be official unless the Federal agency follows the Tribes protocol for formally initiating consultation.
A question was asked about how and where radioactive waste would be stored on the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 site. Eric Williams of TerraPower responded to this question by stating that up to 10 years of spent fuel could be stored in the spent fuel pool, and then spent fuel would eventually be stored in either horizontal or vertical spent fuel storage casks that would be located onsite on a concrete pad. TerraPower acknowledged the spent fuel would remain in casks onsite until it was moved to an interim storage facility or a permanent repository. Eric Williams also noted that low-level radioactive waste would be shipped to an offsite waste storage facility, however, TerraPower had not yet determined which low-level waste storage facility that would be.
A question was asked about Class III surveys that were done near the parking lot site 48LN740 back in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, related to construction and maintenance of Highway 189 (which intersects site 48LN740) - specifically, the question was whether there were any inadvertent discoveries of human remains and where recovered archaeological resources were sent. Mark Karpinski of Tetra Tech stated that the materials that were excavated for the construction of Highway 189 were sent to the University of Wyoming, and there was no evidence of human remains, or inadvertent discovery of human remains yet.
A question was asked about NRCs Tribal meeting on September 24, 2024 - NRC responded that only one Tribal representative attended that meeting, and a summary of that meeting was issued to all Tribes on October 10, 2024.
Three Tribal representatives indicated their interest in attending the April 21 or April 28, 2025, site visit to the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 site. Sarah Lopas indicated that she would coordinate the visit and travel with them.
A question was asked whether any other nuclear facilities existed like the proposed Natrium project. Mallecia Sutton of the NRC responded that this would be first of a kind in the United States.
A question was asked about whether it would be safe to site the reactor considering seismic activity around Yellowstone. Mallecia Sutton of the NRC responded that the NRC reviews seismic data as part of the safety evaluation, and that a publicly available safety audit report would be available in March 2025 documenting some of this
Summary of 02/25/2025 NRC Tribal Workshop for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Page 6 of 6 evaluation. Sarah Lopas added that the NRC does a very thorough safety review of reactor applications, and the reactor would not be licensed if it wasnt safe.
A question was asked about whether the Presidents executive order Declaring a National Energy Emergency affected the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 project.
Michelle Rome of the NRC said that the NRC staff were still evaluating the executive orders that the President had recently signed, however, at the time, we did not expect any impacts to the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 project. Sarah Lopas of the NRC reiterated that there were no schedule changes anticipated at this time for the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 NHPA Section 106 review.
A question was asked about how the Idaho National Laboratory was involved with the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 project. Cyler Conrad of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory responded that the Idaho National Laboratory had a sodium fast-reactor testing facility that helped test some aspects of the Natrium reactor technology.
Meeting concluded at 4:37 p.m. Eastern Time.