ML25127A108
| ML25127A108 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 05/23/2025 |
| From: | Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1 |
| To: | Chavis L Beaver Creek Indians |
| References | |
| Download: ML25127A108 (1) | |
Text
L. Chavis UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Louie Chavis, Chief Beaver Creek Indians 230 Pine Street NW P.O Box 699 Salley, SC 29137
SUBJECT:
INITIATION OF SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE H.B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT 2 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-261)
Dear Chief Louie Chavis:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is conducting a review of the environmental effects of the proposed renewal of the operating license for H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit 2 (Robinson) for an additional 20 years. Robinson is operated by Duke Energy Progress, LLC (Duke), and is located in Darlington County, South Carolina (see enclosures). Duke submitted an application for subsequent license renewal (SLR) in a letter dated April 1, 2025, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants. The application is available through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), which is accessible online at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html under Package Accession No. ML25091A290. The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the NRC staffs environmental review activities.
The NRC has defined SLR to be the period of extended operation from 60 years to 80 years.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, authorizes the NRC to issue 40-year initial licenses, and upon application and approval, renew licenses for nuclear power reactors. The NRCs regulations limit these renewals to 20-year increments. Approval of a renewed license is based on the outcome of a safety and environmental review. The NRC renewed the operating license on April 19, 2004; the current operating license expires on July 31, 2030. If approved, the requested SLR would extend the operating license expiration date to July 31, 2050.
As part of the NRCs license renewal review, a plant-specific supplement to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, is prepared in accordance with 10 CFR 51, the NRCs environmental protection regulations.
These regulations also implement Section 102(2) of the National Environment Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). In accordance with 36 CFR 800.8(c), the NRC intends to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA),
through the NEPA process.
May 23, 2025
L. Chavis 2
In the context of NHPA, the NRC staff has determined that the area of potential effects (APE) for this SLR includes lands within the nuclear power plant site boundary and the transmission lines up to the first substation that may be directly or indirectly affected by land-disturbing or other operational activities associated with continued plant operations and maintenance and/or refurbishment activities. The APE may extend beyond the site if maintenance and operational activities affect offsite historic properties. This determination is made irrespective of land ownership or control.
In accordance with the NRCs January 9, 2017 Tribal Policy Statement (82 FR 2402), the NRC wishes to ensure that state recognized Tribes are afforded the opportunity to participate in the NRCs licensing and regulatory processes.. The NRC invites you to provide input relating to the NRCs environmental review of the SLR application. Please provide any comments that you may have within 30 days of the date of this letter. The NRC plans to hold a virtual public scoping meeting (webinar) to discuss the Robinson SLR application. The public meeting details can be found on the NRCs public meeting schedule webpage at https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg.
The NRC expects to publish a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) in March 2026. The NRC will forward the draft SEIS to you for your review and comment. This draft SEIS will include identification of historic properties and historic and cultural resources, an assessment of impacts, and a preliminary determination. After consideration of public comments and comments received from consulting parties, the NRC plans to issue the final SEIS in August 2026.
You may submit any comments or questions concerning the NRCs SLR review to Beau Goldstein, Staff Archaeologist, by phone at 301-415-1765 or via email at Beau.Goldstein@nrc.gov; or Karen Loomis, Environmental Project Manager by phone at 301-415-5142 or via email at Karen.Loomis@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Michelle Rome, Chief Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environment, and Financial Support, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 50-261 Enc: as stated cc:
Kathleen Chavis, Tribal Secretary klcrothers@beavercreekindians.org Lopas, Sarah signing on behalf of Rome, Michelle on 05/23/25
L. Chavis 3
SUBJECT:
INITIATION OF SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE H.B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT 2 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-261)
DATE:
DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDnrl Resource RidsACRS_MailCTR Resource RidsRgn3MailCenter Resource RidsNrrPMClinton Resource ASiwy, NRR/DNRL MYoo, NRR/DNRL MSampson, NRR/DNRL SLee, NRR/DNRL KLoomis, NMSS/REFS KConway, NMSS/REFS SKoenick, NMSS/REFS MRome, NMSS/REFS JDavis, NMSS/REFS BGoldstein NMSS/REFS NMorgan, NMSS/MSST TKeene, OEDO/AO SBurnell, HQ/OPA CWolf, OCA KWilson, OGC ADAMS Package Accession Nos: PKG: ML25127A106 ML ML25127A108(Letter)* via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NAME AWalker-Smith KLoomis BGoldstein MRome DATE 5/7/2025 5/7/2025 5/7/2025 5/7/2025 OFFICE OGC NMSS/REFS NAME DATE 5/20/2025 5/ /2025 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY May 23, 2025