ML25127A195
| ML25127A195 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 05/23/2025 |
| From: | Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1 |
| To: | Loichinger J US Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Office of Federal Agency Programs |
| References | |
| Download: ML25127A195 (1) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Jaime Loichinger, Director Office of Federal Agency Programs Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 401 F Street NW, Suite 308 Washington, DC 20001-2637
SUBJECT:
NOTIFICATION OF SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND THE SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE H. B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT NO. 2 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-261)
Dear Jaime Loichinger:
The purpose of this letter is to notify the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that, in accordance with Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) 800.8(c), the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) intends to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA), through the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), process in lieu of the procedures set forth in 36 CFR 800.3 through 800.6 for an NRC environmental review and also that the NRC has initiated the scoping process for that environmental review. Specifically, the NRC is conducting a review of the environmental effects of the proposed subsequent renewal of the renewed facility operating license for H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (Robinson) for an additional 20 years of operation. Robinson is operated by Duke Energy Progress, LLC (Duke) and is located in Darlington County, South Carolina. Duke submitted an application for Robinson subsequent license renewal (SLR) by 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 Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, authorizes the NRC to issue initial operating licenses for up to 40 years for nuclear power reactors. Upon application and approval, such licenses may be renewed for terms of up to an additional 20 years for each renewal. SLR is defined as the term consisting of the period of extended operation from 60 to 80 years. The NRC makes the decision to approve or deny an SLR application based on whether the applicant has demonstrated that the safety and environmental requirements in the agencys regulations can be met during the period of extended operation. The NRC renewed the Robinson initial operating license on April 19, 2004; the renewed operating license expires on July 31, 2030. If approved, the requested SLR would extend the expiration date to July 31, 2050.
As part of its environmental review of an SLR application, the NRC prepares a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS), which is a plant-specific supplement to NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (ML24087A133), consistent with the NRCs environmental protection regulations at 10 CFR May 23, 2025
J. Loichinger 2
Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions. These regulations also implement Section 102(2) of NEPA. The SEIS will include the identification of historic properties and historic and cultural resources, an assessment of impacts, and a determination. During the preparation of the SEIS, the NRC will follow the procedural requirements and standards set out in 36 CFR 800.8(c).
In the context of the NHPA, the NRC has determined that the area of potential effects (APE) for the Robinson 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 operations and maintenance and/or refurbishment activities. The APE may extend beyond the site if such activities affect offsite historic properties. This determination is made irrespective of land ownership or control.
Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8, the NRC invited parties who may be interested in the proposed action (Robinson SLR) to consult regarding the protection of historic properties, including the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer, Indian Tribes that might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties in the APE, and other parties that have a demonstrated interest in the effects of the undertaking, including local governments and the public, as applicable. Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC invited the public to submit any comments that they may have regarding the scope of the NRCs environmental review of the proposed action through the issuance of a notice in the Federal Register.
The NRC expects to publish a draft of its SEIS for the Robinson SLR application in March 2026.
The NRC will forward the draft SEIS to you for your review and comment. After consideration of public comments and comments received from consulting parties, the NRC plans to issue the final draft of the SEIS in August 2026.
If you have any questions concerning the NRCs NHPA Section 106 consultation or environmental review, please contact 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, within 30 days.
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 cc: Listserv Bill Marzella, Program Analyst bmarzella@achp.gov e106@achp.gov Lopas, Sarah signing on behalf of Rome, Michelle on 05/23/25
J. Loichinger 3
SUBJECT:
NOTIFICATION OF SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND THE SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE H. B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT NO. 2 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 50-261)
Date:
DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDnrl Resource RidsNrrPMRobinson Resource ASiwy, NRR/DNRL ANeuhausen, NRR/DNRL SKoenick, NMSS/REFS MRome, NMSS/REFS KLoomis, NMSS/REFS KConway, NMSS/REFS JDavis, NMSS/REFS BGoldstein NMSS/REFS MSampson, NRR/DNRL SLee, NRR/DNRL DRoth, OGC LHaeg, DORL MConley, HQ/OPA LWilkins, RII/OCA CWolf, OCA JZeiler, RII/DORS CDorman, RII/DORS DGasperson, RII/OPA ADAMS Package Accession No: ML25127A193 (Letter) ML25127A195* via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS OGC NMSS/REFS NAME AWalker-Smith KLoomis JWachutka BGoldstein DATE 5/7/2025 5/7/2025 5/20/2025 5/22/2025 OFFICE NMSS/REFS NAME MRome DATE 5/23/2025 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY May 23, 2025