ML25217A549
| ML25217A549 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kemmerer File:TerraPower icon.png |
| Issue date: | 08/04/2025 |
| From: | Gaffney M Wyoming Outdoor Council |
| To: | Patricia Vokoun Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Administration |
| References | |
| NRC-2024-0078, 90FR26333 00007 | |
| Download: ML25217A549 (1) | |
Text
PUBLIC SUBMISSION As of: 8/5/25, 5:58 PM Received: August 04, 2025 Status: Pending_Post Tracking No. mdx-rdg3-lv0o Comments Due: August 04, 2025 Submission Type: Web Docket: NRC-2024-0078 US SFR Owner, LLC; Construction Permit Application Comment On: NRC-2024-0078-0044 US SFR Owner, LLC; Kemmerer Power Station, Unit 1; Draft Environmental Impact Statement Document: NRC-2024-0078-DRAFT-0042 Comment on FR Doc # 2025-11307 Submitter Information Email:matt@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org Organization:Wyoming Outdoor Council General Comment See attached file(s)
Attachments Comment letter - Natrium 8/5/25, 5:58 PM NRC-2024-0078-DRAFT-0042 (1).html file:///C:/Users/BHB1/Downloads/NRC-2024-0078-DRAFT-0042 (1).html 1/1 SUNI Review Complete Template=ADM-013 E-RIDS=ADM-03 ADD: Patricia Vokoun, Mary Neely Comment (7)
Publication Date:
6/20/2025 Citation: 90 FR 26333
August 4, 2025 Patricia Vokoun, Project Manager Environmental Project Management Branch 3 Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Comments submitted online at:
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NRC-2024-0078-0044
Dear Ms. Vokoun:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("DEIS") for the Construction Permit Application for the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1.
I work for the Wyoming Outdoor Council (WOC), and our mission is to protect Wyoming's environment now and for future generations. As Wyomings oldest independent statewide conservation organization, WOC has members across the state - including Lincoln County and the City of Kemmerer. We believe that public lands, wildlife, clean air and clean water are worth defending in the Equality State.
WOC has three main comments regarding the DEIS:
- 1. WOC urges the NRC to take the original 26 months for review of this project, rather than the 19 month expedited review period recently announced by the NRC. If that does not come to fruition, we urge the NRC to communicate clearly to the public and interested stakeholders what aspects of the application will be shortened or omitted with the expedited review and why this truncated timeline is necessary? Particularly, given the fact that sodium cooled fast reactors have never proven commercially or financially viable for sustained periods of time in the United States due to 1
the highly corrosive nature of sodium. The NRC should take the initial review period of 26 months, and potentially longer if necessary, to closely scrutinize this project due to potential threats to the environment and human health and safety.
- 2. While WOC understands the logic of separating out the Construction License permitting process from the Operational License permitting processes, it seems unlikely that the Construction License would be approved and the Operational License denied. The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated up to $2,000,000,000 of matching funds for this project as well.
WOC realizes there are substantial federal resources committed to this project, yet we hope that doesn't impact the NRC's ability to analyze the project without bias or favor.
- 3. Finally, WOC urges the NRC to listen to community concerns and needs in Kemmerer, Lincoln County and Western Wyoming about the project and eliminate or mitigate potential impacts as best as possible.
As a first of its kind project, its success or failure will set a powerful precedent for future advanced nuclear projects in Wyoming and the United States. We see building and maintaining community trust, transparency, and engagement as keys to the projects success. The DEIS should take into consideration the reasonably foreseeable local environmental and socio-economic impacts of construction activities including:
- 1. Water and waste-water uses
- 2. Community infrastructure needs
- 3. Potential impacts from temporary and permanent workforces
- 4. Impacts to local recreation, grazing, and historical uses of the land near the plant Similarly, we suggest identifying areas where construction of the facility might overlap infrastructure needs of Lincoln County and/or the City of Kemmerer such as enhancing roads, water, sewer, housing, and land-use planning. This is a worthy use of the NRC's time in the review process for this project.
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Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
/s/ Matt Gaffney Matt Gaffney Legal and Governmental Relations Director Wyoming Outdoor Council 3