PNP 2025-064, Rescission of Certifications of Permanent Cessation of Operations and Permanent Removal of Fuel from the Reactor Vessel
| ML25237A317 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 08/25/2025 |
| From: | Fleming J Holtec Palisades |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk |
| References | |
| PNP 2025-064 | |
| Download: ML25237A317 (1) | |
Text
27780 Blue Star Highway, Covert, MI 49043 1Holtec Palisades, LLC (Holtec Palisades) is the licensed owner of PNP. Pursuant to the license transfer amendment received in connection with the PNP restart (Reference 1), licensed operating authority has transferred from HDI to Palisades Energy, LLC (Palisades Energy).
PNP 2025-064 10 CFR 50.12 10 CFR 50.82 August 25, 2025 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-001 Palisades Nuclear Plant NRC Docket No. 50-255 and 72-007 Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-20
Subject:
Rescission of Certifications of Permanent Cessation of Operations and Permanent Removal of Fuel from the Reactor Vessel Palisades Energy, LLC (Palisades Energy) hereby notifies the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that, as of the date of this letter, it is rescinding the certifications of permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP) reactor vessel that were previously submitted pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Section 50.82, Termination of license, of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
The previous operator of PNP submitted these 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) certifications as part of the transition of PNP into decommissioning in 2022 (Reference 1). Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2),
upon docketing of both certifications, PNPs renewed facility operating license (RFOL) no longer authorized operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel in the reactor vessel.
As part of its efforts to resume power operations at PNP, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, Holtec1 submitted a request for an exemption from 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) to authorize rescission of the docketed 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) certifications (Reference 2). On July 24, 2025, NRC issued the exemption (Reference 3), authorizing Holtec to rescind the 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) certifications no earlier than August 25, 2025.
Rescission of the certifications removes the prohibition on operation and emplacement and retention of fuel in the PNP reactora necessary step to support reimplementation of the PNP power operations licensing basis (POLB). On July 24, 2025, NRC issued several other approvals needed to reinstate portions of the POLB and authorized Holtec to rescind exemptions that no longer apply upon exiting decommissioning (References 4-8). Each of these actions are effective upon rescission of the 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) certifications. Palisades Energy has implemented these amendments and taken other actions necessary to implement the POLB as of the date of this letter. NRC continues to review three license amendment requests that are related to PNPs restart but are not required to implement the POLB (References 9-11).
PNP 2025-064 Page 2 of 4 Also, as of the date of this letter, PNP will transition back under NRCs Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) (Reference 12). As previously documented, Palisades Energy will notify the NRC once we have implemented the POLB, Holtec has taken the necessary steps to comply with the reinstated POLB (Reference 13), and NRC has conducted inspections to validate operational readiness as documented in Reference 12. As explained in Reference 13, PNP will initially enter a No Mode status under the power operations Technical Specifications because no operational Modes apply to the current defueled state. This status will allow PNP to receive, possess, and use source and special nuclear material as reactor fuel in accordance with the POLB. Conditions for entry into Mode 6 and for each lower mode will be met prior to each mode change. NRC inspection and assessments will continue under the ROP as the plant progresses through mode changes leading to starting up the reactor and to full power operations.
This letter contains no new commitments and no revised commitments.
If you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Frank Sienczak, Regulatory Assurance Manager, at (269) 764-2263.
Respectfully, Jean Fleming VP of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Holtec Palisades, LLC Digitally signed by Jean A. Fleming DN: cn=Jean A. Fleming, o=Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, ou=Regulatory and Environmental Affairs, email=J.Fleming@Holtec.com Date: 2025.08.25 09:32:08 -04'00' Jean A.
Fleming
PNP 2025-064 Page 3 of 4
References:
- 1. Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. letter to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
Certifications of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations and Permanent Removal of Fuel from the Reactor Vessel, dated June 13, 2022 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22164A067)
- 2. Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (HDI) letter to NRC, Request for Exemption from Certain Termination of License Requirements of 10 CFR 50.82, dated September 28, 2023 (ADAMS Accession No. ML23271A140)
- 3. NRC letter to Holtec International, LLC (Holtec International), Palisades Nuclear Plant -
Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) Concerning the Prohibition to Operate and Place Fuel in the Reactor Vessel (EPID L-2023-LLE-0025), dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25163A182)
- 4. NRC letter to Holtec International, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Order Approving Direct Transfer of Renewed Facility Operating License and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation General License and Issuance of Conforming Amendment No. 275 (EPID L-2023-LLM-0005), dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25167A243)
- 5. Letter from NRC to Holtec International, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Issuance of Amendment No. 276 RE: Amendment Request to Revise Renewed Facility Operating License and Permanently Defueled Specifications to Support Resumption of Power Operations (EPID L-2023-LLA-0174), dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25157A127)
- 6. Letter from NRC to Holtec International, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Issuance of Amendment No.
277 RE: Amendment Request to Revise Selected Permanently Defueled Technical Specifications Administrative Controls to Support Resumption of Power Operations (EPID L-2024-LLA-0013),
dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25157A107)
- 7. Letter from NRC to Holtec International, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Issuance of Amendment No.
278 RE: Revise the Site Emergency Plan to Support Resumption of Power Operations (EPID-L-2024-LLA-0060), dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25150A281)
- 8. Letter from NRC to Holtec International, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Issuance of Amendment No.
279 RE: Biasi Critical Heat Flux Correlation for Use with the Post Scram Main Steam Line Break Analysis (EPID L-2024-LLA-0071), dated July 24, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25156A045)
- 9. Letter from Holtec Palisades, LLC (Holtec Palisades) to NRC, License Amendment Request to Include Leak Before Break Methodology for Primary Coolant System Hot and Cold Leg Piping in Palisades Licensing Basis, dated February 5, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25035A216)
- 10. Letter from Holtec Palisades to NRC, License Amendment Request to Revise Selected Permanently Defueled Technical Specifications to Support Repairing of Steam Generator Tubes by Sleeving, dated February 11, 2025) (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML25043A348 (public version);
ML25042A691 and ML25042A692 (proprietary version)
PNP 2025-064 Page 4 of 4
- 11. Letter from Holtec Palisades to NRC, License Amendment Request to Change the Full Compliance Date for the Fire Protection Program Transition License Condition for Required Modifications, dated June 30, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25175A275)
- 12. Memorandum to Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Director and Region III Administrator, Transition to Operational Status and to the Reactor Oversight Process for Palisades Nuclear Plant, dated July 18, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25147A274)
- 13. Holtec Palisades letter to NRC, Palisades Nuclear Plant - Notification of Readiness for Transition to Power Operations Licensing Basis, dated July 1, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25182A066) cc:
NRC Region III Regional Administrator NRC Senior Resident Inspector - Palisades Nuclear Plant NRC Project Manager - Palisades Nuclear Plant Designated Michigan State Official