ML25259A320
| ML25259A320 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 09/15/2025 |
| From: | Marinos A Marinos Law Firm, Salem Township, PA, Board of Supervisors |
| To: | Doug Tifft NRC Region 1 |
| Buckberg P | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25259A320 (3) | |
Text
ALICIA C. MARINOS, ESQUIRE Mr. Doug Tifft, State Liaison Officer U.S. NRC Region I 475 Allendale Road, Suite 102 King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 FIRM, LLC September 15, 2025 106 W. FRONT STREET BERWICK, PA 18603 TEL. 570-520 - 4019 FAX 570-520-4084 Re:
Request of Salem Township Board of Supervisors, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Stay the Removal of Emergency Sirens at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station ("SSES 11
) Owned/Operated by Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC (Subsidiary of Talen Energy Corporation)
Dear Mr. Tifft:
As you are aware, the Board of Supervisors of Salem Township, a municipality located within the Emergency Planning Zone ("EPZ") of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station ("SSES"), in Berwick, Pennsylvania, previously expressed their strong opposition to the removal of the emergency siren systems at SSES, a matter which I believe is pending before the NRC for its consideration. My client has asked me to inquire into the status of th is matter.
As I am sure you are aware, the existing emergency siren system was constructed and implemented prior to the commissioning of Unit 1 in 1983, in accordance with the emergency planning requirements established by the NRC and FEMA. The community of Salem Township, together with other the surrounding communities within the ten-mile emergency planning zone, have long relied on the existing emergency siren system as an integral safeguard for their communities.
The existing emergency sirens are a critical early-warning tool necessary to alert residents of potential radiological or other significant emergencies. These sirens serve as a universally recognizable and time-tested method of immediate mass notification, particularly for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, individuals without mobile
devices, individuals who do not have continuous access to mobile devices, and those residing in areas with limited cellular service.
The decision to remove the existing emergency sirens at SSES and to transition to alternate notification systems such as IPAWS, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and the CodeRED platform came as a surprise to my clients. They were not provided with advanced notice of this decision and would have appreciated the opportunity to provide comments and input with respect to this decision. My clients voiced such concerns during previous communications and meetings this year with the NRC, FEMA, PEMA, and other officials and requested the stay of the removal of the sirens at such time.
Upon further review of the Emergency Plan Revision 68 submitted by Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC on January 13, 2025, it appears that such Plan Revision did not include the decommissioning or disabling of the emergency sirens. Further, it is our belief that proper notice of Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC's decision to decommission or disable the sirens was not properly advertised in order to notify the residents of the various municipalities affected and provide the opportunity for meaningful public comment on prior to any decommissioning or disabling of the emergency sirens.
If such an opportunity was provided, we respectfully request documentation or proof of notice to the public, including the date(s), manner of publication, and any opportunities that were afforded to the local officials or residents to voice concerns. We are not aware of any public engagement or meaningful input period preceding this decision by Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC and believe such a process should have been an essential component of the review.
While these new wireless notification systems may serve as a valuable addition to the Radiological Emergency Response Plan for SSES, they are not sufficient or suitable substitutes for the audible, far-reaching reliability of the existing sirens. Redundancy in emergency notification and planning is not merely beneficial -
it is essential. The decision to eliminate one of the most direct and accessible warning mechanisms endangers the public and undermines decades of coordinated emergency preparedness planning. Further, it unnecessarily increases the potential risk of harm to the residents of the surrounding communities.
Accordingly, the Board of Supervisors again respectfully requests that the NRC hold a meeting or public hearing to hear and consider input from local officials and affected residents regarding whether the decommissioning or disabling of the emergency siren systems should be permitted. My client further requests that the NRC take action to stay the decommissioning or disabling of the emergency siren system at SSES in the interim to ensure that the safety and concerns of affected municipalities are adequately addressed.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to safeguarding our region. I look forward to hearing from you in this regard.
Very truly yours, dtM Alicia C. Marinos Cc:
Ms. Melissa Krick, Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC PEMA, Bureau of Technological Hazards FEMA Region 3, Integration Team
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