ML25352A264
| ML25352A264 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 12/19/2025 |
| From: | Michael Waters Policy and Oversight Branch |
| To: | Doolin J Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| References | |
| Download: ML25352A264 (0) | |
Text
Joel Doolin Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator National Preparedness Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency, 400 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20024
SUBJECT:
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) FINAL FINDING FOR REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF THE OFFSITE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS AND PREPAREDNESS FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE OPERATING LICENSE FOR THE PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT
Dear Mr. Doolin:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding the letter sent to Mr. Kevin Williams, Acting Director of the NRC Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) by Mr. David Gudinas dated September 25, 2025, which provided FEMAs Final Finding for Reasonable Assurance of the Offsite Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness for the Amendment to the Operating License for the Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP) which includes FEMAs approval of the State of Michigans Radiological Emergency Preparedness Plan for PNP.1 On March 13, 2023, PNP requested permission to restart operations2 and to re-establish an Emergency Plan acceptable for operations. FEMA reviewed the offsite emergency plans and provided preliminary findings to NRC on the adequacy of the plans on June 27, 2025. The NRC approved the emergency plan by license amendment dated July 24, 20253 and PNP completed a required full-scale exercise with participation of offsite organizations evaluated by FEMA on July 29, 2025. The final findings by FEMA provided confidence that offsite emergency preparedness is being adequately implemented by Holtec and State organizations for PNP.
PNPs request to restart operations required re-establishment of the portions of its Emergency Plan related to Alert and Notification System (ANS). PNP elected not to reinstate the previously approved siren-based Alert and Notification System (ANS) and to employ the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Wireless Emergency Alerts (IPAWS-WEA) as the primary ANS; a commercial mass notification system with access to a localized database of residential and business phones for official life-safety communications as the back-up ANS; and to employ IPAWS-Emergency Alert System (EAS) as a tertiary ANS system.
Per Section V, Part A of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the 1 NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25272A021 2 ADAMS ML23072A404 3 ADAMS ML25150A281 December 19, 2025
J. Doolin 2
Department of Homeland Security (DHS/FEMA) and the NRC regarding radiological emergencies, planning, and preparedness, dated June 23, 20254, FEMA:
Approves Alert and Notification System (ANS) design reports. When the ANS design report undergoes significant changes,5 including any changes to primary and backup alert methods, FEMA will allow the NRC to review the ANS design report to ensure that the NRC-regulated aspects of ANS are maintained.
As outlined within Section V, Part B, the NRC:
Reviews FEMA's findings and determinations of offsite plans to determine that the plans, including ANS design reports, are adequate and can be effectively implemented.
Consistent with the roles of each respective agency as set forth in the aforementioned MOU, the NRC conducted a review of the FEMA findings. The NRC review of FEMAs assessment considered the applicable requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50, Appendix E,Section IV.D.3.
Furthermore, the NRC staff conducted a risk-informed assessment and thorough review to determine if there is reasonable assurance that backup capability for alert and notification would be available in the event the primary ANS is unavailable during an emergency. The staff concluded that the backup capability does exist and acknowledges that PNP includes a tertiary capability beyond the required backup capability.
In conclusion, the NRC acknowledges receipt of FEMAs final finding for the Palisades offsite emergency response plans and preparedness and accepts its findings for the PNP Alert and Notification System (ANS) Design Report, Revision E, dated May 23, 2025. FEMAs findings enabled the NRC to make its determination of reasonable assurance of public health and safety.
Please feel free to contact my staff, Cindy Rosales-Cooper, Chief, Policy and Oversight Branch at (301) 287-9500 or at Cindy.Rosales-Cooper@nrc.gov, if you have questions.
Sincerely, Michael Waters, Acting Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4 ADAMS ML25225A104 5 A significant change is defined in 44 CFR § 350.14 (b).
Signed by Waters, Michael on 12/19/25