ML26036A316
| ML26036A316 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902130 |
| Issue date: | 02/18/2026 |
| From: | Denise Mcgovern NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL2 |
| To: | Alissa Neuhausen Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| EPID L-2024-LRM-0111 | |
| Download: ML26036A316 (0) | |
Text
MEMORANDUM TO:
Alissa Neuhausen, Branch Chief Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 2 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Denise McGovern, Sr Project Manager Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 2 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JANUARY 29, 2026, PUBLIC MEETING WITH ENERGY NORTHWEST NEW NUCLEAR, LLC, ACCEPTABILITY OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION-GROUNDWATER WHITE PAPER DISCUSSION (EPID NO. L2024LRM0111)
Meeting Information:
Applicant: Energy Northwest New Nuclear, LLC (ENNN)
Docket/Project No.: 99902130 Public Meeting Notice Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No.: ML26026A095 ENNN Presentation Slides ADAMS Accession No.: ML26014A271 Meeting Attendees: See the enclosure for a list of meeting attendees.
CONTACT:
Michelle Vega Rodriguez, NRR/DANU 301415-1170 February 18, 2026 Signed by McGovern, De on 02/18/26
A. Neuhausen Meeting Summary:
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a meeting with Energy Northwest New Nuclear, LLC. (ENNN) in accordance with NRC Management Directive 3.5, Attendance at NRC Staff-Sponsored Meetings (ML21180A271).
ENNN presented slides titled, Acceptability of Existing Groundwater Information near Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, ML26014A271.
ENNN shared their plans to use existing groundwater data for the proposed Cascade Advanced Energy Facility (Cascade) and identify any regulatory or technical issues prior to the Construction Permit Application (CPA) submission. ENNN confirmed that they do not plan to submit a white paper to the NRC at this time; ENNN has only requested a discussion on the presentation slides provided.
Cascade Project Overview
Cascade plans to build up to 12 Xe100 Small Modular Reactors on Washington Nuclear Project (WNP)-1 and WNP4 sites, approximately 1 mile from the Columbia Generating Station (Columbia), 2 miles west of Columbia River, and for a total capacity of 960 MWe.
The site elevation is between 455 and 470 ft NAVD88 and the groundwater depth is expected to be between 82-105 ft.
Extensive groundwater data exists in the area where Cascade will be located and will be used to establish a baseline for the CPA. ENNN plans to install three wells prior to plant construction to monitor groundwater during construction and operation.
ENNN findings are:
Hydraulic properties and groundwater flow direction (west to east toward Columbia River) are well documented.
No downstream groundwater users have been identified.
The groundwater table is far below excavation depth; dewatering is not expected.
ENNN Planned Actions
Install three new shallow monitoring wells (1 upstream, 2 downstream) prior to construction for confirmatory monitoring and compliance with NEI 07-07.
Incorporate Columbia and Department of Energy (DOE) data into the Environmental Report and Preliminary Safety Analysis Report. ENNN plans to use the guidance for these reports provided respectively in RG 4.2, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations and DANU-ISG-2022-02, Advanced Reactor Content of Application Project Chapter 2, Site Information.
Questions & Comments:
NRC acknowledged that ENNNs plan to use existing groundwater data appears reasonable but requested clarity on:
Seasonal variability and Columbia River influence (minimal at site distance).
A. Neuhausen Potential effects of radionuclide transport in groundwater (under evaluation).
Groundwater hazard impact (expected negligible due to depth).
Conclusions
ENNN will leverage existing Columbia and DOE Hanford groundwater data, supplemented by new wells during construction and operation, to meet regulatory requirements for site characterization and hazard analysis. ENNN hopes that the use of existing data and planned monitoring measures meet regulatory expectations for site characterization and hazard analysis during the licensing process.
No regulatory decisions were made as a result of this meeting.
Docket/Project No.: 99902130
Enclosure:
List of Meeting Attendees cc: Cascade Advanced Energy Facility via GovDelivery
A. Neuhausen
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JANUARY 29, 2026, PUBLIC MEETING WITH ENERGY NORTHWEST NEW NUCLEAR, LLC, ACCEPTABILITY OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION-GROUNDWATER WHITE PAPER DISCUSSION (EPID NO. L2024LRM0111). DATED: FEBRUARY 18, 2026 DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDanuUal1 Resource RidsNrrDanuUal2 Resource RidsNrrDanu Resource ANeuhausen MVegaRodriguez DMcGovern TTate CCook LVechioliFeliciano KMcElwee HAhn LCandelario-Quintana AGhosh ADAMS Accession Number: ML26036A316 NRR106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NRR/DANU/UAL2/BC NAME Michelle Vega Rodriguez Denise McGovern Alissa Neuhausen DATE 02/06/2026 02/09/2026 02/10/2026 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NAME Denise McGovern DATE 02/18/2026 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Enclosure List of Meeting Attendees January 29, 2026, Public Meeting with Energy Northwest New Nuclear, LLC, Acceptability of Historical Information-Groundwater White Paper Discussion January 29, 2026 Name Organization Denise McGovern U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Michelle Vega Rodriguez NRC Lucieann Vechioli Feliciano NRC Christopher Cook NRC Hosung Ahn NRC Madelyn Nagel NRC Travis Tate NRC Kristin McElwee NRC Alissa Neuhausen NRC Luissette Candelario-Quintana NRC Nathan D. Clark Energy Northwest New Nuclear, LLC. (ENNN)
Ashlynn Tate ENNN Jeanette Ardiente ENNN Donald W. Gregoire ENNN Lisa L. Williams ENNN Theresa Howell ENNN Stephan C. Moen ENNN Miranda G. Vesely ENNN Greg Boswell Sargent & Lundy David E Nielson Sargent & Lundy Maury A Pressburger Sargent & Lundy Sandra J Jannetty Sargent & Lundy Brian Lipinski William Sale Partnership Global Inc. (WSP)
Erin Alsop WSP Bill Elzinga WSP Derick Haydin WSP Stephen Stumne WSP Chris Musselman WSP Jeff Schubert RIZZO International, Inc.
Deric Tilson Breakthrough Institute Lisa Matis Tetra Tech Shiya Wang Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
Milton Gorden XEnergy Michael I. Dudek XEnergy Jared W.
Member of the public Shanna Bobbins Member of the public