Press Release-IV-07-036, - NRC to Hold Public Meetings on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Wolf Creek License Renewal Application

Press Release-IV-07-036 - NRC to Hold Public Meetings on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Wolf Creek License Renewal Application

ML072620531
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	09/19/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-07-036
Download: ML072620531 (2)

Text

No.07-036

Contact: Victor Dricks

Phone: (817) 860-8128 September 19, 2007 E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov NRC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR WOLF CREEK LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION Members of the public will have an opportunity on Nov. 8, to comment on a draft report that assesses the environmental impact of extending the operating license for the Wolf Creek nuclear plant in Burlington, Kan. On Oct. 4, 2006, the NRC received an application from Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp., wh ich operates the plant, to rene w the license for an additional 20 years.

The NRC report, known as the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, was issued on Sept. 18.

As part of its license re newal application, the company submitted an environmental report. The NRC staff reviewed the report and performed an on-site audit. The staff also considered comments made during the environmental scoping pr ocess, and held two public meetings on Dec. 19, 2006, in Burlington. Based on its review, the NRC staff has prepared and issued its draft environmental impact statement, which preliminarily recommends that the Commission determine the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal for the Wolf Creek Generating St ation plant are not so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decision-makers would be unreasonable. This recommendation is based on: 1) the analysis and findings in the Generic Environmental Impact Statement used for license renewal reviews; 2) the plant-specific environmental report submitted by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Co.; 3) NRC consultation with other federal, state and local agencies; 4) the NRC staff's own independent review; and 5) the NRC staff's consideration of public comments received during the environmental scoping process. The NRC will hold two meetings on Nov. 8, to accept comments on the report. The first session will begin at 1:30 p.m. A second session will get under way at 7 p.m. Both meetings will take place at the Coffey County Library, Burlington Branch, 410 Juanita St., Burlington. NRC NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4005

staff will be available for an hour prior to the start of each meeting for informal, one-on-one discussions of the report. Those interested may pre-register to attend or speak at the meetings by contacting Christian Jacobs, the NRC Environmental Project Manager, by telephone at 1-800-368-5642, extension 3874, or by e-mail at WolfCreekEIS@nrc.gov no later than Nov. 1. Members of the public may also register 15 minutes before each session to provide oral comments. The duration of individual comments may be limited by the time available, depending on the number of speakers who register. Written comments on the draft report submitted before Dec. 26 will also be considered by the NRC staff. Comments can be submitted by mail to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Christian Jacobs, Environmental Branch B, Division of License Renewal, Mail Stop 0-11F1, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by e-mail to WolfCreekEIS@nrc.gov . Under NRC regulations, the original operating license for a nuclear power plant has a term of 40 years. The license may be renewed for up to an additional 20 years if NRC requirements are met. The current operating license for Wolf C-reek is due to expire on March 11, 2025.

The draft report is posted on the NRC web page at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/st aff/sr1437/supplement32/. The Wolf Creek license renewal application is posted at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applica tions/wolf-creek.html . Additional information about the license renewal process is available at: www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html. The draft report is also available for review at the Coffey County Library.

NRC news releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html . The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.