ML13330A485

License Renewal Application Review

ML13330A485
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	12/23/2013
From:	David Wrona NRC/NRR/DLR/RERGUB
To:	Boggan P State of LA, Office of Historic Preservation
References
Download: ML13330A485 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mr. Phil Boggan Office of Historic Preservation Division of Historic Preservation P.O. Box 44247 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 December 23, 2013

SUBJECT:

GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW

Dear Mr. Boggan:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting an environmental review of the effects of renewing the operating license for Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (GGNS). Grand Gulf is located in Claiborne County, Mississippi approximately 25 miles south of Vicksburg, Mississippi and is operated by Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy).

As part of its review of the proposed action, the NRC has prepared a draft site-specific Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to its Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437.

The draft SEIS includes analyses of relevant environmental issues, including potential impacts to historic, archeological and cultural properties from extended operation and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal. As stated in our January 20, 2012, letter to you, the NRC has determined that the area of potential effect (APE) for a license renewal action is the area at the power plant site and its immediate environs that may be impacted by post-license renewal land disturbing operation or projected refurbishment activities associated with the proposed action. The NRC views the APE for the GGNS license renewal as including the GGNS site and the immediate environs.

In the context of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, under which the draft environmental impact statement was prepared, the NRC staff's preliminary determination is that the impact of license renewal on historical and archaeological resources is small, and additional mitigation is not warranted.

Under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the NRC staff's preliminary determination is that no historic properties will be affected by the proposed action. In support of this conclusion, the NRC has conducted an environmental audit at the site and performed an independent analysis and review of historic and archaeological records. The NRC also contacted four Native American Tribes identified as having potential interest in the proposed undertaking.

Two tribes--the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma --responded with seeping comments.

These did not voice any concerns with the undertaking but did ask for notification if historic and cultural resources of cultural significance were discovered on the GGNS site. The NRC has taken the comments into consideration while preparing the draft SEIS. Appendix D of this draft SEIS contains copies of these letters.

P. Boggan 2 A copy of the draft SEIS with this conclusion is enclosed.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft supplement and on our preliminary conclusions.

Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket ID NRC-2011-0262.

Written comments may be mailed to the NRC at: Cindy Bladey, Chief Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB) Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN-06-44M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Please note that the public comment period for the draft SEIS ends on February 11, 2014. Two public meetings to discuss the findings of the draft SEIS will be held at the Port Gibson City Hall, 1005 College Street, Port Gibson, Mississippi, 39150 on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. The first session will convene at 2:00p.m. and will continue until 3:30p.m., as necessary.

The second session will convene at 7:00p.m. and will continue until 8:30p.m., as necessary.

A meeting notice will be published shortly providing more details about those public meetings.

A separate Notice of Availability of the draft SEIS will be placed in the Federal Register through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Emily Larson, Social Scientist, at 301-415-1151 or by e-mail at Emily.Larson@nrc.gov.

Docket Nos. 50-416

Enclosure:

Sincerely, !}J"" David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 50 cc w/encls: Listserv P. Boggan 2 A copy of the draft SEIS with this conclusion is enclosed.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c), we are requesting your comments on the draft supplement and on our preliminary conclusions.

Electronic comments on the draft SEIS may be submitted to the NRC by accessing www.regulations.gov and searching for Docket ID NRC-2011-0262.

Written comments may be mailed to the NRC at: Cindy Bladey, Chief Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB) Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN-06-44M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Please note that the public comment period for the draft SEIS ends on February 11, 2014. Two public meetings to discuss the findings of the draft SEIS will be held at the Port Gibson City Hall, 1005 College Street, Port Gibson, Mississippi, 39150 on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. The first session will convene at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 3:30 p.m., as necessary.

The second session will convene at 7:00p.m. and will continue until 8:30p.m., as necessary.

A meeting notice will be published shortly providing more details about those public meetings.

A separate Notice of Availability of the draft SEIS will be placed in the Federal Register through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Emily Larson, Social Scientist, at 301-415-1151 or by e-mail at Emily.Larson@nrc.gov.

Docket Nos. 50-416

Enclosure:

Sincerely, IRA by William Ford for/ David J. Wrona, Chief Environmental Review and Guidance Update Branch Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 50 cc w/encls: Listserv DISTRIBUTION:

See next page Adams Accession Number* ML13330A485 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:DLR/RPB2 RERB Technical BC:DLR/RERB Staff Member NAME YEdmonds DO rucker Elarson OW rona DATE 12/13/2013 12/18/2013 12/23/2013 12/23/2013 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 DISTRIBUTION:

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