ML18248A134

Letter: Invitation to Participate as a Cooperating Agency in Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Holtec Consolidation Interim Storage Facility, Lea County New Mexico

ML18248A134
Person / Time
Site:	HI-STORE
Issue date:	10/01/2018
From:	Roman C Environmental Review Branch
To:	Stovall J US Dept of Interior, Bureau of Land Mgmt (BLM)
Imboden S
Shared Package
ML18248A133	List: ML18248A134 ML18290A458
References
Download: ML18248A134 (3)

Text

J. Stovall UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 1, 2018 Mr. James Stovall, District Manager Pecos District U.S. Bureau of Land Management 2909 West Second Street Roswell, NM 88201-2019

SUBJECT:

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE AS A COOPERATING AGENCY IN PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED HOLTEC CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY, LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO (DOCKET NO.: 72-1051)

Dear Mr. Stovall:

The purpose of this letter is to invite the Carlsbad Field Office, Pecos District, of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to participate as a cooperating agency in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),

pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). The NRC received an application from Holtec International (Holtec) requesting authorization to construct and operate a HI-STORE consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel at a site in Lea County, New Mexico. As part of this action, Holtec plans to submit an application to BLM for an easement for a railroad spur to be constructed across BLM land, connecting the proposed site to an industrial railroad. The railroad spur would be used for transportation of the spent fuel from the rail line to the CISF site. Both NRC and BLM have responsibilities under the NEPA regarding the environmental impacts of these actions.

Enclosed is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NRC and BLM for the environmental review. The purpose of the MOU is to establish a framework for early coordination and participation between the two agencies to ensure the timely review of the proposed CISF. Cooperation between the NRC and the BLM on the Holtec application will ensure that each agencys review responsibilities under NEPA and other related statutes are met in connection with their respective jurisdictions. The general roles and responsibilities of the NRC (as lead agency) and the BLM (as cooperating agency) in developing an EIS for the Holtec CISF are provided in the attached referenced MOU.

NRC requests your signature as a party to this MOU for the duration of the environmental review. Please sign and return the MOU at your earliest convenience via email to the Environmental Project Manager, Ms. Jill Caverly, at Jill.Caverly@nrc.gov. The MOU will become publicly available upon receipt of your signature.

J. Stovall 2 If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Caverly, by telephone at 301-415-7674, or via e-mail at the above-mentioned address.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cinthya I. Román, Chief Environmental Review Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental Review Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 72-1051

Enclosure:

Memorandum of Understanding

J. Stovall 2

SUBJECT:

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE AS A COOPERATING AGENCY IN PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED HOLTEC CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY, LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO (DOCKET NO. 72-1051)

DATED: October 1, 2018 Distribution: MLayton; BSmith; JMcKirgan; JCuadrado; ADAMS Package Accession Number: ML18248A133

• via email OFC FCSE/ERB FCSE/ERB FCSE/ERB FCSE/ERB OGC NMSS/FCSE NAME SImboden JCaverly AWalker-Smith CRomán CHair BSmith for CErlanger DATE 9/06 /2018 9/06/2018 9/17/2018 10/01/2018 9/26/2018 10/01/2018 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY