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{{#Wiki_filter:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS:  
{{#Wiki_filter:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS:
Allison M. Macfarlane, Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki George Apostolakis William D. Magwood, IV William C. Ostendorff
                                                        )
In the Matter of                                        )
                                                        )
CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR PROJECT, LLC                    ) Docket No. 52-016-COL (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3)            )
                                                        )
DETROIT EDISON CO.                                      ) Docket No. 52-033-COL (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3)                    )
                                                        )
DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC                              ) Docket Nos. 52-018-COL, (William States Lee III Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2) )            52-019-COL
                                                        )
ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.                        ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR, (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3)        )              50-286-LR
                                                        )
ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.                                ) Docket No. 50-416-LR (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1)                    )
                                                        )
ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.                                ) Docket No. 52-024-COL (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 3)                    )
                                                        )
EXELON GENERATION CO., LLC                              ) Docket Nos. 50-352-LR, (Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2)            )              50-353-LR
                                                        )
EXELON NUCLEAR TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC                      ) Docket No. 52-042 (Victoria County Station Site)                          )
                                                        )
FIRSTENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.                      ) Docket No. 50-346-LR (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1)            )
                                                        )
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.                              ) Docket Nos. 52-040-COL, (Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7)                          )              52-041-COL
                                                        )
LUMINANT GENERATION CO. LLC                            ) Docket Nos. 52-034-COL, (Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4)      )              52-035-COL
                                                        )
NEXTERA ENERGY SEABROOK, LLC                            ) Docket No. 50-443-LR (Seabrook Station, Unit 1)                              )


Allison M. Macfarlane, Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki George Apostolakis William D. Magwood, IV William C. Ostendorff
                                                                                                                )
 
NUCLEAR INNOVATION NORTH AMERICA LLC                           ) Docket Nos. 52-012-COL, (South Texas Project Units 3 and 4)                             )               52-013-COL
In the Matter of
                                                                )
 
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO.                                     )  Docket Nos. 50-275-LR, (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2)              )                50-323-LR
CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR PROJECT, LLC (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3)  
                                                                )
 
PPL BELL BEND, LLC                                             )  Docket No. 52-039-COL (Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant)                                )
DETROIT EDISON CO.
                                                                )
(Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3)
PROGRESS ENERGY CAROLINAS, INC.                                 )  Docket Nos. 52-022-COL, (Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units 2 and 3)             )                52-023-COL
DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC (William States Lee III Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2)
                                                                )
 
PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC.                                   )  Docket Nos. 52-029-COL, (Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2)               )                52-030-COL
ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.
                                                                )
(Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3)
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.                       )  Docket Nos. 50-498-LR, (South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2)                           )                50-499-LR
ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.
                                                                )
(Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1)
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY                                     )  Docket Nos. 52-014-COL, (Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4)                 )                52-015-COL
 
                                                                )
ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC. (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 3)
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY                                     )  Docket No. 50-391-OL (Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2)                              )
 
                                                                )
EXELON GENERATION CO., LLC (Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2)  
UNION ELECTRIC CO.                                             )  Docket No. 50-483-LR (Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1)                          )
 
                                                                )
EXELON NUCLEAR TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC (Victoria County Station Site)
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER CO.                                 )  Docket No. 52-017-COL d/b/a DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER and                               )
 
OLD DOMINION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE                               )
FIRSTENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.
(North Anna Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3)                     )
(Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1)
                                                                )
 
CLI-12-16 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER We have received a series of substantively identical petitions to suspend final licensing decisions, and requesting additional related relief, in the captioned matters.1 As discussed below, we grant the requests in part and deny the requests in part.
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO. (Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7)
1 See, e.g., Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in All Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 18, 2012) (Petition).
 
In addition, Friends of the Earth, and Eric Epstein, on behalf of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc.,
LUMINANT GENERATION CO. LLC (Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4)
(continued . . .)
NEXTERA ENERGY SEABROOK, LLC (Seabrook Station, Unit 1) ) )
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Docket No. 52-016-COL  
 
Docket No. 52-033-COL
 
Docket Nos. 52-018-COL, 52-019-COL
 
Docket Nos. 50-247-LR, 50-286-LR Docket No. 50-416-LR
 
Docket No. 52-024-COL
 
Docket Nos. 50-352-LR, 50-353-LR
 
Docket No. 52-042
 
Docket No. 50-346-LR
 
Docket Nos. 52-040-COL,                      52-041-COL
 
Docket Nos. 52-034-COL, 52-035-COL Docket No. 50-443-LR
 
NUCLEAR INNOVATION NORTH AMERICA LLC (South Texas Project Units 3 and 4)
 
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO. (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2)
PPL BELL BEND, LLC (Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant)
PROGRESS ENERGY CAROLINAS, INC.
(Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units 2 and 3)  
 
PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC. (Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2)  
 
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.
(South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2)  
 
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4)  
 
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2)  
 
UNION ELECTRIC CO. (Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1)  
 
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER CO.
d/b/a DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER and OLD DOMINION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (North Anna Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3) ) )
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) )  Docket Nos. 52-012-COL, 52-013-COL
 
Docket Nos. 50-275-LR,                      50-323-LR
 
Docket No. 52-039-COL
 
Docket Nos. 52-022-COL,                      52-023-COL
 
Docket Nos. 52-029-COL, 52-030-COL
 
Docket Nos. 50-498-LR,                      50-499-LR
 
Docket Nos. 52-014-COL, 52-015-COL Docket No. 50-391-OL
 
Docket No. 50-483-LR
 
Docket No. 52-017-COL CLI-12-16 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER We have received a series of substantively identical petitions to suspend final licensing decisions, and requesting additional related relief, in the captioned matters.
1 As discussed below, we grant the requests in part and deny the requests in part.
1 See, e.g., Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in All Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 18, 2012) (Petition). In addition, Friends of the Earth, and Eric Epstein, on behalf of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., (continued . . .)   Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the NRC had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in issuing its 2010 update to the Waste Confidence Decision and accompanying Temporary Storage Rule.
2  The court vacated both the Decision and the Rule, and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with the court's opinion.
3 In response to the court's decision, the petitioners request that we: (1) suspend final licensing decisions in reactor licensing cases, pending the completion of our action on the remanded Waste Confidence proceeding; (2) provide an opportunity for public comment on any generic determinations that we may make in either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS); and (3) provide at least sixty days to seek consideration in individual licensing cases of any site-specific concerns relating to the remanded proceedings.
4                                                                                                                               
 
submitted the identical petition to the Commission, without identifying a particular docket. For convenience, page references in today's decision correspond to the Petition filed by Mindy Goldstein of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic, in the Turkey Point combined license (COL) matter. In response to the June 19, 2012, Order of the Secretary, we received answers from the NRC Staff, the applicants in all captioned matters, and a letter from the Nuclear Energy Institute (seeking to participate as amicus curiae
). As we did in the Callaway matter, we consider the petitions, and take action, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over agency proceedings. We need not, therefore, address procedural issues that would merit further consideration in adjudications. See Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), CLI-11-5, 74 NRC __, __ (Sept. 9, 2011) (slip op. at 18-19 & n.65).
2 New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012).
See generally Final Rule, Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010); Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed.


Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the NRC had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in issuing its 2010 update to the Waste Confidence Decision and accompanying Temporary Storage Rule.2 The court vacated both the Decision and the Rule, and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with the courts opinion.3 In response to the courts decision, the petitioners request that we: (1) suspend final licensing decisions in reactor licensing cases, pending the completion of our action on the remanded Waste Confidence proceeding; (2) provide an opportunity for public comment on any generic determinations that we may make in either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS); and (3) provide at least sixty days to seek consideration in individual licensing cases of any site-specific concerns relating to the remanded proceedings.4 submitted the identical petition to the Commission, without identifying a particular docket. For convenience, page references in todays decision correspond to the Petition filed by Mindy Goldstein of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic, in the Turkey Point combined license (COL) matter. In response to the June 19, 2012, Order of the Secretary, we received answers from the NRC Staff, the applicants in all captioned matters, and a letter from the Nuclear Energy Institute (seeking to participate as amicus curiae). As we did in the Callaway matter, we consider the petitions, and take action, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over agency proceedings. We need not, therefore, address procedural issues that would merit further consideration in adjudications. See Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), CLI-11-5, 74 NRC __, __ (Sept. 9, 2011) (slip op. at 18-19 & n.65).
2 New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012). See generally Final Rule, Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010); Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed.
Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010).
Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010).
3 In particular, the court struck down the Waste Confidence Decision's "Finding 2," (reasonable assurance exists that sufficient geologic repository capacity will be available for disposal of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel "when necessary"), and "Finding 4" (reasonable assurance exists that, if necessary, spent fuel can be stored safely without significant environmental impacts beyond a reactor's licensed life for operation, in a combination of storage in its spent fuel pool and either an onsite or offsite dry cask storage system).
3 In particular, the court struck down the Waste Confidence Decisions Finding 2, (reasonable assurance exists that sufficient geologic repository capacity will be available for disposal of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel when necessary), and Finding 4 (reasonable assurance exists that, if necessary, spent fuel can be stored safely without significant environmental impacts beyond a reactors licensed life for operation, in a combination of storage in its spent fuel pool and either an onsite or offsite dry cask storage system).
4 See Petition at 3-4, 10-12. Waste confidence undergirds certain agency licensing decisions, in particular new reactor licensing and reactor license renewal.
4 See Petition at 3-4, 10-12.
5  Because of the recent court ruling striking down our current waste confidence provisions, we are now considering all available options for resolving the waste confidence issue, which could include generic or site-specific NRC actions, or some combination of both. We have not yet determined a course of action. But, in recognition of our duties under the law, we will not issue licenses dependent upon the Waste Confidence Decision or the Temporary Storage Rule until the court's remand is appropriately addressed.
6  This determination extends just to final license issuance; all licensing reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.
7 The petitioners seek assurance that they will be able to participate in future NRC proceedings on waste confidence. We hereby provide that assurance. The public will be afforded an opportunity to comment in advance on any generic waste confidence document that the NRC issues on remand-be it a fresh rule, a policy statement, an EA, or an EIS.
8 5 See 10 C.F.R. § 51.23(b).
6 See NRC Staff's Answer to Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in all Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 25, 2012), at 4 (Staff Answer) (pointing to a number of factors that bear upon consideration of the requested relief but also stating that no final decision to grant a combined license, or initial or renewed operating license should be made "until the NRC has appropriately dispositioned the issues remanded by the court").
7 The petitioners expressly state that they do not seek suspension of ongoing adjudications. Petition at 4. Consistent with our ruling in Callaway, we agree that it is in the public interest for adjudications to proceed, except for contentions associated with waste confidence issues, as discussed infra. See Callaway, CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __ (slip op. at 25-27). Petitioners also expressly state that they do not seek "any change in the schedules for the NRC Staff's review of reactor license applications."  Petition at 4. Likewise, we see no need for the Staff to change its review schedules other than as may be necessary to address waste confidence issues.
8 See Pa'ina Hawaii, LLC, CLI-10-18, 72 NRC 56, 93 (2010).
See generally 10 C.F.R. § 51.73 (requiring a comment period for draft EISs and supplemental EISs).
See also Staff Answer at 4
& n.4. To the extent that the NRC takes action with respect to waste confidence on a case-by-case basis, litigants can challenge such site-specific agency actions in our adjudicatory process.9  In this vein, we and the boards are now in receipt of a number of new contentions and associated filings concerning waste confidence.
10 9 But see Potomac Electric Power Co. (Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2), ALAB-218, 8 AEC 79, 85 (1974) ("[L]icensing boards should not accept in individual license proceedings contentions which are (or are about to become) the subject of general rulemaking by the Commission.").
10 See Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Proposed Fermi 3 Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Motion to Reopen the Record for William States Lee III Units 1 and 2, together with Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at William States Lee III Units 1 and 2 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012 (additional declarations filed July 11, 2012);
Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 1 (July 9, 2012);
Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 3 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station (July 9, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc. Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012);
Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Seabrook Station, Unit 1 (July 9, 2012); San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012);
NC WARN's Motion to Reopen the Record and Admit Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Levy Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Petition for Intervention to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at STP Units 1 & 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at South Texas Units 3 & 4 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Bellefonte (July 9, 2012);
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy's Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Watts Bar Unit 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenor's Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Callaway Nuclear (continued . . .)    In view of the special circumstances of this case, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over adjudications, we direct that these contentions-and any related contentions that may be filed in the near term-be held in abeyance pending our further order.
11                                                                                                                                 


Power Plant (July 9, 2012);
Waste confidence undergirds certain agency licensing decisions, in particular new reactor licensing and reactor license renewal.5 Because of the recent court ruling striking down our current waste confidence provisions, we are now considering all available options for resolving the waste confidence issue, which could include generic or site-specific NRC actions, or some combination of both. We have not yet determined a course of action. But, in recognition of our duties under the law, we will not issue licenses dependent upon the Waste Confidence Decision or the Temporary Storage Rule until the courts remand is appropriately addressed.6 This determination extends just to final license issuance; all licensing reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.7 The petitioners seek assurance that they will be able to participate in future NRC proceedings on waste confidence. We hereby provide that assurance. The public will be afforded an opportunity to comment in advance on any generic waste confidence document that the NRC issues on remandbe it a fresh rule, a policy statement, an EA, or an EIS.8 5
Motion to Reopen the Record for North Anna Unit 3 , together with Intervenors' Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at North Anna Unit 3 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012).
See 10 C.F.R. § 51.23(b).
The Petition was not filed in the Indian Point, Victoria County, or Limerick dockets. We have, however, received new contentions in those ongoing adjudications. See Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.'s Motion for Leave to Add a New Contention Based Upon New Information and Petition to Add New Contention (July 9, 2012);
6 See NRC Staffs Answer to Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in all Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 25, 2012), at 4 (Staff Answer) (pointing to a number of factors that bear upon consideration of the requested relief but also stating that no final decision to grant a combined license, or initial or renewed operating license should be made until the NRC has appropriately dispositioned the issues remanded by the court).
State of New York, Riverkeeper, and Clearwater's Joint Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point, together with State of New York, Riverkeeper, Inc., and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater's Joint Contention NYS-39/RK-EC-9/CW-EC-10 Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point (July 8, 2012); Texans for a Sound Energy Policy's Motion to Reinstate Contentions TSEP-ENV-17 and TSEP-ENV-18, or in the Alternative for Leave to File a New Contention (July 9, 2012, amended July 10, 2012); Joint Motion to Dismiss Texans for a Sound Energy Policy's Motion to Reinstate Contentions and for Leave to File a New Contention, and to Establish a Schedule for Future Submissions (July 13, 2012); NRDC's Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Limerick, together with NRDC's Waste Confidence Contention (July 9, 2012, errata filed July 9 and 10, 2012). These three cases have been added to the caption of this decision for the purpose of providing guidance on all new contentions that have been filed on this topic. Three licensing boards have issued case management orders relating to the new contentions.
7 The petitioners expressly state that they do not seek suspension of ongoing adjudications.
See Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 26, 2012) (unpublished) (Callaway license renewal); Order (Granting Joint Motion to Dismiss and Setting Schedule) (July 24, 2012) (unpublished) (Victoria County early site permit); Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 17, 2012)
Petition at 4. Consistent with our ruling in Callaway, we agree that it is in the public interest for adjudications to proceed, except for contentions associated with waste confidence issues, as discussed infra. See Callaway, CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __ (slip op. at 25-27). Petitioners also expressly state that they do not seek any change in the schedules for the NRC Staffs review of reactor license applications. Petition at 4. Likewise, we see no need for the Staff to change its review schedules other than as may be necessary to address waste confidence issues.
(unpublished) (Bellefonte COL). 11 Should we determine at a future time that case-specific challenges are appropriate for consideration, our normal procedural rules will apply.
8 See Paina Hawaii, LLC, CLI-10-18, 72 NRC 56, 93 (2010). See generally 10 C.F.R. § 51.73 (requiring a comment period for draft EISs and supplemental EISs). See also Staff Answer at 4
See Callaway , CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __ (slip op. at 32-36). IT IS SO ORDERED.
& n.4.
For the Commission NRC SEAL   
/RA/      ___________________________      Annette L. Vietti-Cook Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this  7 th day of August, 2012 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )  )
FIRST ENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING  )
COMPANY )  Docket No. 50-346-LR 
)
(Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1) )  )  CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE


I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange and by electronic mail as indicated by an asterisk*.  
To the extent that the NRC takes action with respect to waste confidence on a case-by-case basis, litigants can challenge such site-specific agency actions in our adjudicatory process.9 In this vein, we and the boards are now in receipt of a number of new contentions and associated filings concerning waste confidence.10 9
But see Potomac Electric Power Co. (Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2), ALAB-218, 8 AEC 79, 85 (1974) ([L]icensing boards should not accept in individual license proceedings contentions which are (or are about to become) the subject of general rulemaking by the Commission.).
10 See Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Proposed Fermi 3 Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Motion to Reopen the Record for William States Lee III Units 1 and 2, together with Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at William States Lee III Units 1 and 2 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012 (additional declarations filed July 11, 2012); Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 1 (July 9, 2012); Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 3 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc. Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Seabrook Station, Unit 1 (July 9, 2012); San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); NC WARNs Motion to Reopen the Record and Admit Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Levy Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012);
Petition for Intervention to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at STP Units 1 & 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at South Texas Units 3 & 4 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Bellefonte (July 9, 2012); Southern Alliance for Clean Energys Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Watts Bar Unit 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Callaway Nuclear (continued . . .)


Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Mail Stop O-7H4M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC  20555-0001
In view of the special circumstances of this case, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over adjudications, we direct that these contentionsand any related contentions that may be filed in the near termbe held in abeyance pending our further order.11 Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Motion to Reopen the Record for North Anna Unit 3, together with Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at North Anna Unit 3 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012).
The Petition was not filed in the Indian Point, Victoria County, or Limerick dockets. We have, however, received new contentions in those ongoing adjudications. See Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.s Motion for Leave to Add a New Contention Based Upon New Information and Petition to Add New Contention (July 9, 2012); State of New York, Riverkeeper, and Clearwaters Joint Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point, together with State of New York, Riverkeeper, Inc., and Hudson River Sloop Clearwaters Joint Contention NYS-39/RK-EC-9/CW-EC-10 Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point (July 8, 2012); Texans for a Sound Energy Policys Motion to Reinstate Contentions TSEP-ENV-17 and TSEP-ENV-18, or in the Alternative for Leave to File a New Contention (July 9, 2012, amended July 10, 2012); Joint Motion to Dismiss Texans for a Sound Energy Policys Motion to Reinstate Contentions and for Leave to File a New Contention, and to Establish a Schedule for Future Submissions (July 13, 2012); NRDCs Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Limerick, together with NRDCs Waste Confidence Contention (July 9, 2012, errata filed July 9 and 10, 2012). These three cases have been added to the caption of this decision for the purpose of providing guidance on all new contentions that have been filed on this topic. Three licensing boards have issued case management orders relating to the new contentions. See Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 26, 2012) (unpublished) (Callaway license renewal); Order (Granting Joint Motion to Dismiss and Setting Schedule) (July 24, 2012) (unpublished) (Victoria County early site permit); Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 17, 2012)
(unpublished) (Bellefonte COL).
11 Should we determine at a future time that case-specific challenges are appropriate for consideration, our normal procedural rules will apply. See Callaway, CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __
(slip op. at 32-36).


E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov
IT IS SO ORDERED.
 
For the Commission NRC SEAL                    /RA/
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
___________________________
 
Annette L. Vietti-Cook Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of August, 2012
Mail Stop T-3F23 Washington, DC  20555-0001
 
William J. Froehlich, Chair Administrative Judge 
 
E-mail:  william.froehlich@nrc.gov
 
Nicholas G. Trikouros
 
Administrative Judge E-mail: nicholas.trikouros@nrc.gov
 
William E. Kastenberg
 
Administrative Judge
 
E-mail: wek1@nrc.gov Hillary  Cain, Law Clerk
 
E-mail: hillary.cain@nrc.gov Matthew Flyntz, Law Clerk
 
E-mail: matthew.flyntz@nrc.gov Office of the Secretary of the Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-16C1 Washington, DC  20555-0001
 
Hearing Docket
 
E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov
 
Office of the General Counsel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-15D21 Washington, DC  20555-0001 Edward L. Williamson, Esq.
 
E-mail: edward.williamson@nrc.gov Lloyd B. Subin, Esq.
E-mail:  lloyd.subin@nrc.gov Brian Harris, Esq.
 
E-mail: brian.harris@nrc.gov Catherine Kanatas, Esq. 
 
E-mail: catherine.kanatas@nrc.gov Brian P. Newell, Paralegal E-mail: brian.newell@nrc.gov
 
OGC Mail Center :
OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov FirstEnergy Service Company. Mailstop: A-GO-15
 
76 South Main Street Akron, OH  44308 David W. Jenkins, Esq.


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of                                )
                                                )
FIRST ENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING                  )
COMPANY                                      )            Docket No. 50-346-LR
                                                )
(Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1)    )
                                                )
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange and by electronic mail as indicated by an asterisk*.
Office of Commission Appellate                    Office of the Secretary of the Commission Adjudication                                  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-7H4M                                  Mail Stop O-16C1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission                Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001                        Hearing Docket E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov                          E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov Office of the General Counsel Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel          U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.              Mail Stop O-15D21 Mail Stop T-3F23                                  Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001                        Edward L. Williamson, Esq.
E-mail: edward.williamson@nrc.gov William J. Froehlich, Chair                      Lloyd B. Subin, Esq.
Administrative Judge                              E-mail: lloyd.subin@nrc.gov E-mail: william.froehlich@nrc.gov                Brian Harris, Esq.
E-mail: brian.harris@nrc.gov Nicholas G. Trikouros                            Catherine Kanatas, Esq.
Administrative Judge                              E-mail: catherine.kanatas@nrc.gov E-mail: nicholas.trikouros@nrc.gov                Brian P. Newell, Paralegal E-mail: brian.newell@nrc.gov William E. Kastenberg Administrative Judge                              OGC Mail Center : OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov E-mail: wek1@nrc.gov FirstEnergy Service Company.
Hillary Cain, Law Clerk                          Mailstop: A-GO-15 E-mail: hillary.cain@nrc.gov                      76 South Main Street Matthew Flyntz, Law Clerk                        Akron, OH 44308 E-mail: matthew.flyntz@nrc.gov                    David W. Jenkins, Esq.
E-mail : djenkins@firstenergycorp.com
E-mail : djenkins@firstenergycorp.com


Docket No. 50-346-LR COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16) 2 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius  
Docket No. 50-346-LR COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16)
 
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius                   Citizens Environmental Alliance (CEA) 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW               of Southwestern Ontario Washington, D.C. 20004                   1950 Ottawa Street Stephen Burdick, Esq.                     Windsor, Ontario Canada N8Y 197 E-mail: sburdick@morganlewis.com Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq.                   Green Party of Ohio E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com           2626 Robinwood Avenue Martin ONeill, Esq.                     Toledo, Ohio 43610 E-mail: martin.oneill@morganlewis.com Timothy Matthews, Esq.                   Dont Waste Michigan E-mail: tmatthews@morganlewis.com         811 Harrison Street Jane Diecker, Esq.                       Monroe, Michigan 48161 E-mail: jdiecker@morganlewis.com         Michael Keegan Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary             E-mail: mkeeganj@comcast.net E-mail: mfreeze@morganlewis.com Terry J. Lodge, Counsel for CEA, Dont Erich Pica, President                      Waste Michigan, and Green Party of Ohio Friends of the Earth                    316 N. Michigan Street, Suite 520 1100 15th Street, NW                      Toledo, OH 43604-5627 11th Floor                                E-mail: tjlodge50@yahoo.com Washington, D.C. 20555 E-mail: mkeever@foe.org                  Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Avenue Suite 400 Takoma Park, Md. 20912 Erich Pica, President*                    Kevin Kamps Friends of the Earth                      E-mail : kevin@beyondnuclear.org 1100 15th Street, NW                      Paul Gunter 11th Floor                                E-mail : paul@beyondnuclear.org Washington, D.C. 20555 Email: mkeever@foe.org
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Stephen Burdick, Esq.  
[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]]
 
Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 7th day of August 2012 2}}
E-mail: sburdick@morganlewis.com Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq.
E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com Martin O'Neill, Esq.  
 
E-mail: martin.oneill@morganlewis.com Timothy Matthews, Esq.
E-mail: tmatthews@morganlewis.com Jane Diecker, Esq.  
 
E-mail: jdiecker@morganlewis.com Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary  
 
E-mail: mfreeze@morganlewis.com Erich Pica, President Friends of the Earth
 
1100 15 th Street, NW 11 th Floor  Washington, D.C. 20555 E-mail: mkeever@foe.org
 
Erich Pica, President*
Friends of the Earth 1100 15 th Street, NW 11 th Floor Washington, D.C. 20555
 
Email:  mkeever@foe.org Citizens Environmental Alliance (CEA)
 
of  Southwestern Ontario
 
1950 Ottawa Street
 
Windsor, Ontario Canada  N8Y 197
 
Green Party of Ohio 2626 Robinwood Avenue
 
Toledo, Ohio  43610
 
Don't Waste Michigan 811 Harrison Street Monroe, Michigan  48161
 
Michael Keegan
 
E-mail: mkeeganj@comcast.net Terry J. Lodge, Counsel for CEA, Don't    Waste Michigan, and Green Party of Ohio  
 
316 N. Michigan Street, Suite 520  
 
Toledo, OH 43604-5627  
 
E-mail: tjlodge50@yahoo.com Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Avenue Suite 400  
 
Takoma Park, Md. 20912 Kevin Kamps  
 
E-mail : kevin@beyondnuclear.org Paul Gunter E-mail : paul@beyondnuclear.org
 
[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]]                                     Office of the Secretary of the Commission  
 
Dated at Rockville, Maryland  
 
this 7 th day of August 2012}}

Revision as of 00:04, 12 November 2019

Commission Memorandum and Order (CLI-12-16) to Suspend Final Licensing Decisions for Davis Besse, to Grant the Requests in Part and Deny the Requests in Part
ML12220A193
Person / Time
Site: Davis Besse Cleveland Electric icon.png
Issue date: 08/07/2012
From: Annette Vietti-Cook
NRC/SECY
To:
SECY RAS
References
RAS 23248, 50-346-LR, ASLBP 11-907-01-LR-BD01, CLI-12-16
Download: ML12220A193 (9)
v • d • e


Text

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS:

Allison M. Macfarlane, Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki George Apostolakis William D. Magwood, IV William C. Ostendorff

)

In the Matter of )

)

CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR PROJECT, LLC ) Docket No. 52-016-COL (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )

)

DETROIT EDISON CO. ) Docket No. 52-033-COL (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3) )

)

DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC ) Docket Nos. 52-018-COL, (William States Lee III Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2) ) 52-019-COL

)

ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR, (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3) ) 50-286-LR

)

ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC. ) Docket No. 50-416-LR (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1) )

)

ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC. ) Docket No. 52-024-COL (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 3) )

)

EXELON GENERATION CO., LLC ) Docket Nos. 50-352-LR, (Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2) ) 50-353-LR

)

EXELON NUCLEAR TEXAS HOLDINGS, LLC ) Docket No.52-042 (Victoria County Station Site) )

)

FIRSTENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. ) Docket No. 50-346-LR (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1) )

)

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO. ) Docket Nos. 52-040-COL, (Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7) ) 52-041-COL

)

LUMINANT GENERATION CO. LLC ) Docket Nos. 52-034-COL, (Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4) ) 52-035-COL

)

NEXTERA ENERGY SEABROOK, LLC ) Docket No. 50-443-LR (Seabrook Station, Unit 1) )

)

NUCLEAR INNOVATION NORTH AMERICA LLC ) Docket Nos. 52-012-COL, (South Texas Project Units 3 and 4) ) 52-013-COL

)

PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO. ) Docket Nos. 50-275-LR, (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2) ) 50-323-LR

)

PPL BELL BEND, LLC ) Docket No. 52-039-COL (Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant) )

)

PROGRESS ENERGY CAROLINAS, INC. ) Docket Nos. 52-022-COL, (Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units 2 and 3) ) 52-023-COL

)

PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC. ) Docket Nos. 52-029-COL, (Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2) ) 52-030-COL

)

SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. ) Docket Nos. 50-498-LR, (South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2) ) 50-499-LR

)

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY ) Docket Nos. 52-014-COL, (Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4) ) 52-015-COL

)

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY ) Docket No. 50-391-OL (Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2) )

)

UNION ELECTRIC CO. ) Docket No. 50-483-LR (Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1) )

)

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER CO. ) Docket No. 52-017-COL d/b/a DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER and )

OLD DOMINION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE )

(North Anna Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3) )

)

CLI-12-16 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER We have received a series of substantively identical petitions to suspend final licensing decisions, and requesting additional related relief, in the captioned matters.1 As discussed below, we grant the requests in part and deny the requests in part.

1 See, e.g., Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in All Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 18, 2012) (Petition).

In addition, Friends of the Earth, and Eric Epstein, on behalf of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc.,

(continued . . .)

Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the NRC had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in issuing its 2010 update to the Waste Confidence Decision and accompanying Temporary Storage Rule.2 The court vacated both the Decision and the Rule, and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with the courts opinion.3 In response to the courts decision, the petitioners request that we: (1) suspend final licensing decisions in reactor licensing cases, pending the completion of our action on the remanded Waste Confidence proceeding; (2) provide an opportunity for public comment on any generic determinations that we may make in either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS); and (3) provide at least sixty days to seek consideration in individual licensing cases of any site-specific concerns relating to the remanded proceedings.4 submitted the identical petition to the Commission, without identifying a particular docket. For convenience, page references in todays decision correspond to the Petition filed by Mindy Goldstein of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic, in the Turkey Point combined license (COL) matter. In response to the June 19, 2012, Order of the Secretary, we received answers from the NRC Staff, the applicants in all captioned matters, and a letter from the Nuclear Energy Institute (seeking to participate as amicus curiae). As we did in the Callaway matter, we consider the petitions, and take action, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over agency proceedings. We need not, therefore, address procedural issues that would merit further consideration in adjudications. See Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), CLI-11-5, 74 NRC __, __ (Sept. 9, 2011) (slip op. at 18-19 & n.65).

2 New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012). See generally Final Rule, Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,032 (Dec. 23, 2010); Waste Confidence Decision Update, 75 Fed.

Reg. 81,037 (Dec. 23, 2010).

3 In particular, the court struck down the Waste Confidence Decisions Finding 2, (reasonable assurance exists that sufficient geologic repository capacity will be available for disposal of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel when necessary), and Finding 4 (reasonable assurance exists that, if necessary, spent fuel can be stored safely without significant environmental impacts beyond a reactors licensed life for operation, in a combination of storage in its spent fuel pool and either an onsite or offsite dry cask storage system).

4 See Petition at 3-4, 10-12.

Waste confidence undergirds certain agency licensing decisions, in particular new reactor licensing and reactor license renewal.5 Because of the recent court ruling striking down our current waste confidence provisions, we are now considering all available options for resolving the waste confidence issue, which could include generic or site-specific NRC actions, or some combination of both. We have not yet determined a course of action. But, in recognition of our duties under the law, we will not issue licenses dependent upon the Waste Confidence Decision or the Temporary Storage Rule until the courts remand is appropriately addressed.6 This determination extends just to final license issuance; all licensing reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.7 The petitioners seek assurance that they will be able to participate in future NRC proceedings on waste confidence. We hereby provide that assurance. The public will be afforded an opportunity to comment in advance on any generic waste confidence document that the NRC issues on remandbe it a fresh rule, a policy statement, an EA, or an EIS.8 5

See 10 C.F.R. § 51.23(b).

6 See NRC Staffs Answer to Petition to Suspend Final Decisions in all Pending Reactor Licensing Proceedings Pending Completion of Remanded Waste Confidence Proceedings (June 25, 2012), at 4 (Staff Answer) (pointing to a number of factors that bear upon consideration of the requested relief but also stating that no final decision to grant a combined license, or initial or renewed operating license should be made until the NRC has appropriately dispositioned the issues remanded by the court).

7 The petitioners expressly state that they do not seek suspension of ongoing adjudications.

Petition at 4. Consistent with our ruling in Callaway, we agree that it is in the public interest for adjudications to proceed, except for contentions associated with waste confidence issues, as discussed infra. See Callaway, CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __ (slip op. at 25-27). Petitioners also expressly state that they do not seek any change in the schedules for the NRC Staffs review of reactor license applications. Petition at 4. Likewise, we see no need for the Staff to change its review schedules other than as may be necessary to address waste confidence issues.

8 See Paina Hawaii, LLC, CLI-10-18, 72 NRC 56, 93 (2010). See generally 10 C.F.R. § 51.73 (requiring a comment period for draft EISs and supplemental EISs). See also Staff Answer at 4

& n.4.

To the extent that the NRC takes action with respect to waste confidence on a case-by-case basis, litigants can challenge such site-specific agency actions in our adjudicatory process.9 In this vein, we and the boards are now in receipt of a number of new contentions and associated filings concerning waste confidence.10 9

But see Potomac Electric Power Co. (Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2), ALAB-218, 8 AEC 79, 85 (1974) ([L]icensing boards should not accept in individual license proceedings contentions which are (or are about to become) the subject of general rulemaking by the Commission.).

10 See Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Proposed Fermi 3 Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Motion to Reopen the Record for William States Lee III Units 1 and 2, together with Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at William States Lee III Units 1 and 2 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012 (additional declarations filed July 11, 2012); Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 1 (July 9, 2012); Beyond Nuclear Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Grand Gulf Unit 3 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc. Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Seabrook Station, Unit 1 (July 9, 2012); San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); NC WARNs Motion to Reopen the Record and Admit Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Levy Nuclear Power Plant (July 9, 2012);

Petition for Intervention to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at STP Units 1 & 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at South Texas Units 3 & 4 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Bellefonte (July 9, 2012); Southern Alliance for Clean Energys Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Spent Reactor Fuel at Watts Bar Unit 2 (July 9, 2012); Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Callaway Nuclear (continued . . .)

In view of the special circumstances of this case, as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over adjudications, we direct that these contentionsand any related contentions that may be filed in the near termbe held in abeyance pending our further order.11 Power Plant (July 9, 2012); Motion to Reopen the Record for North Anna Unit 3, together with Intervenors Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at North Anna Unit 3 (dated July 9, 2012, filed July 10, 2012).

The Petition was not filed in the Indian Point, Victoria County, or Limerick dockets. We have, however, received new contentions in those ongoing adjudications. See Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.s Motion for Leave to Add a New Contention Based Upon New Information and Petition to Add New Contention (July 9, 2012); State of New York, Riverkeeper, and Clearwaters Joint Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point, together with State of New York, Riverkeeper, Inc., and Hudson River Sloop Clearwaters Joint Contention NYS-39/RK-EC-9/CW-EC-10 Concerning the On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste at Indian Point (July 8, 2012); Texans for a Sound Energy Policys Motion to Reinstate Contentions TSEP-ENV-17 and TSEP-ENV-18, or in the Alternative for Leave to File a New Contention (July 9, 2012, amended July 10, 2012); Joint Motion to Dismiss Texans for a Sound Energy Policys Motion to Reinstate Contentions and for Leave to File a New Contention, and to Establish a Schedule for Future Submissions (July 13, 2012); NRDCs Motion for Leave to File a New Contention Concerning Temporary Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Waste at Limerick, together with NRDCs Waste Confidence Contention (July 9, 2012, errata filed July 9 and 10, 2012). These three cases have been added to the caption of this decision for the purpose of providing guidance on all new contentions that have been filed on this topic. Three licensing boards have issued case management orders relating to the new contentions. See Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 26, 2012) (unpublished) (Callaway license renewal); Order (Granting Joint Motion to Dismiss and Setting Schedule) (July 24, 2012) (unpublished) (Victoria County early site permit); Order (Extending Time to Answer Motion to Admit New Contention) (July 17, 2012)

(unpublished) (Bellefonte COL).

11 Should we determine at a future time that case-specific challenges are appropriate for consideration, our normal procedural rules will apply. See Callaway, CLI-11-5, 74 NRC at __

(slip op. at 32-36).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

For the Commission NRC SEAL /RA/

___________________________

Annette L. Vietti-Cook Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of August, 2012

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

FIRST ENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING )

COMPANY ) Docket No. 50-346-LR

)

(Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1) )

)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange and by electronic mail as indicated by an asterisk*.

Office of Commission Appellate Office of the Secretary of the Commission Adjudication U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-7H4M Mail Stop O-16C1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Hearing Docket E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov Office of the General Counsel Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mail Stop O-15D21 Mail Stop T-3F23 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Edward L. Williamson, Esq.

E-mail: edward.williamson@nrc.gov William J. Froehlich, Chair Lloyd B. Subin, Esq.

Administrative Judge E-mail: lloyd.subin@nrc.gov E-mail: william.froehlich@nrc.gov Brian Harris, Esq.

E-mail: brian.harris@nrc.gov Nicholas G. Trikouros Catherine Kanatas, Esq.

Administrative Judge E-mail: catherine.kanatas@nrc.gov E-mail: nicholas.trikouros@nrc.gov Brian P. Newell, Paralegal E-mail: brian.newell@nrc.gov William E. Kastenberg Administrative Judge OGC Mail Center : OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov E-mail: wek1@nrc.gov FirstEnergy Service Company.

Hillary Cain, Law Clerk Mailstop: A-GO-15 E-mail: hillary.cain@nrc.gov 76 South Main Street Matthew Flyntz, Law Clerk Akron, OH 44308 E-mail: matthew.flyntz@nrc.gov David W. Jenkins, Esq.

E-mail : djenkins@firstenergycorp.com

Docket No. 50-346-LR COMMISSION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (CLI 12-16)

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Citizens Environmental Alliance (CEA) 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW of Southwestern Ontario Washington, D.C. 20004 1950 Ottawa Street Stephen Burdick, Esq. Windsor, Ontario Canada N8Y 197 E-mail: sburdick@morganlewis.com Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq. Green Party of Ohio E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com 2626 Robinwood Avenue Martin ONeill, Esq. Toledo, Ohio 43610 E-mail: martin.oneill@morganlewis.com Timothy Matthews, Esq. Dont Waste Michigan E-mail: tmatthews@morganlewis.com 811 Harrison Street Jane Diecker, Esq. Monroe, Michigan 48161 E-mail: jdiecker@morganlewis.com Michael Keegan Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary E-mail: mkeeganj@comcast.net E-mail: mfreeze@morganlewis.com Terry J. Lodge, Counsel for CEA, Dont Erich Pica, President Waste Michigan, and Green Party of Ohio Friends of the Earth 316 N. Michigan Street, Suite 520 1100 15th Street, NW Toledo, OH 43604-5627 11th Floor E-mail: tjlodge50@yahoo.com Washington, D.C. 20555 E-mail: mkeever@foe.org Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Avenue Suite 400 Takoma Park, Md. 20912 Erich Pica, President* Kevin Kamps Friends of the Earth E-mail : kevin@beyondnuclear.org 1100 15th Street, NW Paul Gunter 11th Floor E-mail : paul@beyondnuclear.org Washington, D.C. 20555 Email: mkeever@foe.org

[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]]

Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 7th day of August 2012 2

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