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NRC-2019-000100 - Resp 2 - Interim, Agency Records Subject to the Request Are Enclosed; Continuing to Process Request
ML21216A333
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Issue date: 07/29/2021
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Text

Majority (11) Minoirity (10)

Non Responsive Record

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Concerned about 60-year timeframe for decommissionin Vermont Yankee
  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful role" in decommissioning planning Agreement State: No (Letter of Intent- 7/6/15)
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in VY decommissioning trust Committees: Environment & Public Works (Clean Air &
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools Nuclear Safety; Superfund, Waste Management &
  • Believes the public should have a say in license transfers of Regulatory Oversight; Transportation & Infrastructure); decommissioning plants Energy & Natural Resources (Energy; National Parks; Water & Power}; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Letters to NRC:

Veterans' Affairs; Budget - Full Committee Ranking

  • March 7, 2017 - Joint Vermont delegation letter urging NRC to hold a Member public meeting in Vermont on the proposed Vermont Yankee license Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY transfer and decommissioning plans First Elected: 2006 (2nd term)
  • Sept. 16, 2016- Co-signed letter to NRC re: rulemaking titled Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children "regulatory improvements for power reactors transitioning to Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960; decommissioning"
  • May 13, 2016 - One of 29 senators to co-sign Sen. Wyden's letter U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science}

urging the Commission to deny a petition for rulemaking to prohibit Career: College instructor, freelance writer; third-party arbitration on access authorization determinations documentary filmmaker; carpenter

  • March 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey and Rep. Welch on Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work collaboratively with U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007, sought states, locals, and interested parties Democratic nomination for President, 2016 Legislation:
  • Sponsor of the "Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act" (S. 2388)
  • Co-sponsor of Sen. Markey's "Dry Cask Storage Act of 2017" (S. 1265)
  • Co-sponsor of Sen. Harris' "Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2018" (S. 2396)

Last Updated: 03/09/18

Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Vermont Yankee

  • Length of decommissioning process (60 years)

Agreement State: No

  • Supports states and local communities having a Committees: Environment & Public Works; Budget - "meaningful role" in decommissioning plans Ranking Member; Energy & Natural Resources;
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (Primary pools Health and Retirement Security Sub - Ranking
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in Member) Veterans' Affairs decommissioning trust for VY Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, N.Y.

First Elected : 2006 (2nd term) Letters to N RC:

Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children

  • May 15, 2014- Joint letter on EP exemptions, spent fuel pool transfer, considering local views in Education : Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960; decommissioning U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science)
  • May 1, 2014 -Joint letter on decommissioning Career: College instructor; Freelance writer; plants' use of exemptions for EP and security Documentary filmmaker; carpenter; Mayor of requirements Burlington, 1981-1989; U.S. House of
  • Feb. 11, 2014 & March 4, 2014 -Joint letter urging Representatives, 1991-2007 the NRC to provide host states with a larger role in the decommissioning process
  • Jan. 24, 2014 - Request for information on financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant fleet

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman Will Attend Facilities in district: Diablo Canyon 1&2, SONGS 2&3, SONGS (ROP Column 2/Manual Chapter 0351 process, shut down Jan. 2012 due to steam generator tube degradation)

Yes

- Agreement State:

Environment & Public Works - Chairman Committees:

Select Committee on Eth ics - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Safety culture in Japan v. U.S.; Ensuring hazards information is regularly updated in licensing/relicensing decisions; Station blackout/integrated emergency procedures rulemakings; Five-year timeline for implementing actions; Licensing amendments for structural or equipment changes to plants (e.g., SONGS); Land contamination consideration and evacuation estimates in cost-benefit analyses; Root cause of steam generator issues at SONGS; Compliance with fire protection regulations

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Concerns about SONGS raised by elected officials; Maintaining transparent review process of SONGS' steam generator issues; Agency's license amendment process; Status of rulemaking for 10-year confirmation of flood/seismic hazards; Seismic risks; Resources for Tier 3 activities; Recouping costs for Fukushima-related activities; Implementation of Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations; Chairman's approach to managing people; Radioactive materials released from Fukushima and their length of time in the environment; Transparency and openness of the Internal Commission Procedures; Assuring safety of SONGS and All inspection findings; Plants in noncompliance with fire safety regulations; Internal and external safety culture; Emergency planning; Timeline for implementing LLTF recommendations and NRC orders; Radiological impacts to the environment resulting from a plant emergency

  • Letter 4-9-13
  • Requests no SONGS restart decision until NRC completes investigation, provides opportunity for public participation
  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 2/8/13:

MH l's root cause analysis report

  • Letter 10/4/12:

SONGS' steam generator repairs, restart plan

  • Letter 5/15/12:

SONGS' determination that license amendment unnecessary for SG replacement project

  • Letter 2/8/12:

Steam generator tube integrity Anticipated Questions:

  • Will you complete all investigations and hearings related to SONGS before any decision is made to restart?
  • Why has the Commission gone back on its commitment to implement post-Japan recommendations in five years?

Page 1 of 11

  • Does the NRC agree with GAO's recent report that there is room for improving evacuat ion routes around nuclear power plants?
  • You had an easy opportunity to improve safety in a post-Fukushima world with your votes of filtered vents. How can you stand by this "kick the can" approach?

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Will Not Attend Facilit ies in district: N/A Agreement State: No Committ ees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Finance -- Chairman Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) Will Attend Facilities in district: N/A (views Salem & Hope Creek his adopted plants in New Jersey)

Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Chairman Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Fukushima: Licensee actions on NRC orders; Station blackout; Ability to meet five-year goal; Timeline for Tier 2 and 3 recommendations; Hydrogen control practices outside the U.S.; Work prioritization; NRC evaluation of new information from Japan; New reactor/relicensing delays due to waste confidence; Chairman's leadership style; NRC's 50.54(f) letters; Incentives to repository-host communities; lncentivizing local host communities for SNF

  • QFRs from6/13/12 and 9/12/12 Hearings:

NRC's coordination with DOE and private sector on R&D for new generation of reactors; Striving to make improvements at NRC; Climate change risks to reactors, i.e., flooding Anticipated Questions:

  • How is the Commission operating now? Are you all getting along and working together effectively?
  • How is the NRC considering the cumulative effects of regulation? (may use his "one foot on t he gas, one foot on the brake analogy here)
  • What is being done to ensure that the older Northeast nuclear power plants can weather severe storms, including hurricanes and snow storms? Any changes required in emergency planning?
  • What timeframe will NRC be able to address waste confidence issues in order to complete the review of new nuclear reactor license applications?
  • Has NRC's five-year goal on Fukushima tasks slipped, and if so, what work will take longer and why?

Page 2 of 11

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Possibly Will Attend Facilities in district: Oyster Creek, Salem 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Topics of Interest :

  • Statements/questions from 9/12/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Ensuring plant safety from extreme natural events; Resolvi ng storage and disposal of spent fuel; filtered venting systems; Increasing public participation; Protecting communities along the SNF transportation routes

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Letter 1/25/12 to GBJ:

Safety of Oyster Creek post-Hurricane Sandy Anticipated Questions:

Is NRC looking at lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy on the elevated safety level at Oyster Creek?

  • Timeline for post -Fukushima activities
  • There is a Mark I reactor in New Jersey- just like the reactor at Fukushima. Why did the Commission, at best, delay the decision on whether to require vents to protect the public in the event of an accident?
  • My constituents remain concerned about "open houses" rather than "town hall" style public meetings being used by NRC staff to discuss plant performance. Will NRC return to the more expected "town hall" meetings so that all in attendance can hear all interactions and questions?

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) Probably Won't Attend Facilities in district: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Topics of Interest:

Questions from 9/12/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Compliance with and exemptions for fire protection regulations; Safety of long-term onsite SNF storage; Dry casks stored at licensee sites vs. regional or national sites; Transportation risks for a centralized site

  • Letter 12/3/12:

Forwarded constituent allegation on employment concems; forwarded to IG's office Anticipated Questions (possibly QFRs):

  • If the fire safety requirements in NFPA 805 are voluntary, what happens if a reactor operator fails to comply?
  • What is t he stat us of long-term dry cask storage at plant sites now that there does not appear to be a viable repository in the near-term?

Page 3 of 11

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT) Will Attend Facilities in district: Vermont Yankee Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Energy & Natural Resources Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Changing Commission voting procedures to publ ic voting; Taxpayer liability in Price-Anderson system; Loan guarantees for new reactors; Privatizing disposition of waste

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Probably Won't Attend Facilities in district: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Budget Page 4 of 11

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) Probably Won't Attend Facilities in district: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction Agreement State:

project Committees:

Yes Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Five-year implementation of short-term NTTF recommendations; Safety standards for new vs. older reactors; Differences between U.S. and French requirements of safety equipment designed to survive disasters

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

Comm ission's response to U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on waste confidence and impacts on new reactors; Implementation of Fukushima-related tasks and fire safety requirements; URENCO operat ions and the government's subsidies/support for competitor USEC; Foreign ownership review of USEC; Cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sites and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Anticipated Questions (possibly QFRs):

  • Status of uranium recovery licensing activities in New Mexico Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Probably Won't Attend Facilities in district: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Topics of Interest:
  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

NONE Page 5 of 11

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Probably Will Attend Facilities in district: FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2&3, Nine Mile Point 1&2 (Nine Mile Point-1 is in ROP Column 2)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Shorter license renewal per iods; Risks to plants near potentially active fault lines; Large-scale evacuation planning
  • QFRs from Hearing 3/15/12:

Emergency planning zones; Exchange of Fukushima-related information among government agencies, informing public in timely manner; Climate change impacts on extreme weather events; Fukushima orders, timeline for Tier 2 and 3 work

  • Letter 5/6/13:

GAO's M arch 2013 report on public's response to radiological incidents and potential for shadow evacuation near Indian Point

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 9/20/12:

Indian Point security allegations Anticipated Questions:

  • As part of emergency planning, will NRC undertake an independent examination of a potential shadow evacuation around Indian Point using current data so that a realistic emergency plan can be developed?

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member Will Atte*nd Facilities in district: River Bend, Waterford Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • Cost and methodologies/cumulative effect of regulation
  • Fukushima activities and timeline Page 6 of 11

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) Possibly Will Attend Facilities in district: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works To pics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Allegations against former Chairman; Japan adopting NRC practices; Comparisons on st ructure of U.S. v. Japan safety regulators; Ensuring against a Fukushima-type accident; Commission collegiality

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Staff implementation of Commission direction on Fukushima activities; Considerations of new information on accident in Japan; Land contamination; Tier 1 activities and beyond-Tier 1 work; Cumulative effects of regulation; Retention of domestic civil nuclear technologies/expertise; Developing collective understanding of Chairman's emergency powers and authorities and Commission procedures; Commission voting procedures; Waste confidence; Seismic and flooding hazard re-analyses; U.S. v. Japan regulations; Pilgrim's license renewal review; Quantifiable improvements from Fukushima orders; Fire protection

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • Cost/benefits of post-Fukushima regulations/requirements
  • SONGS: General comment/question on domestic energy independence and concerned/disappointed about having a plant offline as summer approaches Page 7 of 11

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) Will Attend Facilities in district: N/A Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Energy & Natural Resources Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Expansion of EPZ; UCS report on protecting reactors; Future of new reactors and license extension; Domestic uranium production; Schedule adherence for uranium recovery applications; Timely Commission action; Revision of Internal Commission Procedures; Avoiding diversion of resources at expense of activities such as waste confidence; Prioritizing work from LLTF recommendations Timing of Tier 2&3 activities; cumulative effect of regulation on plant safety

  • QFRs from 3/15/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Internal commission procedures; Chairman's leadership style and views on YM as a permanent repository; Licensing of domestic uranium recovery and processing; Stakeholder involvement in uranium recovery issues

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of the in situ recovery applications for the Ross and Reno Creek facilities and Ludeman expansion?
  • Does NRC have the appropriate staffing/resources to conduct the uranium milling licensing requests?
  • Why does industry have to shoulder much of the responsibility of determining the cumulat ive effects of regulation in light of post-Fukushima regulatory requirements?

Page 8 of 11

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Will Attend Facilities in district: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Farley 1&2 (Browns Ferry-1 is in ROP Column 4; Browns Ferry-2 is in Column 3; Browns Ferry-3 is in Agreement State:

Column 2)

Committees:

Yes Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Ranking M ember Budget - Ranking Member Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Chairman's management and budget oversight experience and technical expertise, Chairman's receipt of Federal funding relat ed to Yucca, Views on preserving records associat ed wit h Yucca review work; Local support in Nevada for Yucca Mountain; Chairman's full disclosure of writings/publications

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

List of Chairman's speeches and participation on conference panels, meetings, public rallies and events on nuclear energy and nuclear waste issues; List of Chairman's memberships with nuclear-related organizations; Chairman's views on Yucca Mountain as the designated repository under the NWPA, new reactor licensing regulations, the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendation for the creation of a new federal corporation to manage the waste program

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting NRC's review of the Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What steps has NRC talken to alleviate the cumulative impacts of post-Fukushima actions on licensees?
  • Post-Fukushima timeline for remaining activities
  • Status of new construction activities
  • Waste confidence Page 9 of 11

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-1D) Probably Will Attend Facilities in district: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not constructed No Agreement State:

Environment & Public Works Committees: Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Budget Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations for NRC priority considerat ion; co-mingling defense and civilian nuclear waste; Consent-based approach for licensing a storage/waste site; Potential of court directing the restart of Yucca Mountain proceedings
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • Cumulative effects of regulation
  • Yucca Mountain Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) Will Attend Facilities in district: Grand Gulf (Currently in ROP Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • Cumulative impact of post-Fukushima regulations

Page 10 of 11

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) Possibly Will Attend Facilities in district: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 (ANO-1 is shut down due to the 3/31/13 industrial accident; ANO-2 is operating at 100%)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Appropriations Topics of Interest :

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Pitfalls of implementing Fukushima actions within five year s; Seeks Chairman's commitment not to use delaying tactics on votes
  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Chairman's review and approval of Commissioner travel f unds
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipat ed Questions:

  • Please provide an update on the heavy-load accident at Arkansas Nuclear One
  • Cumulative impact of post-Fukushima regulations Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) Will Attend Facilities in district: Cooper, Fort Calhoun (Fort Calhoun is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

Anticipated Questions:

  • Does NRC plan to keep adding work to Fort Calhoun's Restart Checklist and moving the target, or does OPPD have a complete list of actions it needs to address before being permitted to restart?
  • Has t here been any damage to the local aquifers or streams from an in-situ recovery facil ity or uranium processing facility?

Page 11 of 11

Member Profiles Index Democrats Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) .............................................................................................................................. 2 Sen. Barbara Boxer (D- CA) - Chairman ........................................................................................................ 1 Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) ...................................................................................................................... 4 Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) .......... ..................................................................................................................... 3 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) ...................................................................................................................... 7 Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) ................................................................................................................................ 7 Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) .............................................................................................................................. 6 Sen. Bernie Sanders (1-VT) ............................................................................................................................ 5 Sen. Tom Udall (D- NM) ........... ..................................................................................................................... 6 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D- RI) .................................................................................................................. 5 Republicans Sen. John Barrasso (R- WY) ......................................................................................................................... 10 Sen. John Boozman (R- AR) ......................................................................................................................... 13 Sen. Mike Crapo (R- ID) ............................................................................................................................... 12 Sen. Deb Fischer (R- NE) .............................................................................................................................. 14 Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) ............................................................................................................................. 9 Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) ............................................................................................................................. 11 Sen. David Vitter (R- LA)- Ranking Member ................................................................... ............................. 8 Sen. Roger Wicker (R- MS) .......................................................................................................................... 12

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman Facilities in state: Diablo Canyon 1&2, SONGS 2&3, SONGS (shut down Jan. 2012 due t o steam generator tube degradation; notified NRC in 2013 it would be decommissioned)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Chairman Select Committee on Ethics - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letters 5/15/2012, 5/23/2013, 5/31/13, 6/24/13, Requests documents related to design of replacement steam generators at SONGS
  • Letter 5/23/13:

Requests all correspondence between Edison and Mitsubishi dealing with the design work for SONGS

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

SONGS restart plan; 01 investigation completion before restart; Hardened vents (qualitat ive rationale); timely delivery of information, willingness to provide documents to Committee Chair

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Safety culture in Japan v. U.S.; Ensuring hazards information is regularly updated in licensing/relicensing decisions; Station blackout/integrated emergency procedures rulemakings; Five-year timeline for implementing actions; Licensing amendments for structural or equipment changes to plants (e.g., SONGS); Land contamination consideration and evacuation estimates in cost-benefit analyses; Root cause of steam generator issues at SONGS; Compliance with fire protection regulations

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Concerns about SONGS raised by elected officials; Maintaining transparent review process of SONGS' steam generator issues; Agency's license amendment process; Status of rulemaking for 10-year confirmation of flood/seismic hazards; Seismic risks; Resources for Tier 3 activities; Recouping costs for Fukushima-related activities; Implementation of Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations; Chairman's approach to managing people; Radioactive materials released from Fukushima and their length oftime in the environment; Transparency and openness of the Internal Commission Procedures; Assuring safety of SONGS and AIT inspection findings; Plants in noncompliance with fire safety regulations; Internal and external safety culture; Emergency planning; Timeline for implementing LLTF recommendations and NRC orders; Radiological impacts to the environment resulting from a plant emergency

  • Letter 4/9/13 Requests no SONGS restart decision until NRC completes investigation, provides opportunity for public participation
  • Letter 3/8/13:

Status of implementation of post-Fukushima safety recommendations

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 2/8/13:

MH l's root cause analysis report 1

  • Letter 10/4/12:

SONGS' steam generator repairs, restart plan

  • Letter 5/15/12:

SONGS' determination that license amendment unnecessary for SG replacement project

  • Letter 2/8/12:

Steam generator tube integrity Anticipated Questions:

  • Will you complete all investigations related to SONGS despite the shutdown?
  • Commissioner Svinicki: Why did you not recuse yourself from Yucca Mountain decisions?
  • How will the radioactive leaks from Fukushima affect the West Coast?
  • Why has the Commission gone back on its commitment to implement post-Japan recommendations in five years?
  • Does the NRC agree with GAO's recent report that there is room for improving evacuation routes around nuclear power plants?
  • You had an easy opportunity to improve safety in a post-Fukushima world with your votes of filtered vents. How can you stand by this "kick the can" approach?
  • Why are you limiting transparency with this new approach to providing documents to the Hill?
  • What is happening at Diablo Canyon in regards to Seismic issues?

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Finance -- Chairman Anticipated Questions:

NONE 2

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)

Facilities in state: N/A (views Salem & Hope Creek his adopted plants in New Jersey)

Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee - Chairman Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 9/13/13:

Timeliness and efficiency of the licensing of dry cask storage facilities and cask designs for spent nuclear fuel

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety Culture at nuclear plants; New Reactor construction progress; extreme weather events

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Fukushima: Licensee actions on NRC orders; Station blackout; Ability to meet five-year goal; Timeline for Tier 2 and 3 recommendations; Hydrogen control practices outside the U.S.; Work prioritization; NRC evaluation of new information from Japan; New reactor/relicensing delays due to waste confidence; Chairman's leadership style; NRC's 50.54(f) letters; Incentives to repository-host communities; lncentivizing local host communities for SNF

  • QFRs from 6/13/12 and 9/12/12 Hearings:

NRC's coordination with DOE and private sector on R&D for new generation of reactors; Striving to make improvements at NRC; Climate change risks to reactors, i.e., flooding Anticipated Questions:

  • How is the Commission doing? Still getting along?
  • How is the NRC considering the cumulative effects of regulation? (may use his "one foot on the gas, one foot on the brake analogy here)
  • What is being done to ensure that the older Northeast nuclear power plants can weather severe storms, including hurricanes and snow storms? Any changes required in emergency planning?
  • Is NRC on track to address waste confidence issues in 24 months?
  • Has NRC's five-year goal on Fukushima tasks slipped, and if so, what work will take longer and why?
  • NRC is no longer #1 in Best Places to Work, how are we do,ing?
  • Why do you think we are seeing plants closing?
  • Timeliness seems to be an issue with some reviews (e.g. dry cask certifications). Do you have the resources you need?

3

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)

Facilities in state: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 6/11/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing; Fire safety: which reactor licensees comply with Appendix R or NFPA 805? When will others come into compliance and what will the NRC do to those who fai l to meet their compliance deadlines?
  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Compliance with and exemptions for fire protection regulations; Safety of long-term onsite SNF storage; Dry casks stored at licensee sites vs. regional or national sites; Transportation risks for a centralized site

  • Letter 12/3/12:

Forwarded constituent allegation on employment concerns; forwarded to IG's office Anticipated Questions (possibly QFRs):

  • What is the status of long-term dry cask storage at plant sites now that there does not appear to be a viable repository in the near-term?
  • How has sequestration affected NRC? Are the timelines of reviews affected?

4

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT)

Facilities in state: Vermont Yankee (Entergy announced that it would permanently close Vermont Yankee in late 2014)

Agreement State:

No Committees:

Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing.-

DECON vs SAFSTOR, NTTF recommendations voluntary or required, Commission's Internal Procedu res for sharing with the Hill, dry cask storage vs spent f uel pools

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Changing Commission voting procedures to public voting; Taxpayer liability in Price-Anderson system; Loan guarantees for new reactors; Privatizing disposition of waste Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the viability of SAFSTOR? Is 60+ years on-site safe?

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget

  • Letter 4/25/13:

Request response from IG 5

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)

Facilities in state: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction project Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Five-year implementation of short-term NTTF recommendations; Safety standards for new vs. older reactors; Differences between U.S. and French requirements of safety equipment designed to survive disasters

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

Commission's response to U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on w ast e confidence and impacts on new reactors; Implementation of Fukushima-related tasks and fire safety requirements; URENCO operations and the government's subsidies/support for competitor USEC; Foreign ownership review of USEC; Cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sit es and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Anticipated Questions:

What is the status of uranium r ecovery licensing activities in New Mexico?

What is the status of uranium contamination cleanup in t he Navajo Nation?

What is happening w ith the Waste Confidence issue?

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

What is the status of the long-term storage of waste study?

What is happening w ith the Waste Confidence issue?

6

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Facilities in state: FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2&3, Nine Mile Point 1&2 (Nine Mile Point-1 is in ROP Column 2)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Indian Point EPZ/adequacy of emergency evacuation plans; Super Storm Sandy could have made evacuation plans unworkable, yet Indian Point did not shut-down

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Shorter license renewal per iods; Risks to plants near potentially active fault lines; Large-scale evacuation planning
  • QFRs from Hearing 3/15/12:

Emergency planning zones; Exchange of Fukushima-related information among government agencies, informing public in timely manner; Climate change impacts on extreme weather events; Fukushima orders, timeline for Tier 2 and 3 work

  • Letter 5/6/13:

GAO's March 2013 report on public's response to radiological incidents and potential for shadow evacuation near Indian Point

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 9/20/12:

Indian Point securit y allegations

  • Letter 10/24/13:
  • GAO report on NRC oversight of nuclear power industry Anticipated Questions:
  • As part of emergency planning, will NRC undertake an independent examination of a potential shadow evacuation around Indian Point using current data so t hat a realistic emergency plan can be developed?
  • Is Indian Point safe to operate without a renewed license?
  • Is there a pattern behind the security guard issues at Indian Point?

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Facilities in state: Oyster Creek, Salem 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works, Commerce, Science &

Transportation, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

Post-Fukushima, Anticipated Questions:

  • This will be his first hearing as a member of EPW 7

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member Facilities in state: River Bend, Waterford Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

SONGS restart plan; NRC independence; Release of SER for Yucca Mountain

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

127 Questions on following topics: Roles and responsibilities of Chairman; Impact of Sequester; Emergency Evacuation plans; Japan vs US regulatory comparison; Economic consequences of post-Fukushima regulations; Cumulative effect of regulations; Qualitative vs Quantitative analysis; Cost-Benefit analysis; SONGS public meetings; adequate vs absolute protection; release of Yucca Mountain SER; NWPA; Angela Coggins's role at NRC; upstream dam failures; Non-proliferation reviews; Linear No Threshold theory; licensing delays

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Introduced bill to change organization and operation of t he Commission (S. 1519)

Anticipated Questions:

  • Cost and methodologies/cumulative effect of regulation
  • Fukushima activities and timeline
  • Is the NRC regulating plants out of business?
  • What are your thoughts on the NRC Reorg Act, which would clarify Commission and Chairman roles?
  • What is your approach on Yucca Mountain? Are you just sta lling?

8

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK)

Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety of operating reactor fleet; completion of the Yucca Mountain SER; Cumulative Effects of Regulation

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Allegations against former Chairman; Japan adopting NRC practices; Comparisons on structure of U.S. v. Japan safety regulators; Ensuring against a Fukushima-type accident; Commission collegiality

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Staff implementation of Commission direction on Fukushima activities; Considerations of new information on accident in Japan; Land contamination; Tier 1 activities and beyond-Tier 1 work; Cumulative effects of regulation; Retention of domestic civil nuclear technologies/expertise; Developing collective unde-rstanding of Chairman's emergency powers and authorities and Commission procedures; Commission voting procedures; Waste confidence; Seismic and flooding hazard re-analyses; U.S. v. Japan regulations; Pilgrim's license renewal review; Quantifiable improvements from Fukushima orders; Fire protection

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • Cost/benefits of post-Fukushima regulations/requirements
  • Will you finish and release the SER for Yucca Mountain?
  • NRC's over-regulation hurting the energy industry and hurting the economy 9

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)

Facilities in state: Uranium Recovery Sit es: Lost Creek, Moore Ranch, Nichols Ranch, Smith Ranch, Sweetwater, and Willow Creek Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Chairman's management style; uranium recovery licensing delays; prioritization of NTTF recommendations; double regulation of In-Situ Recovery (NRC and EPA); resource shortages and delays in reviews of uranium recovery license applicat ions

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Expansion of EPZ; UCS report on protecting reactors; Future of new reactors and license extension; Domestic uranium production; Schedule adherence for uranium recovery applications; Timely Commission action; Revision of Internal Commission Procedures; Avoiding diversion of resources at expense of activities such as waste confidence; Prioritizi ng work from LLTF recommendations Timing of Tier 2&3 activities; cumulative effect of regulation on plant safety

  • QFRs from 3/15/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Internal commission procedures; Chairman's leadership style and views on YM as a permanent repository; Licensing of domestic uranium recovery and processing; Stakeholder involvement in uranium recovery issues

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of the in situ recovery applications for the Ross and Reno Creek facilities and Ludeman expansion?
  • Does NRC have the appropriate staffing/resources to conduct the uranium milling licensing requests?
  • How many plants have to close before NRC gets in check with its over-regulation?
  • What is your approach to Yucca M ountain? Are you just stalling? Will Yucca Mountain decisions be Commission decisions?
  • What are Mary Woollen's role and responsibilities at the NRC?

10

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

Facilities in state: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Farley 1&2 (Browns Ferry-1 is in ROP Column 4; Browns Ferry-2 is in Column 3; Browns Ferry-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Ranking M ember Budget - Ranking M ember Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC independence; Chairman's role re: Commission; Yucca Mountain license proceeding; Cu mulative Impacts of Regulation; Cost-Benefit analysis; rulemakings vs direct orders; openness; safety of operating fleet

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Chairman's management and budget oversight experience and technical expertise, Chairman's receipt of Federal funding relat ed to Yucca, Views on preserving records associated with Yucca review work; Local support in Nevada for Yucca Mountain; Chairman's full disclosure of writings/publications

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

List of Chairman's speeches and participation on conference panels, meetings, public rallies and events on nuclear energy and nuclear w aste issues; List of Chairman's memberships with nuclear-related organizations; Chairman's views on Yucca Mountain as the designated repository under the NWPA, new reactor licensing regulations, the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendat ion for the creation of a new f ederal corporation to manage the waste program

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting NRC's review of the Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What steps has NRC talken to alleviate the cumulative impacts of regulations? There is a high cost to energy in the country with plants closing.
  • Status of new construction activities
  • Waste confidence : Is it on track so new licenses can be issued?
  • Yucca Mountain: one reason God made a desert. W ill you comply with Court's order?
  • How quickly will you m ake a decision on moving forward wit h Yucca M ountain activiti es?

11

Sen. M ike Crapo (R-1D)

Facilities in state: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not construct ed Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC's use of foreign service provider for radiation services

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations for NRC priority considerat ion; co-mingling defense and civilian nuclear waste; Consent-based approach for licensing a storage/waste site; Potential of court directing the restart of Yucca Mountain proceedings
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost -benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • Cumulative effects of r,egulation
  • Yucca Mountain Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Facilities in state: Grand Gulf (Currently in ROP Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Waste Confidence rule; impact of sequestration upon Waste Confidence process

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • Impact of post-Fukushima regulations

12

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)

Facilities in state: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 (ANO-1 is shut down due to the 3/31/13 industrial accident; ANO-2 is operating at 100%)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Appropriations Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Quantitative vs Qualitative analysis; NRC leadership

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Pitfalls of implementing Fukushima actions within five years; Seeks Chairman's commitment not to use delaying tactics on votes
  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Chairman's review and approval of Commissioner travel f unds
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • Impact of post-Fukushima regulations
  • Balancing safety with regulatory burden 13

Sen. Deb Fischer (R- NE)

Facilities in state: Cooper, Fort Calhoun (Fort Calhoun is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues)

Crow Butte In Situ Recovery of Uranium Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Cumulative Effects of Regulation; licensee's prioritization of safety enhancements; NRC cost evaluations of proposed regulation; Fort Calhoun restart

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

In-situ uranium recovery; Duplicative regulation of uranium recovery with NE; Agreement States; licensing delays for uranium recovery;

  • Letter 8/16/13:

Constituent concern regarding "NRC's failure to enforce its fire safety regulations" -granting exemptions instead of issuing violations for failing to meet regulations introduced in 1980 Anticipated Questions:

  • Does NRC plan to keep adding work to Fort Calhoun's Restart Checklist and moving the target, or does OPPD have a complete list of actions it needs to address before being permitted to restart?

Are we any closer?

  • Has there been any damage to the local aquifers or streams from an in-situ recovery facility or uranium processing facility?

14

Member Profiles Index Democrats Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) .............................................................................................................................. 2 Sen. Barbara Boxer (D- CA) - Chairman ........................................................................................................ 1 Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) ...................................................................................................................... 4 Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) .......... ..................................................................................................................... 3 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) ...................................................................................................................... 8 Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) ................................................................................................................................ 9 Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) .............................................................................................................................. 8 Sen. Bernie Sanders (1-VT) ............................................................................................................................ 4 Sen. Tom Udall (D- NM) ........... ..................................................................................................................... 7 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D- RI) .................................................................................................................. 7 Republicans Sen. John Barrasso (R- WY) ......................................................................................................................... 12 Sen. John Boozman (R- AR) ......................................................................................................................... 15 Sen. Mike Crapo (R- ID) ............................................................................................................................... 14 Sen. Deb Fischer (R- NE) .............................................................................................................................. 16 Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) ........................................................................................................................... 11 Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) ............................................................................................................................. 12 Sen. David Vitter (R- LA)- Ranking Member ................................................................... ........................... 10 Sen. Roger Wicker (R- MS) .......................................................................................................................... 14

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman, Expected to attend Facilities in state: Diablo Canyon 1&2, SONGS 2&3, SONGS (shut down Jan. 2012 due t o steam generator tube degradation; notified NRC in 2013 it would be decommissioned)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Chairman Select Committee on Ethics - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letters 5/15/2012, 5/23/2013, 5/31/13, 6/24/13, Requests documents related to design of replacement steam generators at SONGS
  • Letter 5/23/13:

Requests all correspondence between Edison and Mitsubishi dealing with the design work for SONGS

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

SONGS restart plan; 01 investigation completion before restart; Hardened vents (qualitat ive rationale); timely delivery of information, willingness to provide documents to Committee Chair

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Safety culture in Japan v. U.S.; Ensuring hazards information is regularly updated in licensing/relicensing decisions; Station blackout/integrated emergency procedures rulemakings; Five-year timeline for implementing actions; Licensing amendments for structural or equipment changes to plants (e.g., SONGS); Land contamination consideration and evacuation estimates in cost-benefit analyses; Root cause of steam generator issues at SONGS; Compliance with fire protection regulations

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Concerns about SONGS raised by elected officials; Maintaining transparent review process of SONGS' steam generator issues; Agency's license amendment process; Status of rulemaking for 10-year confirmation of flood/seismic hazards; Seismic risks; Resources for Tier 3 activities; Recouping costs for Fukushima-related activities; Implementation of Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations; Chairman's approach to managing people; Radioactive materials released from Fukushima and their length of time in the environment; Transparency and openness of the Internal Commission Procedures; Assuring safety of SONGS and AIT inspection findings; Plants in noncompliance with fire safety regulations; Internal and external safety culture; Emergency planning; Timeline for implement ing LLTF recommendations and NRC orders; Radiological impacts to the environment resulting from a plant emergency

  • Letter 4/9/13 Requests no SONGS restart decision until NRC completes investigation, provides opportunity for public participation
  • Letter 3/8/13:

Status of implementation of post-Fukushima safety recommendations

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 2/8/13:

MH l's root cause analysis report 1

  • Letter 10/4/12:

SONGS' steam generator repairs, restart plan

  • Letter 5/15/12:

SONGS' determination that license amendment unnecessary for SG replacement project

  • Letter 2/8/12:

Steam generator tube integrity Anticipated Questions:

  • Has NRC reverted back to the 2011 ICPs to provide members of Congress with sensitive information when requested?
  • Since a fault was discovered near Diablo Canyon after the plant was under construction, was it licensed to meet seismic hazards at the site?
  • The pools at SONGS and Diablo Canyon now hold more t han four times the amount of spent fuel than their original license permitted. How can Californians be assured that the fuel is safe, and why isn't the NRC mandating t lhe fuel be moved more quickly into dry storage?
  • Why doesn't NRC better t r ack how much high burnup fuel is in the pools and dry storage?

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Finance -- Chairman Anticipated Questions:

NONE Nominated to be Ambassador to China, but not yet confirmed .

2

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A (views Salem & Hope Creek his adopted plants in New Jersey)

Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee - Chairman Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 9/13/13:

Timeliness and efficiency of the licensing of dry cask storage facilities and cask designs for spent nuclear fuel

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety Culture at nuclear plants; New Reactor construction progress; extreme weather events

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Fukushima: Licensee actions on NRC orders; Station blackout; Ability to meet five-year goal; Timeline for Tier 2 and 3 recommendations; Hydrogen control practices outside the U.S.; Work prioritization; NRC evaluation of new information from Japan; New reactor/relicensing delays due to waste confidence; Chairman's leadership style; NRC's 50.54(f) letters; Incentives to repository-host communities; lncentivizing local host communities for SNF

  • QFRs from 6/13/12 and 9/12/12 Hearings:

NRC's coordination with DOE and private sector on R&D for new generation of reactors; Striving to make improvements at NRC; Climate change risks to reactors, i.e., flooding Anticipated Questions:

  • How is the NRC considering the cumulative effects of regulation? (may use his "one foot on the gas, one foot on the brake analogy here)
  • What is the status of NRC's regulatory update on long term storage of spent fuel impacting relicensing and new plant licensing?
  • Has NRC's five-year goal on Fukushima tasks slipped, and if so, what work will take longer and why?
  • Why do you think we are seeing plants closing?
  • Timeliness seems to be an issue with some reviews (e.g. dry cask certifications). Do you have the resources you need?
  • What is NRC doing to ensur e plants impacted by Super Storm Sandy and other U.S. reactors are prepared to withstand violent weather?

3

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Topics of Interest :

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 6/11/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing; Fire safety: which reactor licensees comply with Appendix R or NFPA 805? When will others come into compliance and what will the NRC do to those who fai l to meet their compliance deadlines?
  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Compliance with and exemptions for fire protection regulations; Safety of long-term onsite SNF storage; Dry casks stored at licensee sites vs. regional or national sites; Transportation risks for a centralized site

  • Letter 12/3/12:

Forwarded constituent allegat ion on employment concems; forwarded to IG's office Anticipated Questions:

  • On Jan. 21, both of the Calvert Cliffs reactors tripped and simultaneously shut down.

o Is this an anomaly?

o If not, what is the NRC doing about it?

4

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT)- Expected to attend Facilities in state: Vermont Yankee (Entergy announced that it would permanently close Vermont Yankee in late 2014)

Agreement State:

No Committees:

Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing.-

DECON vs SAFSTOR, NTTF recommendations voluntary or required, Commission's Internal Procedu res for sharing with the Hill, dry cask storage vs spent f uel pools

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Changing Commission voting procedures to public voting; Taxpayer liability in Price-Anderson system; Loan guarantees for new reactors; Privatizing disposition of waste Anticipated Questions:

  • How can the NRC ensure the state of Vermont has a meaningful role in the decommissioning process?
  • Will you support a policy change that would allow the state of Vermont more input to the Vermont Yankee decommissioning process?
  • Can decommissioning funds be used to fund the movement of fuel rods to drycask?

No. Decommissioning funds cannot be used to move spent fuel because a licensee's decommissioning trust fund must be used only for decommissioning activities. 10CFR 50.82(a)(8)(i) states, "Decommissioning trust funds may be used by licensees if--(A) The withdrawals are for expenses for legitimate decommissioning activities consistent with the definition of decommissioning in§ 50.2;" 50.2 defines decommissioning to mean: "to remove a facility or site safely from service and reduce residual radioactivity to a level that permits-(1) Release of the property for unrestricted use and termination of the license; or (2) Release of the property under restricted conditions and termination of the license."

In addition, licensees are required to have spent fuel management plans that include funds for managing spent fuel. 10 CFR 50.54(bb) requires licensees to submit a "program by which the licensee intends to manage and provide funding for the management of all irradiated fuel at the reactor following permanent cessation of operation of the reactor until title to the irradiated fuel and possession of the fuel is transferred to the Secretary of Energy for its ultimate disposal in a repository." The management of spent fuel from the time of permanent cessation of operations until title and possession transfers to DOE includes moving fuel rods from the pool to dry cask storage (assuming it occurs after permanent cessation of operations). Thus, the licensee's spent fuel management plan will cover the costs of moving spent fuel.

5

10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i) requires licensees to submit, in their post shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR), a site specific decommissioning cost estimate, including the projected cost of managing irradiated fuel. 10 CFR 50.82(a}(8)(vii) requires licensees, after submitting the decommissioning cost estimate with the PSDAR under 50.82(a)(4)(i), to annually submit to the NRG a report on the status of the funding for managing irradiated fuel. The report must include the following information, current th rough the end of the previous calendar year: (A) The amount of funds accumu lated to cover the cost of managing the irradiated fuel; (B) The projected cost of managing irradiated fuel until title and possession of the fuel is transferred to DOE; and(C) If the funds accumulated do not cover the projected cost, a plan to obtain additional funds to cover the cost.

  • Can the NRC provide a waiver to this rule?

Yes. A licensee could request an exemption from the regulations governing the use of decommissioning funds (10 CFR 50.82) to utilized decommissioning funds for spent fuel management. Whether such a request would be granted is speculative, at best, and would depend several factors, including, prior submittal of the PSDAR, the availability of excess funds over and above the amount necessary to complete decommissioning in a timely manner, the ability to meet the requirements of 50.82 ..

  • Will you support an Entergy request for a waiver?

Note: The basic concept is that the licensees save up a certain amount for decommissioning based on certain assumptions regarding the costs of decommissioning. These assumptions are built into the regulatory minimum, the site specific studies and the PSDAR. Fuel management costs are not decommissioning costs and are not included in these assumption. Therefore, if funds are taken out of the decommissioning funds at any point to pay for other th ings it diminishes the amount available for decommissioning. Thus, increasing the likelihood that decommissioning will be incomplete.

  • Maine Yankee decommissioned in eight years, is it possible for Vermont Yankee to decommission in eight years also?
  • On 14 Nov 2103, the senator sent a letter asking if the NRC staff had been directed to cease their regulatory scrutiny of whether there exist sufficient funds to operate Entergy's merchant f leet.

Having received no response, he sent a follow up request on 24 Jan 2014 (attached). Possible Questions:

o Why have you not responded to my Nov 2013 letter?

o Was the staff directed to cease their regulatory scrutiny of whether there exist sufficient funds to operate Entergy's merchant fleet?

o Has the staff been directed to refrain from attem pting to determine whether other nuclear reactor licensees a re maintaining sufficient operating funds for all power reactors that have been found to have degraded safety measures and thus subject to additional NRC oversight?

o Commissioners' answers could generate more questions down these same lines, specifically, "do you support such policy?

6

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget

  • Letter 4/25/13:

Request response from IG Anticipated Questions:

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)- Not expected t o attend Facilities in state: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction project Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Five-year implementation of short-term NTTF recommendations; Safety standards for new vs. older reactors; Differences between U.S. and French requirements of safety equipment designed to survive disasters

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

Commission's response to U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on waste confidence and impacts on new reactors; Implementation of Fukushima-related tasks and fire safety requirements; URENCO operations and the government's subsidies/support for competitor USEC; Foreign ownership review of USEC; Cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sites and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Anticipated Questions:

7

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR} - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NV) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2&3, Nine Mile Point 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Indian Point EPZ/adequacy of emergency evacuation plans; Super Storm Sandy could have made evacuation plans unworkable, yet Indian Point did not shut-down

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Shorter license renewal periods; Risks to plants near potentially active fault lines; Large-scale evacuation planning
  • QFRs from Hearing 3/15/12:

Emergency planning zones; Exchange of Fukushima-related information among government agencies, informing public in timely manner; Climate change impacts on extreme weather events; Fukushima orders, timeline for Tier 2 and 3 work

  • Letter 5/6/13:

GAO's M arch 2013 report on public's response to radiological incidents and potential for shadow evacuation near Indian Point

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 9/20/12:

Indian Point security allegations

  • Letter 10/24/13:
  • GAO report on NRC oversight of nuclear power industry Anticipated Questions:
  • The 2014 Appropriations Bill directs the NRC to abide by the 2011 Internal Commission Procedures.

Will you obey the law?

8

  • Indian Point's reevaluated flood height exceeds their current design basis flood height. The current design basis flood height is 15' feet, but with the new data, and methodologies, the reeva Iuated flood height is 17'11. I understand Entergy has taken interim actions, such as the use of sandbags and temporary barriers to protect the site from the reevaluated hazard. How long will the NRC approve of these interim measures and do you really believe that sand bags will sufficiently hold back 3' of Hudson River water? {Indian Point flood reevaluation talking points attached)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Oyster Creek, Salem 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works, Commerce, Science &

Transportation, Small Business & Entrepreneurship To pics of Interest:

Post -Fukushima, Anticipat ed Questions:

  • This will be his first hearing as a member of EPW
  • I would like to know if safeguards are in place at nuclear power plants that will prevent w hat occurred at Fukushima.

9

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member, Expected to attend Facilities in state: River Bend, Waterford Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Topics of Interest :

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

SONGS restart plan; NRC independence; Release of SER for Yucca Mountain

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

127 Questions on following topics: Roles and responsibilities of Chairman; Impact of Sequester; Emergency Evacuation plans; Japan vs US regulatory comparison; Economic consequences of post-Fukushima regulations; Cumulative effect of regulations; Qualitative vs Quantitative analysis; Cost-Benefit analysis; SONGS public meetings; adequate vs absolute protection; release of Yucca Mountain SER; NWPA; Angela Coggins's role at NRC; upstream dam failures; Non-proliferation reviews; Linear No Threshold theory; licensing delays

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Introduced bill to change organization and operation of t he Commission (S. 1519)

Anticipat ed Questions:

  • Does NRC have enough money to complete the SER for Yucca Mount ain? It seems you should know by know what it will take to finish your licensing review.
  • What is NRC doing to avoid "regulating for the sake of regulating?" We've seen recent plant closures, which have cost thousands of jobs.
  • Are there any aspects of my bill, S. 1519, the "Nuclear Regulatory Commission Reorganization Plan Codification and Complements Act," that you agree with?

10

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) - Expected t o attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety of operating reactor fleet; completion of the Yucca M ountain SER; Cumulative Effects of Regulation

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Allegations against former Chairman; Japan adopting NRC practices; Comparisons on structure of U.S. v. Japan safety regulators; Ensuring against a Fukushima-type accident; Commission collegiality

  • QFRs from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Staff implementation of Commission direction on Fukushima activities; Considerations of new information on accident in Japan; Land contamination; Tier 1 activit ies and beyond-Tier 1 work; Cumulative effects of regulation; Retention of domestic civil nuclear technologies/ expertise; Developing collective unde-rstanding of Cha irman's emergency powers and authorities and Commission procedures; Commission voting procedures; Waste confidence; Seismic and flooding hazard re-analyses; U.S. v. Japan regulations; Pilgrim's license renewal review; Quantifiable improvements from Fukushima orders; Fire protection

  • Letter 2/4/ 13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • Do you have enough money to complet e the SER for Yucca Mountain, and if not, have you requested additiona l funding?
  • What has NRC done to reduce it s budget and staff to realign with the diminished demand for new nuclear power plants?
  • Explain why NRC is not following its "Principles of Good Regulation" and using the Fukushima accident to impose expensive and unnecessary requirements on the industry?
  • How many Fukushima-related regulations have been imposed? Is the NRC trying to regulate nuclear power plants out of business?

11

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)- Expected to attend Facilities in state: Uranium Recovery Sit es: Lost Creek, Moore Ranch, Nichols Ranch, Smith Ranch, Sweetwater, and Willow Creek Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Chairman's management style; uranium recovery licensing delays; prioritization of NTTF recommendations; double regulation of In-Situ Recovery (NRC and EPA); resource shortages and delays in reviews of uranium recovery license applicat ions

  • Questions from 9/12/12 and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Expansion of EPZ; UCS report on protecting reactors; Future of new reactors and license extension; Domestic uranium production; Schedule adherence for uranium recovery applications; Timely Commission action; Revision of Internal Commission Procedures; Avoiding diversion of resources at expense of activities such as waste confidence; Prioritizi ng work from LLTF recommendations Timing of Tier 2&3 activities; cumulative effect of regulation on plant safety

  • QFRs from 3/15/12 and 6/13/12 Hearings:

Internal commission procedures; Chairman's leadership style and views on YM as a permanent repository; Licensing of domestic uranium recovery and processing; Stakeholder involvement in uranium recovery issues

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of the in situ recovery applications for the Ross, Lost Creek, Reno Creek, and Ludeman facilities?
  • Does NRC have the appropriate staffing/resources to conduct the uranium milling licensing requests?
  • How many plants have to close before NRC reigns in its tendency to over-regulate?

12

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Farley 1&2 (Browns Ferry-1 is in ROP Column 4; Browns Ferry-2 is in Column 3; Browns Ferry-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Ranking Member Budget - Ranking Member Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC independence; Chairman's role re: Commission; Yucca Mountain license proceeding; Cumulative Impacts of Regulation; Cost-Benefit analysis; rulemakings vs direct orders; openness; safety of operating fleet

  • Questions from 9/12/12, 6/13/12, and 3/15/12 Hearings:

Chairman's management and budget oversight experience and technical expertise, Chairman's receipt of Federal funding relat ed to Yucca, Views on preserving records associated wit h Yucca review work; Local support in Nevada for Yucca Mountain; Chairman's full disclosure of writings/publications

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12:

List of Chairman's speeches and participation on conference panels, meetings, public rallies and events on nuclear energy and nuclear waste issues; List of Chairman's memberships with nuclear-related organizations; Chairman's views on Yucca Mountain as the designated repository under the NWPA, new reactor licensing regulations, the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendation for the creation of a new federal corporation to manage the waste program

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting NRC's review of the Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the NRC doing to ensure that the cumulative impact of all the post-Fukushima regulations isn't imposing an undue burden on the industry?
  • Doesn't the number of plants in decommissioning, and the reduced number of COL applications show that the regulatory burden on the nuclear industry is too high?
  • What is the status of the NRC's review of the YM Safety Evaluation Reports?
  • Sen . Sessions may speak about the "fate of nuclear power" in light of recent "premature plant closures".
  • In an effort to be helpful on the topic of providing documents t o Congress, he may ask Commissioners a) if NRC's pract ice is consistent with other government agencies, and b) to confirm that "sensitive documents".
  • Erosion of "backfit" rule: wants to ensure that Commission and staff are not "exceeding any rational cost analyses" with regulatory requirements (e.g., filtered vents).
  • Wants to ensure that we are working with industry to take comments re: cumulative impact of regulation.

13

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-1D)- May attend Facilities in state: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not construct ed Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC's use of foreign service provider for radiation services

  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations for NRC priority consideration; co-mingling defense and civilian nuclear waste; Consent-based approach for licensing a storage/waste site; Potential of court directing the restart of Yucca Mountain proceedings
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Letter 12/22/11 to GBJ:

Reconstituting review of Yucca license application Anticipated Questions:

  • The industry is being forced to comply with regulations that do not directly impact the safe operations of the plant. What is NRC doing to tackle the cumulative effects of regulation?
  • When will NRC finish its review of the DOE's Yucca Mountain license applicat ion?

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Grand Gulf (Currently in ROP Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Waste Confidence rule; impact of sequestration upon Waste Confidence process

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • Why the recent delay in the review schedule of the Grand Gulf application?

14

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 (ANO-1 is shut down due to the 3/31/13 industrial accident; ANO-2 is operating at 100%)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Appropriations Topics of Interest:

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Quantitative vs Qualitative analysis; NRC leadership

  • Questions from 6/13/12 Confirmation Hearing:
  • Pitfalls of implementing Fukushima actions within five years; Seeks Chairman's commitment not to use delaying tactics on votes
  • QFRs from Hearing 6/13/12 Chairman's review and approval of Commissioner travel funds
  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach Anticipated Questions:

  • How is the NRC balancing safety issues with regulatory burden?
  • NRC seems to have reinterpreted the backfit rule. Could you provide me with a list of decisions over the past yea r involving baclkfit determinations?

15

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)- May attend Facilities in state: Cooper, Fort Calhoun (Fort Calhoun is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues)

Crow Butte In Situ Recovery of Uranium Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Topics of Interest:

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Cumulative Effects of Regulation; licensee's prioritization of safety enhancements; NRC cost evaluations of proposed regulation; Fort Calhoun restart

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

In-situ uranium recovery; Duplicative regulation of uranium recovery with NE; Agreement States; licensing delays for uranium recovery;

  • Letter 8/16/13:

Constituent concern regarding "NRC's failure to enforce its fire safety regulations" -granting exemptions instead of issuing violations for failing to meet regulations introduced in 1980 Anticipated Questions:

  • What steps has NRC taken to address the cumulative effect of regulation?
  • How is NRC prioritizing its rulemaking actions?
  • What has NRC done to address duplicative federal-state regulation of in situ recovery facilities?

This has been problematic in delaying licensing on the front end and slowing decommissioning on the back end. (Note: Nebraska is an Agreement State)

  • Has there been any damage to the local aquifers or streams from an in-situ recovery facility or uranium processing facility?

16

Member Profiles Index Democrats Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman ........................................................................................................ 2 Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) ...................................................................................................................... 4 Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) ............................................................................................................................... 3 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) ...................................................................................................................... 7 Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) ................................................................................................................................ 8 Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) ........................................................................................................................ 8 Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) .............................................................................................................................. 7 Sen. Bern ie Sanders (1-VT) ............................................................................................................................ s Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) ................................................................................................................................ 6 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) .................................................................................................................. 6 Republicans Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) ............................................. ............................................................................ 12 Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) ......................................................................................................................... 15 Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) ............................................................................................................................... 14 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) .............................................................................................................................. 16 Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) ........................................................................................................................... 11 Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) ............................................................................................................................. 12 Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)- Ranking Member .............................................................................................. 10 Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) .......................................................................................................................... 14

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman, Expected to attend Facilities in state: Diablo Canyon 1&2 SONGS 2 &3 (shut down Jan. 2012 due to team generator tube degradation; notified NRC in 2013 the plant would be decommissioned)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Chairman Select Committee on Ethics - Chairman Foreign Relations Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Markey, Sanders, Gillibrand, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letters 11/21/13, 6/19/13, 5/31/13, 5/23/2013, 5/15/2012:

Requests documents related to design of replacement steam generators at SONGS and 01 investigatory documents

  • Letter 4/9/13 Requests no SONGS restart decision until NRC completes investigation; NRC should provide opportunity for public participation
  • Letter 3/8/13:

Status of implementation of post-Fukushima safety recommendations

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 2/8/13:

MHl's root cause analysis report

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

Risks of an accident or attack once a reactor shuts down do not diminish; Chairman Macfarlane co-authored a paper stating long-term land contamination consequences of a SF pool fire could be worse than Chernobyl; NRC has never disapproved an EP exemption request for decommissioning reactors;

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Timetable too long for seismic hazard reevaluations; NRC withholding documents requested by her office; Changes to ICPs not appropriate; Commission international travel; Non-concurrence on Diablo Canyon seismic requirements; Two-person security requirement

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC inspections and technical reviews of SONGS; DPO on Diablo Canyon; High burnup fuel in spent fuel pools; NRC documents requested by the Senator Anticipated Questions:

  • Does the NRC believe, as NEI recently asserted, that a spent fuel pool fire can no longer occur "within months of a reactor shutdown" because the fuel has sufficiently cooled?
  • Given the events at Fukushima, and the fact that both the National Academy of Sciences and NRC have found that a drain-down of spent fuel pools can lead to fire, how can NRC allow decommissioning reactors to reduce their Emergency Planning Zones?

2

  • Given that NRC has approved all 10 exemption requests ("waivers") from emergency response requirements, what would it take for NRC to issue a denial?
  • The pools at SONGS and Diablo Canyon now hold more t han four times the amount of spent fuel than their original license permitted. How can Californians be assured that the fuel is safe, and why isn't the NRC mandating t lhe fuel be moved more quickly into dry storage?
  • Why doesn't NRC better t rack how much high burnup fuel is in the pools and dry storage?

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A (However, views Salem & Hope Creek in New Jersey as his adopted plants)

No Agreement State:

Environment & Public Works Committees: Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Finance Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 9/13/13:

Timeliness and efficiency of the licensing of dry cask storage facilities and cask designs for spent nuclear fuel

  • Questions/comments from the 1/30/14 hearing:

Votes on two-person rule; Commission foreign travel; Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy for future storms; Flooding hazard reevaluations; Fukushima-related activities; Waste confidence

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Implementation of lessons from Hurricane Sandy and plant preparations for future storms; Actions taken to reverse NRC's downward trend in employee's views of job satisfaction

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety Culture at nuclear plants; New Reactor construction progress; extreme weather events Anticipated Questions:

NONE 3

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Finance Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 6/11/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing:

Fire safety: which reactor licensees comply with Appendix R or NFPA 805? When will others come into compliance and what w ill the NRC do to those who fai l to meet their compliance deadlines?

Anticipated Questions:

NONE 4

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT)- Expected to attend Facilities in state: Vermont Yankee Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Veterans' Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Markey, Gil/ibrand, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 2/11/14:

Requests NRC provide meaningful role in decommissioning process to states host ing plants and other interested parties Letter 1/24/14 (with Sen. Markey):

Draft paper (SECY 13-0124) on policy options for merchant plant financial qualifications and regulatory scrutiny of Entergy's finances for merchant reactors (Indian Point, Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, FitzPatrick, and Palisades)

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Markey, Gillibrand, Whitehouse and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 11/14/2013 (with Sen. Markey):

Financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's m erchant fleet

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Strong role for states in decommissioning process; Making Commission votes public

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing:

DECON vs SAFSTOR, NTTF recommendations voluntary or required, Commission's Internal Procedu res for sharing with the Hill, dry cask storage vs spent fuel pools Anticipated Questions:

  • How can the NRC ensure the state of Vermont has a meaningful role in the decommissioning process?
  • Will you support a policy change that would allow the state of Vermont more input to the Vermont Yankee decommissioning process?
  • Can decommissioning funds be used to fund the movement of fuel rods to dry cask?

5

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee - Chairman Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Judiciary

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Markey, Gillibrand, Sanders and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 4/25/13:

Request response from IG Anticipated Questions:

  • What are the risks of storing spent fuel in pools vs. dry casks?

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) - Not expected to attend Facilities in st ate: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction project Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Sa1fety Appropriations Foreign Relations Indian Affairs Rules and Administration Topics of Interest:

  • Cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sites and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Anticipated Questions:

NONE 6

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR} - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NV) - May attend Facilities in state: FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2&3, Nine Mile Point 1&2 (FitzPatrick is in Column 2)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Armed Services Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Markey, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Markey, Sanders, Whitehouse and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 10/24/13:

GAO report on NRC oversight of nuclear power industry

  • Letter 5/6/13:

GAO's March 2013 report on public's response to radiological incidents and potential for shadow evacuation near Indian Point

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Overhaul of license renewal criteria; Updating process during six years of hearing for Indian Point relicensing; NRC's exemption process; Slow establishment of regional response centers; NRC's oversight process and treatment of low-level findings

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Indian Point EPZ/adequacy of emergency evacuation plans; Super Storm Sandy could have made evacuation plans unworkable, yet Indian Point did not shut-down Anticipated Questions:

  • Explain rationale for allowing plants 60 years to decommission a reactor sit e.

7

  • How can NRC assure the safety of spent fuel in pools for an extended period of time, and would the fuel be safer in dry storage?

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Oyster Creek, Salem 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Commerce, Science & Transportation Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

Post-Fukushima activities Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA)- Expected to attend Facilities in state: Pilgrim Agreement Stat e: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Commerce, Science & Transportation Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship 8

Topics of Interest;

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Gillibrand, and Leahy}:

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 4/18/14 (with Sen. Warren}:

Pilgrim and Seabrook's seismic hazard reevaluations and mitigation measures

  • Letter 1/24/14 (with Sen. Sanders}:

Draft paper (SECY 13-0124) on policy options for merchant plant financial qualifications and regulatory scrutiny of Entergy's finances for merchant reactors (Indian Point, Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, FitzPatrick, and Palisades)

  • Letter 12/18/13:

Seabrook's license renewal and alkali silica reaction

  • Letter 11/14/2014 (with Sen. Sanders}:

Financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant fleet

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Sanders, Gillibrand, Whitehouse and others}:

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 9/18/13:

Findings on spent fuel pool accidents in NRC's draft Spent Fuel Pool Study (June 2013) and previous SF pool studies;

  • Letter 8/2/13:

Changes to guidance on foreign ownership Anticipated Questions;

  • Do you agree with the conclusions of the 2001 NRC spent fuel pool study, "Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool Accident Risk at Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants" (NUREG-1738?
  • What wil l it take for NRC to do more than issue a slap on t he wrist to plant owners that fail to follow the agency's regulations? NRC gave Exelon a "Severity Level IV" after it provided "incomplete and inaccurate information" in its biennial decommissioning funding status on eight occasions, and gave Southern California Edison a Severity Level IV violation after it made changes to its emergency plan without first seeking NRC approval. Should NRC even be issuing exemptions for EP-related plans for decommissioning reactors?
  • Can a licensee request to use decommissioning trust fund money for expenses that are not legitimate decommissioning activities?
  • What is the justification for NRC permitting EP exemption requests for a10-hour minimum for taking mitigative actions, such as restoring means of spent fuel pool cooling?

9

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member, Expected to attend Facilities in state: River Bend, Waterford-3 (Waterford-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Armed Services Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Barrasso, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mount ain license application

  • Letter 3/20/14:

Requests a list of allegations against the NRC General Counsel and 01 Director and associated DOJ opinions

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Introduced bill to change organization and operation of the Commission (S. 1519)
  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC compliance with U.S. Court of Appeals' ruling on Yucca Mountain

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Seismic hazard risks for Diablo Canyon; Waste confidence rulemaking schedule; Fukushima activities related to new rules, hardened vents; implementation of FLEX program, status of LLTF recommendations; Yucca Mountain budgeting, expenditures and procedures for preventing review delays; Furloughs and treatment of fee recovery; NRC's response to industry recommendations for improving regulatory efficiency and predictabilit y; Cumulative impacts of regulations; Procedures for exercising the Commission' s emergency response plan; NRC's workload and staffing; Recent spent fuel pool study; Review of decommissioning plants' submit tals; Regulatory cost-benefit analyses; Principles of good regulation; Commission's involvement in SONGS proceeding and request for ASLB to review for a "de facto" license amendment; MHI notice of non-conformance in steam generat or tube design; Treatment of problem vendors

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

SONGS restart plan; NRC independence; Release of SER for Yucca Mountain

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

127 Questions on following topics: Roles and responsibilities of Chairman; Impact of Sequester; Emergency Evacuation plans; Japan vs US regulatory comparison; Economic consequences of post-Fukushima regulations; Cumulative effect of regulations; Qualitative vs Quantitative analysis; Cost-Benefit analysis; SONGS puiblic meetings; adequate vs absolute protection; release of Yucca Mountain SER; NWPA; Angela Coggins' responsibilit ies at NRC; upstream dam failures; Non-proliferation reviews; Linear No Threshold theory; licensing delays Anticipated Questions:

  • Can spent fuel be stored onsite safely?
  • What is NRC doing to avoid "regulating for the sake of regulating?" We've seen recent plant closures, which have cost thousands of jobs.

10

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services - Ranking member Intelligence Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

NRC staffing levels are unjustified, resulting in new and unnecessary regulations; Decommissioning process is going well and legislation is unnecessary in this area; Spent fuel structures were not compromised at Fukushima; Expedited transfer of fuel from pools is unwarranted;

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Cumulative effect/cost of regulation; Too many rulemakings and regulatory actions under way; Shrinking number of new plant licensing applications; Comparison of U.S. and Japanese regulatory requirements (gap analysis)

Anticipated Questions:

  • Do you agree with the NRC staff report on spent fuel pool risks in a post-Fukushima event?
  • Do you agree that the spent fuel pools at Fukushima remained intact, and that the risk of a spent fuel pool fire and offsite dose consequence are remote following the removal of fuel from the reactor and after a few weeks or months as the fuel continues to cool in the pool?

11

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Uranium Recovery Sites: Lost Creek, Moore Ranch, Nichols Ranch, Smith Ranch, Sweetwater, and Willow Creek Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Foreign Relations Indian Affa irs - Vice Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Chairman's management style; uranium recovery licensing delays; prioritization of NTTF recommendations; double regulation of In-Situ Recovery (NRC and EPA); resource shortages and delays in reviews of uranium recovery license applications Anticipated Questions:

NONE 12

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Farley 1&2 (Browns Ferry-1 is in Column 4; Browns Ferry-2 is in Column 3; Browns Ferry-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State : Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Saifety- Ranking Member Budget - Ranking Member Armed Services Judiciary Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 3/20/14:

Requests a list of allegations against the NRC General Counsel and 01 Director and associated DOJ opin ions

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Barrasso, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Post-Fukushima actions; Cumulative effect of regulations; St atus of YM activities; Premature closures of NPPs; Waste confidence; Decline of nuclear power

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC's "erosion" of regulations and policies on the backfit rule; two-person rule for MC&A regulations; Impact of lapse of FY-14 appropriations; Timetable for YM SER; NRC views on f unctioning as an independent agency

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC independence; Chairman's role re: Commission; Yucca Mountain license proceeding; Cumulative Impacts of Regulation; Cost-Benefit analysis; rulemakings vs direct orders; openness; safety of operating fleet Anticipated Questions:

  • Is dry cask storage just as safe as storing fuel in the pool? Has NRC determined whether it will require plants to expedite the transfer of spent fuel from pools into dry storage?
  • Do the risks decrease for a plant after it permanently shuts down?

13

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-1D)- May attend Facilities in state: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not constructed Agreement State:

No Committees:

Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs - Ranking Member Finance Ind ian Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Sessions, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC's use of foreign service provider for radiation services Anticipated Questions:

  • Will discuss the importance of research at Idaho National Laboratory Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Grand Gulf (Currently in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Barrasso, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Urges completion of new waste confidence decision to complete Grand Gulf and other license renewal applications; Cumulative impacts of regulation; Post-Fukushima activities

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Waste Confidence rule; impact of sequestration upon Waste Confidence process 14

Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Appropriations Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Veterans' Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Barrasso):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Schedule for YM SER and relat ed budgeting for licensing review; Commission voting records; Cost-benefit analysis for new rules and requirements; Two-person MC&A rule; Recent spent fuel pool study and resources on spent fuel pool issues; Role of Chai rman and other Commissioners in non-emergency matters

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Quantitative vs Qualitative analysis; NRC leadership Anticipated Questions:

NONE 15

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Cooper, Fort Calhoun (Fort Calhoun is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues)

Crow Butte In Situ Recovery of Uranium Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Indian Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 8/16/13:

Constituent concern regarding "NRC's failure to enforce its fire safety regulations" -granting exemptions instead of issuing violations for failing to meet regulations introduced in 1980'

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 Hearing:

NRC's process for prioritizing rulemakings; Voluntary industry initiatives vs Regulations

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Agency's process for prioritization of non-rulemaking activities; Technical assessment s for fire protection assessments

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

In-situ uranium recovery; Duplicative regulation of uranium recovery with NE; Agreement States; licensing delays for uranium recovery

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Cumulative Effects of Regulation; licensee's prioritization of safety enhancements; NRC cost evaluations of proposed regulation; Fort Calhoun restart Anticipated Questions:

NONE 16

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman, Expected to attend Facilities in state: Diablo Canyon 1&2 SONGS 2 &3 (shut down Jan. 2012 due to steam generator tube degradation; notified NRC in 2013 the plant would be decommissioned)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Chairman Select Committee on Ethics - Chairman Foreign Relations Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/15/14 (with Sens. Sanders and Markey):

Requests NRC stop permitting EP exemptions for decommissioning reactors; cites southern California fire near SONGS

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Markey, Sanders, Gillibrand, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letters 11/21/13, 6/19/13, 5/31/13, 5/23/2013, 5/15/2012:

Requests documents related to design of replacement steam generators at SONGS and 01 investigatory documents

  • Letter 4/9/13 Requests no SONGS restart decision until NRC completes investigation; NRC should provide opportunity for public participation
  • Letter 3/8/13:

Status of implementation of post-Fukushima safety recommendations

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Letter 2/8/13:

MH l's root cause analysis report

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

Risks of an accident or attack once a reactor shuts down do not diminish; Chairman Macfarlane co-authored a paper stating long-term land contamination consequences of a SF pool fire could be worse than Chernobyl; NRC has never disapproved an EP exemption request for decommissioning reactors; Is NRC concerned that SONGS' SF pools hold considerably more spent fuel than designed and why isn't it being moved to dry storage; Consequences of a SF pool fire are same for operating and decommissioning reactor; EP exemptions and the current requests from SONGS

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Timetable too long for seismic hazard reevaluations; NRC withholding documents requested by her office; Changes to ICPs not appropriate; Commission international travel; Non-concurrence on Diablo Canyon seismic requirements; Two-person security requirement

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC inspections and technical reviews of SONGS; DPO on Diablo Canyon; High burn-up fuel in spent fuel pools; NRC documents requested by the Senator Anticipated Questions:

1

  • Does the NRC believe, as NEI recently asserted, that a spent fuel pool fire can no longer occur "within months of a reactor shutdown" because the fuel has sufficiently cooled?
  • Given the events at Fukushima, and the fact that both the Nat ional Academy of Sciences and NRC have found that a drain-down of spent fuel pools can lead to fire, how can NRC allow decommissioning reactors to reduce their Emergency Planning Zones?
  • Given that NRC has approved all 10 exemption requests ("waivers") from emergency response requirements, what would it take for NRC to issue a denial?
  • The pools at SONGS and Diablo Canyon now hold more than four times the amount of spent fuel than their original license permitted. How can Californians be assured that the f uel is safe, and why isn't the NRC mandating t lhe fuel be moved more quickly into dry storage?
  • Why doesn't NRC better t rack how much high burnup fuel is in the pools and dry storage?

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A (However, views Salem & Hope Creek in New Jersey as his adopted plants)

No Agreement State:

Environment & Public Works Committees: Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Finance Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 9/13/13:

Timeliness and efficiency of the licensing of dry cask storage facilities and cask designs for spent nuclear fuel

  • Questions/comments from the 1/30/14 hearing:

Votes on two-person rule; Commission foreign travel; Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy for future storms; Flooding hazard reevaluations; Fukushima-related activities; Waste confidence

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Implementation of lessons from Hurricane Sandy and plant preparations for future storms; Actions taken to reverse NRC's downward trend in employee's views of job satisfaction

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety Culture at nuclear plants; New Reactor construction progress; extreme weather events Anticipated Questions:

NONE 2

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Finance Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 6/11/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing; Fire safety: which reactor licensees comply with Appendix R or NFPA 805? When will others come into compliance and what will the NRC do to those who fai l to meet their compliance deadlines?

Anticipated Questions:

NONE 3

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT)- Expected to attend Facilities in state: Vermont Yankee Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Veterans' Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/15/14 (with Sens. Sanders and Markey):

Requests NRC stop permitting EP exemptions for decommissioning reactors; cites southern California fire near SONGS

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Markey, Gillibrand, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 2/11/14:

Requests NRC provide meaningful role in decommissioning process to states host ing plants and other interested parties Letter 1/24/14 (with Sen. Markey):

Draft paper (SECY 13-0124) on policy options for merchant plant financial qualifications and regulatory scrutiny of Entergy's finances for merchant reactors (Indian Point, Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, FitzPatrick, and Palisades)

  • Letter 11/21/13: {with Sens. Markey, Gillibrand, Whitehouse and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 11/14/2013 (with Sen. Markey):

Financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant fleet

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems

  • Questions from 5/14/14 hearing:

Concerned about length (60 years) for decommissioning process; States and local communities should be provided with meaningful role in crafting the decommissioning plan; Price-Anderson is a "subsidy"; Who would pick up the cost of remediation if a Fukushima-type accident occurred in the U.S.; Concerns about high-density storage in SF pools

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Strong role for states in decommissioning process; Making Commissioner votes public Anticipated Questions:

  • How can the NRC ensure the state of Vermont has a meaningful role in the decommissioning process?
  • Will you support a policy change that would allow the state of Vermont more input to the Vermont Yankee decommissioning process?
  • Can decommissioning funds be used to fund the movement of fuel rods to dry cask?

4

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee - Chairman Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Judiciary

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Markey, Gillibrand, Sanders and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 4/25/13:

Request response from IG Anticipated Questions:

  • What are the risks of storing spent fuel in pools vs. dry casks?

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction project Agreement State: Yes Commit tees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Appropriations Foreign Relations Indian Affairs Rules and Administration Topics of Interest:

  • Cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sites and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Anticipated Questions:

NONE 5

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR} - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Banking, Housing & Urbain Affairs Topics of Interest :

  • Letter 6/11/13:

3rd -party review of employer decisions revoking employee unescorted access (PRM 73-16)

  • Letter 2/20/13:

Engineered filtered venting systems Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NV) - May attend Facilities in state: FitzPatrick, Ginna, Indian Point 2&3, Nine Mile Point 1&2 (FitzPatrick is in Colum n 2)

Agreement State:

Yes Committees:

Environment & Public Works Armed Services Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Markey, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Markey, Sanders, Whitehouse and others)

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 10/24/13:

GAO report on NRC oversight of nuclear power industry

  • Letter 5/6/13:

GAO's M arch 2013 report on public's response to radiological incidents and pot ential for shadow evacuation near Indian Point

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Overhaul of license renewal criteria; Updating process during six years of hearing for Indian Point relicensing; NRC's exemption process; Slow establishment of regional response centers; NRC's oversight process and treatment of low-level findings

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Indian Point EPZ/adequacy of emergency evacuation plans; Super Storm Sandy could have made evacuation plans unworkable, yet Indian Point did not shut-down Anticipated Questions:

  • Explain rationale for allowing plants 60 years to decommission a reactor sit e.

6

  • How can NRC assure the safety of spent fuel in pools for an extended period oftime, and would the fuel be safer in dry storage?

7

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Oyster Creek, Salem 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Commerce, Science & Transportation Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

Post-Fukushima activities Anticipated Questions:

NONE 8

Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Pilgrim Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Commerce, Science & Transportation Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 5/20/14:

Cites concerns about espionage; requests information on a "job shadow" program with China involving Chinese personnel working at U.S. reactors

  • Letter 5/15/14 (with Sens. Sanders and Markey):

Requests NRC stop permitting EP exemptions for decommissioning reactors; cites southern California fire near SONGS

  • Letter 5/1/14 (with Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Gillibrand, and Leahy):

Request NRC to stop issuing EP and security exemptions to decommissioning reactors

  • Letter 4/18/14 (with Sen. Warren):

Pilgrim and Seabrook's seismic hazard reevaluations and mitigation measures

  • Letter 1/24/14 (with Sen. Sanders):

Draft paper (SECY 13-0124) on policy options for merchant plant financial qualifications and regulatory scrutiny of Entergy's finances for merchant reactors (Indian Point, Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, FitzPatrick, and Palisades)

  • Letter 12/18/13:

Seabrook's license renewal and alkali silica reaction

  • Letter 11/14/2014 (with Sen. Sanders):

Financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant fleet

  • Letter 11/21/13: (with Sens. Sanders, Gillibrand, Whitehouse and others):

NRC's policy on providing sensitive documents to Congress

  • Letter 9/18/13:

Findings on spent fuel pool accidents in NRC's draft Spent Fuel Pool Study (June 2013) and previous SF pool studies; Nuclear industry's liability is capped if there were a catastrophic accident in the U.S.

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

Promotes his bill to require plants to move SF from the pools into "safer" dry storage within 7 years; SF has the potential to catch fire if not continuously cooled; Anticipated Questions:

  • Do you agree with the conclusions of the 2001 NRC spent fuel pool study, "Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool Accident Risk at Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants" (NUREG-1738)?

9

  • What will it take for NRC to do more than issue a slap on the wrist to plant owners that fail to follow the agency's regulations? NRC gave Exelon a "Severity Level IV" after it provided "incomplete and inaccurate information" in its biennial decommissioning funding status on eight occasions, and gave Southern California Edison a Severity Level IV violation after it made changes to its emergency plan without first seeking NRC approval. Should NRC even be issuing exemptions for EP-related plans for decommissioning reactors?
  • Can a licensee request to use decommissioning trust fund money for expenses that are not legitimate decommissioning activities?
  • What is the justification for NRC permitting EP exemption requests for a10-hour minimum for taking mitigative actions, such as restoring means of spent fuel pool cooling?

10

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member, Expected to attend Facilities in state: River Bend, Waterford-3 (Waterford-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Armed Services Banking, Housing & Urbain Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Barrasso, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 3/20/14:

Requests a list of allegations against the NRC General Counsel and 01 Director and associated DOJ opinions

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Introduced bill to change organization and operation of the Commission (S. 1519)
  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

NRC has been overseeing t lhe decommissioning of reactors for several decades and doesn' t need congressional interference in the process; Exemption requests by decommissioning reactors is a semantics issue; Staff's work on decommissioning rule overtaken by 9/11 events; Expedited transf er issue deemed a Tier 3 lower priority issue;

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC compliance with U.S. Court of Appeals' ruling on Yucca Mountain

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Seismic hazard risks for Diablo Canyon; Waste confidence rulemaking schedule; Fukushima activities related to new rules, hardened vents; implementation of FLEX program, status of LLTF recommendations; Yucca Mountain budgeting, expenditures and procedures for preventing review delays; Furloughs and treatment of fee recovery; NRC's response to industry recommendations for improving regulatory efficiency and predictability; Cumulative impacts of regulations; Procedures for exercising the Commission' s emergency response plan; NRC's workload and staffing; Recent spent fuel pool study; Review of decommissioning plants' submittals; Regulatory cost -benefit analyses; Principles of good regulation; Commission's involvement in SONGS proceeding and request for ASLB to review for a "de facto" license amendment; MHI notice of non-conformance in steam generator tube design; Treatment of problem vendors Anticipated Questions:

  • Can spent fuel be stored onsite safely?
  • What is NRC doing to avoid "regulating for the sake of regulating?" We've seen recent plant closures, which have cost thousands of jobs.

11

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services - Ranking member Intelligence Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

NRC staffing levels are unjustified, resulting in new and unnecessary regulations; Decommissioning process is going well and legislation is unnecessary in this area; Spent fuel rod assemblies in the pools were not compromised at Fukushima; Expedited transfer of fuel from pools is unwarranted;

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Cumulative effect/cost of regulation; Too many rulemakings and regulatory actions under way; Shrinking number of new plant licensing applications; Comparison of U.S. and Japanese regulatory requirements (gap analysis)

Anticipated Questions:

  • Do you agree with the NRC staff report on spent fuel pool risks in a post-Fukushima event?
  • Do you agree that the spent fuel pools at Fukushima remained intact, and that the risk of a spent fuel pool fire and offsite dose consequence are r emote following the removal of fuel from the reactor and after a few weeks or months as the fuel continues to cool in the pool?

12

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Uranium Recovery Sit es: Lost Creek, Moore Ranch, Nichols Ranch, Smith Ranch, Sweetwater, and Willow Creek Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Foreign Relations Indian Affairs - Vice Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Chairman's management style; uranium recovery licensing delays; prioritization of NTTF recommendations; double regulation of In-Situ Recovery (NRC and EPA); resource shortages and delays in reviews of uranium recovery license applications Anticipated Questions:

NONE 13

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Expected to attend Facilities in state: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Farley 1&2 (Browns Ferry-1 is in Column 4; Browns Ferry-2 is in Column 3; Browns Ferry-3 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Ranking Member Budget - Ranking Member Armed Services Judiciary Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 3/20/14:

Requests a list of allegations against the NRC General Counsel and 01 Director and associated DOJ opinions

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Barrasso, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from the 5/14/14 hearing:

Giving legal power to states to have involvement in the decommissioning process will pose problems to the federal preemption of nuclear power regulat ion; NRC is capable of overseeing decommissioning, proven by past successes;

  • Questions/comments from the 1/30/14 hearing:

Post-Fukushima actions; Cumulative effect of regulations; Status of YM activities; Premature closures of NPPs; Waste confidence; Decline of nuclear power

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

NRC's "erosion" of regulations and policies on the backfit rule; two-person rule for MC&A regulations; Impact of lapse of FY-14 appropriations; Timetable for YM SER; NRC views on functioning as an independent agency; How NRC incorporates comments from states and other stakeholders into its decommissioning review; NRC's new SF pool consequences study of a beyond-design-basis earthquake Anticipated Questions:

  • Is dry cask storage just as safe as storing fuel in the pool? Has NRC determined whether it will require plants to expedite the transfer of spent fuel from pools into dry storage?
  • Do the risks decrease for a plant after it permanently shuts down?

14

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-1D)- May attend Facilities in state: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not construct ed Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Banking, Housing & Urbain Affairs - Ranking Member Finance Indian Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Sessions, Wicker, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

NRC's use of foreign service provider for radiation services Anticipated Questions:

  • Will discuss the importance of research at Idaho National Laboratory Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) - Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Grand Gulf (Currently in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Barrasso, and Boozman):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 hearing:

Urges completion of new waste confidence decision to complet e Grand Gulf and other license renewal applications; Cumulative impacts of regulation; Post-Fukushima activit ies

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Waste Confidence rule; impact of sequestration upon Waste Confidence process 15

Anticipated Questions:

NONE Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Appropriations Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Veterans' Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/13 (with Sens. Sessions, Vitter, Crapo, Wicker, and Barrasso):

Urges NRC to move forward with completion of the SER for Yucca Mountain license application

  • Letter 2/4/13:

Fukushima: Regulatory comparison US vs. Japan; Cost-benefit analysis of Fukushima-related requirements; Use of risk-informed, performance-based approach

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Schedule for YM SER and related budgeting for licensing review; Commission voting records; Cost-benefit analysis for new rules and requirements; Two-person MC&A rule; Recent spent fuel pool study and resources on spent fuel pool issues; Role of Chairman and other Commissioners in non-emergency matters

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Quantitative vs Qualitative analysis; NRC leadership Anticipated Questions:

NONE 16

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)- Not expected to attend Facilities in state: Cooper, Fort Calhoun (Fort Calhoun is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues)

Crow Butte In Situ Recovery of Uranium Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Indian Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 8/16/13:

Constituent concern regarding "NRC's failure to enforce its fire safety regulations" -granting exemptions instead of issuing violations for failing to meet regulations introduced in 1980

  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 Hearing:

NRC's process for prioritizing rulemakings; Voluntary industry initiatives vs Regulations

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Agency's process for prioritization of non-rulemaking activities; Technical assessment s for fire protection assessments

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

In-situ uranium recovery; Duplicative regulation of uranium recovery with NE; Agreement St at es; licensing delays for uranium recovery

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Cumulative Effects of Regulation; licensee's prioritization of safety enhancements; NRC cost evaluations of proposed regulation; Fort Calhoun restart Anticipated Questions:

NONE 17

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Chairman, Plans to Attend Facilities in state: Diablo Canyon 1&2 (both in Column 1); SONGS 2&3 (undergoing decommissioning)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Chairman Select Committee on Ethics - Chairman Foreign Relations Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/14 (also to Sens. Vitter, Whitehouse and Sessions)

End of September monthly status report on NRC's HLW activities and use of funds from the NWF

  • Letter 10/9/14 (also to Sen. Vitter among other addressees)

Provides init ial assessment of potent ial impacts associated with proposed SAC legislation on radiation source security

  • Letter 7/24/14 (also to Sen. Vitter):

Concerns with various issues associated with decommissioning nuclear power plants (exemption requests, expedited transfer of spent f uel to dry cask storage, addressing state and local views)

  • Letter 6/26/14 (also to Sens. Markey, Sanders, Leahy and Gillibrand)

Responding to the request for NRC to cease exempting licensees of decommissioning nuclear reactors from the agency's emergency preparedness and security regulations

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing:

Int erested in dates for completing implementation of post-Fukushima safety measures; raised concerns about SF safety and potential for SFP fires; questioned the emergency preparedness exemption requests at SONGS, including offsite evacuation measures; asked the commission to provide advanced notice of meetings, the topics discussed at meetings, and travel; questioned the amount of foreign travel.

  • QFRs from 6/4/14 hearing:

The NRC's withholding of documents related to the SONGS investigation; requested confirmation that the NRC has never refused a request for exemption of the off-site emergency preparedness requirements for decommissioning reactors; response to t he wildfire burning outside of SONGS perimeter at Camp Pendleton; questioned NRC's regulatory basis on for numerous SONGS restarts; the commission vote on NRC's staff to not require decommissioning reactors to be subjected t o force-on-force exercises; Chairman Macfarlane's public calendar and the information included in it; NRC's new study of spent fuel pool zirconium fires and the effects they might have at decommissioned plants; questioned the NRC's conclusion of 10 hours1.157407e-4 days <br />0.00278 hours <br />1.653439e-5 weeks <br />3.805e-6 months <br /> t o repair key spent fuel pool safety equipment following a SFP accident; 50.59(c)(2) screening requirements and record keeping in regards to SONGS steam generators.

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

Risks of an accident or attack once a reactor shuts down do not diminish; Chairman Macfarlane co-authored a paper stating long-term land contamination consequences of a SF pool fire could be worse than Chernobyl; NRC has never disapproved an EP exemption request for decommissioning reactors; Is NRC concerned that SONGS' SF pools hold considerably more spent fuel than designed and why isn't it being moved to dry storage; Consequences of a SF pool fire are same for operating and decommissioning reactor; EP exemptions and the current requests from SONGS 1

Anticipated Questions (TBD):

  • Why does the NRC believe that exemptions to emergency preparedness requirements at decommissioning reactors are appropriate?
  • What is the current status of implementing post-Fukushima safety measures?
  • Does the NRC have any plans to reduce the role of its Office of Investigations?
  • The pools at SONGS and Diablo Canyon now hold more t han four times the amount of spent fuel than their original license permitted. How can Californians be assured that the fuel is safe, and why isn't the NRC mandating tlhe fuel be moved more quickly into dry storage?
  • What is the NRC doing to address the issues identified in the SONGS OIG report?
  • Why did the NRC take so long to make an appeal decision in regards to Dr. Michael Peck's Diablo Canyon DPO?
  • Why did it take the NRC over 11 years to release Dr. Robert Sewell's report on Local Landslide Tsunami scenarios at Diablo Canyon?
  • What are your thoughts on the Senate Appropriations Committee bill language on source security?
  • Why is NRC not required to approve licensee submitted PSDAR's?

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) - Plans to Attend Facilities in state: N/A (However, views Salem (Column 1) & Hope Creek (Column 1) in New Jersey as his adopted plants)

Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs - Chairman Finance Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 7/18/14 Actions planned by NRC in response to GAO report on Federal Software Licenses
  • Letter 7/3/14 NRC response to GAO report on Uranium Contaminat ion
  • Letter 5/12/14 NRC response to GAO report on "Nuclear Safety: Countries' Regulatory Bodies Have Made Changes in Response to the Fukushima Daiichi Accident."
  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, but had QFRs
  • QFRs from 6/4/14 hearing:

What are the staffing, salary, and benefits trends for core mission activities since FY2011?

  • Questions from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Safety Culture at nuclear plants; New Reactor construction progress; extreme weat her events Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of the post-Fukushima safety implementation measures?
  • Is the agency appropriately staffed for t he years ahead?

2

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) - Possibly attending Facilities in state: Calvert Cliffs 1&2 (Unit 2 is in Column 2)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Finance Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Comments from 6/4/14 hearing: No QFRs Praised nuclear energy for being carbon-free energy producer; concerned with the impact of the government policies on the budget and how it affected the NRC workforce; what adjustments have been made to the agency's mission to oversee the handling of spent fuel.
  • Questions from 5/23/13 Chairman's Confirmation hearing:

Fire safety: which reactor licensees comply with Appendix R or NFPA 805? When will others come into compliance and what will the NRC do to those who fai l to meet their compliance deadli nes?

Anticipated Questions:

Sen. Bernie Sanders {I-VT) - Possibly attending Facilities in state: Vermont Yankee (in Column 1; permanently shutting down in December 2014)

Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Veterans Affairs - Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/26/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Markey, Leahy and Gillibrand)

Responding to the request for NRC to cease exempting licensees of decommissioning nuclear reactors from the agency's emergency preparedness and security regulations

  • Letter 5/5/14 Responds to the request to provide host State and other interested parties a larger role in the decommissioning process
  • Letter 3/21/14 (with Sen. Markey):

Responds to questions regarding financial assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant fleet

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs
  • Questions from 5/14/14 hearing:

Concerned about length {60 years) for decommissioning process; States and local communities shou ld be provided with meaningful role in crafting the decommissioning plan; Price-Anderson is a "subsidy"; Who would pick up the cost of remediation if a Fukushima-type accident occurred in the U.S.; Concerns about high-density storage in SF pools Anticipated Questions:

  • How can the NRC ensure the state of Vermont has a meaningful role in the decommissioning process?
  • Why does the NRC believe that exemptions to emergency preparedness requirements at decommissioning reactors are appropriate?

4

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - Plans to Attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee - Chairman Budget Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Judiciary Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Vitter, and Sessions)

End of September monthly status report on NRC's HLW activities and use of funds from the NWF

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Attended only for opening statements, and had no QFRs Joins Senate colleagues in asking GAO to investigate the NRC's oversight of emergency preparedness at and near nuclear power plants; As nuclear power plants are aging and decommissioning to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals investing in advanced nuclear technology may be necessary; Ant icipat ed Questions:
  • Is it safer to store in spent f uel pools vs dry cask?

Sen. Tom Udall (D- NM) - Not planning to attend Facilities in state: National Enrichment Facility - licensed to operate in 6/2010 International Isotopes DU conversion and fluorine extraction project Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Appropriations Foreign Relations Indian Affairs Rules and Administration Topics of Interest :

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs
  • Interested in cleanup of former uranium mining/milling sites and preventing new facilities from contaminating the environment Ant icipated Questions:
  • How does the NRC ensure uranium mini ng/milling activities do not contaminate the environment?

5

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) - Not planning to attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Appropriations Budget Banking, Housing & Urbain Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs Anticipated Questions: TBD
  • TBD Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY} - Possibly ait tending Facilities in state: FitzPat rick (Column 2); Ginna (Column 1); Indian Point 2&3 (both in Column 1); Nine Mile Point 1&2 (both in Column 1)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 6/26/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Leahy and Markey)

Responding to the request for NRC to cease exempting licensees of decommissioning nuclear reactors from the agency's emergency preparedness and security regulations

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs
  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Overhaul of license renewal criteria; Updating process during six years of hearing for Indian Point relicensing; NRC's exemption process; Slow establishment of regional response centers; NRC's oversight process and treat ment of low-level findings Anticipated Questions:

  • How can NRC assure the safety of spent fuel in pools for an extended period of time, and would the fuel be safer in dry storage?
  • Why does the NRC believe that exemptions to emergency preparedness requirement s at decommissioning reactors are appropriate?

6

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) - Possibly attending Facilities in state: Oyster Creek (Column 1), Salem 1&2 (both in Column 1); Hope Creek (Column 1)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Commerce, Science & Transportation Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, but had QFRs
  • QFR's from 6/4/14 hearing.:

Have Oyster Creek or Hope Creek requested extensions to implementing containment venting requirements; Number of BWR reactors that have requested these exemptions;

  • Post-Fukushima activities Anticipated Questions: TBD

Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) - Plans to attend Facilities in state: Pilgrim (Column 3)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Commerce, Science & Transportation Foreign Relations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 9/4/14:

Clarification of hearing record regarding Commissioner Apostolakis' comments on access authorization requirements at nuclear power plants

  • Letter 8/1/14:

Information on the "job shadow" program that placed Chinese personnel at U.S. nuclear power plants

  • Letter 6/26/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Sanders, Leahy and Gillibrand)

Responding to the request for NRC to cease exempting licensees of decommissioning nuclear reactors from the agency's emergency preparedness and security regulations

  • Letter 6/12/14:

Responds to concerns rega rding the seismic hazards reevaluation report submittals for Pilgrim and Seabrook nuclear power plants

  • Letter 3/21/14 (with Sen. Sanders):

Response to draft paper (SECY 13-0124) on policy options for merchant plant financial qualifications and regulatory scrutiny of Entergy's finances for merchant reactors (Indian Point, Pilgr im, Vermont Yan kee, FitzPatrick, and Palisades)

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14:

Promotes his bill "Dry Cask Storage Act" to require plants to move SF from the pools into dry storage within 7 years; does removing waste from the pool and puitting it into dry cask storage reduce the amount of radioact ivity that could be released if a SF fire occurred?; what is t he likelihood of a zirconium fire occurring?; the timeline for the seismic reevaluation proj ect and probabilistic risk assessment; the Chinese job shadow program; safety-conscious work environment and retaliation against NRC staff whistleblowers.

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

Promotes his bill to require plants to move SF from the pools into "safer" dry storage within 7 years; SF has t he potential to catch fire if not continuously cooled; Anticipated Questions: TBD

  • Why does the NRC believe that exemptions to emergency preparedness requirements at decommissioning reactors are appropriate?
  • Should NRC be issuing exemptions for EP-related plans for decommissioning reactors?

8

  • What will it take for NRC to do more than issue a slap on the wrist to plant owners that fail to follow the agency's regulations? NRC gave Exelon a "Severity Level IV" after it provided "incomplete and inaccurate information" in its biennial decommissioning funding status on eight occasions, and gave Southern California Edison a Severity Level IV violation after it made changes to its emergency plan without first seeking NRC approval.
  • Why is the NRC considering changes to its foreign ownership, control and domination requirements?
  • In light of Chinese nationals gaining unescorted access to U.S. nuclear power plants, does this raise any concerns that the NRC's access authorization program is too weak?

9

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) - Ranking Member, Plans to attend Facilities in state: River Bend (in Column 2), Waterford-3 (in Column 2).

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works - Ranking Member Armed Services Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Whitehouse and Sessions):

September monthly status report on NRC's HLW activities and use of funds from the NWF

  • Letter 10/9/14 (also to Sen. Boxer among other addressees):

Provides initial assessment of potential impacts associated with proposed SAC legislation on radiation source security

  • Letter 7/24/14 (also to Sen. Boxer):

Concerns with various issues associated with decommissioning nuclear power plants (exempt ion requests, expedited transfer of spent f uel to dry cask storage, addressing state and local views)

  • Letter 3/20/14 (Response on 4/11/14):

Requests for information regarding NRC's General Counsel, Director of the Office of Investigations, and interactions with the Department of Justice

  • Letter 1/28/14 (was a co-copy to Sen. Boxer letter)

Responds to 11/21/13 Senator Boxer request for documents

  • Introduced bill to change organization and operation of the Commission (S. 1519)
  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing:

Exemption Requests for decommissioning plants; Certain requirements no longer necessary for shutdown plants versus operating plants; Expedited transfer vote delay; Adequate resources to fund Yucca Mountain SER completion; Yucca Mountain supplemental budget request to 0MB;

  • QFR's from 6/4/14 hearing.:

Near-Term Task Force (NTTF) recommendations progress; Actions taken by plants to mitigate effects of severe earthquakes and flooding; NRC Actions to address NTTF recommendations; If current emergency preparedness (EP) regulations are designed for decommissioning plants; Ways NRC determines what EP requirements are appropriate to t he risks presented by a facility; Exemption process and why exemptions are allowed; Whether the NRC has the ability to impose a condition as part of an exemption request; Actual wildfire threat to the SONGS plant; NRC actions to address allegat ions of retaliation for using non-concurrence process; NRC's actions to ensure that EPW has the tools it needs; NRC's progress on implementation of Fukushima recommendations; Post-Fukushima Tier 3 recommendation decision delay; Steps to cut down undue delay's for decisions; Time to complete the implementation of the Tier One actions; Time when Post-Fukushima costs will cease to drive increases in NRC's budget; FYlS budget justification hours of productivity d ecline; Specifics on when commissioners became aware of this decrease and what actions/communications have been taken to address this issue; Whether 0MB has instructed the commissioners to withhold resource estimates for completing the Yucca Mountain license application and issue a final decision; Whether NRC's annual industry safety performance assessment uncovered any trends that warrant regulatory action; The processes available for those to who wish to express their concerns; Any past exemptions that have resull ted in a breach of safety; Permanently Defueled Emergency Plan (PDEP) submittals process; PDEP commissioner review timeframe and process; Approved PDEP licensee responsibilities with onsite emergency response and communications with offsite organizations; Any NRC plans to commence a r ulemaking for decommissioning in regards to waivers and exemptions from operating plant requirements.

10

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

NRC has been overseeing tlhe decommissioning of reactors for several decades and doesn't need congressional interference in the process; Exemption requests by decommissioning reactors is a semantics issue; Staff's work on decommissioning rule overtaken by 9/11 events; Expedited transfer issue deemed a Tier 3 lower priority issue; Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of NRC's Yucca Mountain's license application review?
  • Do you feel that the current process for security and emergency preparedness exemptions of decommissioning reactors is working?
  • What is the status of implementing post-Fukushima safety measures?
  • What is t he NRC doing in response to t he increase in FTE's but decrease in productivity over the past few years?

Sen. James lnhofe (R-OK)- Plans to Attend Facilities in state: N/A Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services - Ranking member Intelligence Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing:

Further study of expedited spent fuel movement from pools is going to spend more time and tax-payer resources; Staff workload has decreased substantially; Spent fuel pools safety during earthquakes; NRC's waste confidence rule finalization; Satisfying the D.C. Circuit Court in regards to seismic safety; Expedited transfer of spent fuel vote; Spent fuel pools at Fukushima survival; Amount of money and number of staff assigned to the continued st udy of spent fuel pools; Yucca Mountain open minded request; Exemptions for decommissioning reactors;

  • QFR's from 6/4/14 hearing.:

Time spent on studying the safety of spent fuel in pools; Number of full-time employees and resources spent on studying this issue; Explanation of why resident inspectors would remain on-site indefinitely; Proposal from industry suggesting re-reprioritization of rulemakings; Number of suggestions from industry adopted, withdrawn, or deferred; Justifications for preventing staff from issuing exemptions to permanently shut down plants; A more responsible FY16 budget request;

  • Questions/comments from 5/14/14 hearing:

NRC staffing levels are unj ustified, resulting in new and unnecessary regulations; Decommissioning process is going well and legislation is unnecessary in this area; Spent fuel rod assemblies in the pools were not compromised at Fukushima; Expedited transfer of fuel from pools is unwarranted; Anticipated Questions:

  • What is t he stat us of NRC's Yucca Mountain's license application review?
  • What are you doing to make sure that t he NRC is right sized for the years ahead?
  • How have you been working with industry to improve your abilities to be an efficient regulator?

11

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WV)- Possibly attending Facilities in state: Uranium Recovery Sit es: Lost Creek, M oore Ranch, Nichols Ranch, Smith Ranch, Sweetwater, and Willow Creek Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Energy & Natural Resources Foreign Relations Indian Affairs - Vice Chairman Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing:

Believes that storing nuclear waste in pools is safe but not a long-term solution; Commission has not requested funds for Yucca Mountain; Commissioner Apostolakis is a vital member of t he Commission; Worried about possible hampering of nuclear power by over-regulating the plants;

  • QFRs from 5/23/13 Confirmation Hearing:

Chairman's management style; uranium recovery licensing delays; prioritization of NTTF recommendations; double regulation of In-Situ Recovery (NRC and EPA); resource shortages and delays in reviews of uranium recovery license applications Anticipated Questions:

  • Does the NRC have sufficient funds to complete the Yucca Mountain license application review?

12

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Plans to attend Facilities in state: Bellefonte, Browns Ferry 1, 2, & 3 (all in Column 1), Farley 1&2 (both in Column 1)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety - Ranking Member Budget - Ranking Member Armed Services Judiciary Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 10/24/14 (also to Sens. Boxer, Vitter, and Whitehouse)

September monthly status report on NRC's HLW activities and use of funds from the NWF

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing:

Commission responsible for tremendous safety record; Historically, zero individuals killed due to nuclear power generating accident; NRC has the right to hold these industries accountable but also must listen to what they have t o say; U.S. has spent over $15 billion on Yucca Mountain; Request to move forward with Yucca Mountain; Concerned about the latest plant closures; Concerns regarding the Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act; Worried that this bill could negatively affect the construction of new nuclear plants; Are stored rods in pool storage safe; Collegiality now at the NRC; Pleased that the agency has protected the country without any serious accidents; Pleased that we crack down on plant with small errors of safety;

  • QFR's from 6/4/14 hearing:

U.S. nuclear fleet safety today compared to the past; Steps taken to ensure that the remai ning safety evaluation reports for Yucca Mountain are completed on time; Explanation of delay regarding the relicensing of Watts Ba r 2; Questions regarding the Dry Cask Storage Act, the Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act, and the Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act; Bill's effects on making decommissioning plants safer; Bill's effects on increasing or decrease the construction of nuclear plants; Bill's impact on electricity prices;

  • Questions/comments from the 5/14/14 hearing:

Giving legal power to states to have involvement in the decommissioning process will pose problems to the federal preemption of nuclear power regulation; NRC is capable of overseeing decommissioning, proven by past successes; Anticipated Questions:

  • What is the status of NRC's Yucca Mountain's license application review?

13

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-1D) - May not attend Facilities in state: Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility - licensed, not construct ed Agreement State: No Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Banking, Housing & Urbain Affairs - Ranking Member Finance Indian Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs Anticipated Questions: TBD
  • TBD Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) - Possibly attending Facilities in state: Grand Gulf (Column 1)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Budget Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs Anticipated Questions: TBD

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)- Possibly attending Facilities in state: Arkansas Nuclear One 1&2 (both in Column 3)

Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Clean Air & Nuclear Safety Subcommittee Appropriations Agriculture, Nutrition & Forest ry Veterans' Affairs Topics of Interest:

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs
  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Schedule for YM SER and related budgeting for licensing review; Commission voting records; Cost-benefit analysis for new rules and requirements; Two-person MC&A rule; Recent spent fuel pool study and resources on spent fuel pool issues; Role of Chai rman and other Commissioners in non-emergency matters Anticipated Questions: TBD

  • What is the status of NRC's Yucca Mountain's license application review?

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)- Plans to Attend Facilities in state : Cooper (Column 1); Fort Calhoun (Plant is under Manual Chapter 0350 oversight for plants shut down for significant performance issues); Crow Butte Uranium In Situ Recovery Facility Agreement State: Yes Committees: Environment & Public Works Armed Services Commerce, Science & Transportation Indian Affairs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Topics of Interest:

  • Letter 8/14/14:

Crow Butte Resources, Inc. in-situ uranium recovery projects

  • Questions/comments from 6/4/14 hearing: Did not attend the hearing, and had no QFRs
  • Questions/comments from 1/30/14 Hearing:

NRC's process for prioritizing rulemakings; Voluntary industry initiatives vs Regulations

  • QFRs from 1/30/14 hearing:

Agency's process for prioritization of non-rulemaking activities; Technical assessments for fire protection assessments Anticipated Questions: TBD

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Concerned about allowed time for decommissioning (60 Vermont Yankee years)

Agreement State: No

  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful Committees: Environment & Public Works; Budget - role" in decommissioning planning Ranking Member; Energy & Natural Resources;
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in decommissioning Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (Primary trust for Vermont Yankee Health and Retirement Security- Ranking Member); Veterans' Affairs Letters to NRC:

Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey, Rep. Welch First Elected: 2006 (2nd term) regarding decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children collaboratively with states, locals, and interested parties Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960;
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter requesting additional public meetings and an extension of the comment period for U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science) advance notice of proposed decommissioning rulemaking Career: College instructor; Documentary filmmaker;
  • May 15, 2014 - Joint letter on EP exemptions, spent fuel carpenter; pool transfers to dry cask, considerat ion of local views on Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007
  • May 1, 2014 -Joint letter urging NRC to stop allowing EP and security requirement exemptions for decommissioning Reintroduced Legislation: April 15, 2015 - Nuclear reactors Plant Decommissioning Act of 2015 (S. 964} to
  • Feb. 11, 2014 & March 4, 2014- Urging NRC to provide host states with a larger role in the decommissioning process, require licensees to consult with affected states and concerns about decommissioning trust funds local governments in developing post-shutdown
  • Jan. 24, 2014 - Joint request for information on financial plans, to hold two hearings within a facility's host assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant state, and allow state to have input on those plans. fleet Last Updated: 03/2016

Senator Edward Markey (D-MA)

Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities in State: Pilgrim (Col. 4)

  • Concerns with job shadow program Operating Research and Test Reactors: involving Chinese personnel at U.S. nuclear facilities
  • Pilgrim's operating performance, and Entergy's financial resources to safely Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University operate its fleet of Massachusetts/Lowell
  • Release of non-public documents to Congress Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:
  • Status of Fukushima activities
  • Opposes exemption requests for decommissioning reactors BASF; Norton/St. Gobain; Shpack Landfill; Starmet
  • Concerns about NRC whistleblower retaliation Corporation; Texas Instruments; Wyman Gordon
  • Supports independence of Office of Investigations
  • Concerns with NRC's 50.59 process Company Agreement State: Yes Recent Letters to NRC:

Committees: Environment & Public Works

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Sanders regarding decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work collaboratively with states, locals, and (Superfund, Waste Management & Regulatory interested parties Oversight - Ranking Member); Commerce, Science
  • Feb. 17, 2016 - Letter concerned with safety at Seabrook
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter with Reps. Sanders, Leahy, Welch, Keating and

& Transportation; Foreign Relations (Africa and Warren regarding proposed rulemaking Global Health Policy Sub - Ranking Member); Small

  • Oct. 19, 2015 - letter requesting information on how extreme weather may Business & Entrepreneurship impact nuclear power industry
  • Oct. 15, 2015 - Joint letter requesting NRC ensure safety at Pilgrim Born: July 11, 1946; Malden, MA
  • Oct 15, 2015 - Letter conveying disappointment in incomplete documents First Elected: 2013 (1st full term) provided on job shadow program
  • Oct. 6, 2015 - NRC responded to job shadow document request Family: Wife, Susan Blumenthal
  • Jan. 27, 2015 - NRC responded to request for Indian Point safety review Education: Boston College, B.A. 1968, J.D. 1972 documents Career: Lawyer; Mass. House, 1973-1977;
  • Dec. 1, 2014 - Accelerating Fukushima work
  • May 20, 2014 and June 16, 2014 - Chinese participation in a U.S. job shadow U.S. House of Representatives, 1976-2013 program Political Highlights : Massachusetts House, 1973
  • May 1, 2014 - Cease decommissioning exemptions
  • April 18, 2014 - Seismic hazard reevaluations for Pilgrim and Seabrook 77; U.S. House of Representatives, 1976-2013
  • Jan. 24, 2014 and Nov. 14, 2013 - Financial qualifications for merchant reactors Last Updated: 03/2016

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Concerned about allowed time for decommissioning (60 Vermont Yankee years)

Agreement State: No

  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful Committees: Environment & Public Works; Budget - role" in decommissioning planning Ranking Member; Energy & Natural Resources;
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in decommissioning Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (Primary trust for Vermont Yankee Health and Retirement Security- Ranking Member); Veterans' Affairs Letters to NRC:

Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey, Rep. Welch First Elected: 2006 (2nd term) regarding decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children collaboratively with states, locals, and interested parties Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960;
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter requesting additional public meetings and an extension of the comment period for U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science) advance notice of proposed decommissioning rulemaking Career: College instructor; Documentary filmmaker;
  • May 15, 2014 - Joint letter on EP exemptions, spent fuel carpenter; pool transfers to dry cask, considerat ion of local views on Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007
  • May 1, 2014 -Joint letter urging NRC to stop allowing EP and security requirement exemptions for decommissioning Reintroduced Legislation: April 15, 2015 - Nuclear reactors Plant Decommissioning Act of 2015 (S. 964} to
  • Feb. 11, 2014 & March 4, 2014- Urging NRC to provide host states with a larger role in the decommissioning process, require licensees to consult with affected states and concerns about decommissioning trust funds local governments in developing post-shutdown
  • Jan. 24, 2014 - Joint request for information on financial plans, to hold two hearings within a facility's host assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant state, and allow state to have input on those plans. fleet Last Updated: 03/2016

Senator Edward Markey (D-MA)

Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities in State: Pilgrim (Col. 4)

  • Concerns with job shadow program Operating Research and Test Reactors: involving Chinese personnel at U.S. nuclear facilities
  • Pilgrim's operating performance, and Entergy's financial resources to safely Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University operate its fleet of Massachusetts/Lowell
  • Release of non-public documents to Congress Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:
  • Status of Fukushima activities
  • Opposes exemption requests for decommissioning reactors BASF; Norton/St. Gobain; Shpack Landfill; Starmet
  • Concerns about NRC whistleblower retaliation Corporation; Texas Instruments; Wyman Gordon
  • Supports independence of Office of Investigations
  • Concerns with NRC's 50.59 process Company Agreement State: Yes Recent Letters to NRC:

Committees: Environment & Public Works

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Sanders regarding decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work collaboratively with states, locals, and (Superfund, Waste Management & Regulatory interested parties Oversight - Ranking Member); Commerce, Science
  • Feb. 17, 2016 - Letter concerned with safety at Seabrook
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter with Reps. Sanders, Leahy, Welch, Keating and

& Transportation; Foreign Relations (Africa and Warren regarding proposed rulemaking Global Health Policy Sub - Ranking Member); Small

  • Oct. 19, 2015 - letter requesting information on how extreme weather may Business & Entrepreneurship impact nuclear power industry
  • Oct. 15, 2015 - Joint letter requesting NRC ensure safety at Pilgrim Born: July 11, 1946; Malden, MA
  • Oct 15, 2015 - Letter conveying disappointment in incomplete documents First Elected: 2013 (1st full term) provided on job shadow program
  • Oct. 6, 2015 - NRC responded to job shadow document request Family: Wife, Susan Blumenthal
  • Jan. 27, 2015 - NRC responded to request for Indian Point safety review Education: Boston College, B.A. 1968, J.D. 1972 documents Career: Lawyer; Mass. House, 1973-1977;
  • Dec. 1, 2014 - Accelerating Fukushima work
  • May 20, 2014 and June 16, 2014 - Chinese participation in a U.S. job shadow U.S. House of Representatives, 1976-2013 program Political Highlights : Massachusetts House, 1973
  • May 1, 2014 - Cease decommissioning exemptions
  • April 18, 2014 - Seismic hazard reevaluations for Pilgrim and Seabrook 77; U.S. House of Representatives, 1976-2013
  • Jan. 24, 2014 and Nov. 14, 2013 - Financial qualifications for merchant reactors Last Updated: 03/2016

Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Vermont Residence: Burlington Born: Sept. 8, 1941 ; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Religion: Jewish Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children Education: U. of Chicago, B.A. 1964 (political science); Brooklyn College, attended 1960 Military Service: None Career: College instructor; freelance writer; documentary filmmaker; carpenter Elected: 2006 (1st term); Defeated Rich Tarrant, R, to succeed James M . Jeffords, I, who retired Political Highlights: Liberty Union candidate for U.S. Senate, 1972; Liberty Union candidate for governor, 1972; Liberty Union candidate for U.S. Senate, 1974; Liberty Union candidate for governor, 1976; mayor of Burlington, 1981-89; independent candidate for governor, 1986; independent candidate for U .S.

House, 1988; U.S. House, 1991-2007 Committees:

  • Budget
  • Energy & Natural Resources (Energy; National Parks; Water & Power)
  • Environment & Public Works (Clean Air & Nuclear Safety; Green Jobs & the New Economy -

chairman; Oversight; Transportation & Infrastructure)

  • Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (Children & Families; Primary Health & Aging -

chairman)

  • Veterans' Affairs
  • Joint Economic Power Reactors: Research & Test Reactors: Facilities of Interest:

Vermont Yankee None None Agreement State: No CQ Politics in America Profile (Updated: Nov. 29, 2010)

After 16 years as a self-described "outsider in the House," Sanders is enjoying his newfound clout as a first-term senator. The Vermont independent, who caucuses with the Democrats but identifies himself as a socialist, might have tempered his behavior to the Senate's more collegial atmosphere, but he remains a passionate and provocative defender of liberal causes.

On two of the major Democratic initiatives in the 111th Congress (2009-10) - the health care overhaul and f inancial services regulation - Sanders worked to push the debate to the left. But, on both occasions, he supported the final bills, calling each of them an important "step forward."

During the health care debate, Sanders offered an amendment that would have established a "single-payer, Medicare-for-all health care system," something he had advocated for years.

Sanders acknowledged that his proposal would "not pass or even get very many votes," but he regarded the debate as a historic milestone. He was infuriated, however, when his amendment became a tool for stalling the debate rather than moving it forward. When the measure went to the Senate floor in December 2009, Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn objected to a routine motion to waive a reading of the amendment. By forcing the entire 767-page amendment to be read aloud, Coburn used precious floor time as Democrats rushed to pass legislation before the holiday recess. After three hours, Sanders withdrew his amendment and put an end to the read-a-thon. In a fiery floor speech he said, "Everybody in this country understands that our nation faces a significant number of major crises .. . and the best the Republicans can do is try to bring the United States government to a halt by forcing a reading of a 700-page amendment. "

Sanders, who often rails against Wall Street and decries the gap between rich and poor, won inclusion of an amendment in the 2010 financial services regulatory overhaul that requires the Federal Reserve to release information about the loans it made during the financial crisis which began in 2008. The same amendment also charges the Government Accountability Office with conducting an audit of the Federal Reserve. Though Sanders adamantly defended the public's "right to know where their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are going," he did agree to soften his amendment's provisions at the urging of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke.

As the only member of the Democratic Caucus to serve on both the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, Sanders is a major player on environmental issues. He was a voice of outrage following the April 2010 explosion of an offshore oil rig that resulted in a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He cosponsored legislation that would retroactively eliminate a liability cap for such spills. He introduced another bill that would ban all future offshore drilling. Echoing President Obama, Sanders also tried to tie the spill to a need for broader changes in energy policy, saying on MSNBC: "If there's any silver lining to this absolute, horrendous environmental disaster, I hope it is that the American people .

. . understand not only that we've got to terminate offshore oil drilling, but that we have to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel into energy efficiency and sustainable energy."

In 2009 he was named chairman of the Environment and Public Works panel on Green Jobs and the New Economy and said he would continue working to boost renewable energy sources and new job opportunities, including Vermont-based weatherization and solar projects. Sanders and Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York successfully included in a 2007 energy bill a $125 million authorization to train workers in "green-collar jobs."

Sanders also sits on the Veterans' Affairs and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees, where he has promoted increased federal spending on higher education. During the 110th Congress (2007-08), he cosponsored with Virginia Democrat Jim Webb a new GI Bill to provide up to $90,000 to cover tuition at colleges in a veteran's home state.

And he helped obtain funding for a Vermont program that attempts to send a specialist to the home of every veteran returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, offering treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other mental health issues.

Sanders, whose fifth committee assignment is the Budget panel, offered the only amendment allowed in either chamber to the $700 billion plan to shore up the ailing financial Page 2 of 3

services industry in October 2008. But he settled for a voice vote, rather than a roll call vote, and his attempt to place a surtax on the highest income earners was voted down.

Sanders has long described himself as a socialist and defends against any negative connotation of the term. When Alabama GOP Rep. Spencer Bachus said in April 2009 that he could count 17 socialists in Congress, Sanders responded with an opinion column in The Boston Globe: "Spencer Bachus is one of the few people I know from Alabama. I bet I'm the only socialist he knows, although he darkly claims there are 17 socialists lurking in the House of Representatives . I doubt there are any other socialists, let alone 17 more, in all of Congress. I also doubt that Bachus understands much about democratic socialism." Sanders, the first identifiable socialist in the House since Wisconsin's Victor L. Berger served four terms early in the 20th century, keeps a plaque on his office wall honoring Eugene V. Debs, founder of the American Socialist Party.

Sanders was born and raised in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. His mother died at 46 when he was 19. His father, a Jewish immigrant from Poland whose family was killed in the Holocaust, was a paint salesman.

After college, Sanders lived on a kibbutz in Israel. He returned briefly to New York, then in 1968 joined the wave of liberals abandoning urban life for pastoral Vermont. Sanders held a variety of jobs in the Green Mountain state, from free-lance writer to carpenter, and built a foundation in left-wing politics.

While other transplants flocked to the Democratic Party, Sanders helped found the Liberty Union Party. He ran unsuccessfully for statewide office four times in the early 1970s. He then focused on local office and in 1981 unseated the Democratic mayor of Burlington by 1Ovotes.

He became the city's first socialist mayor and won three more two-year terms by pursuing populist goals while presiding over the revitalization of the city's downtown.

Sanders was seen as a spoiler when he ran in 1988 for Vermont's lone House seat, vacated when Republican James M. Jeffords ran for the Senate. But Sanders lost to Republican Peter Smith by only 4 percentage points. In a 1990 rematch, Sanders won with 56 percent of the vote.

Sanders barely held on during the national Republican wave of 1994 and had another anemic showing in 1996. In 2000, he captured his highest percentage yet with 69 percent of the vote.

When Jeffords announced plans to retire from the Senate, Sanders jumped into the race.

Campaigning as a Democrat, he had no trouble beating four political unknowns in the primary, then ran as an independent in the general election. His Republican rival , software magnate Rich Tarrant, spent $7 million of his own money and tried to paint Sanders as a radical, but Sanders won with 65 percent of the vote. He enjoyed the financial backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headed by New York Sen . Charles E. Schumer, who had attended the same schools as Sanders in Brooklyn.

Page 3 of 3

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Vermont Yankee license transfer application to Northstar Vermont Yankee
  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful role" in decommissioning planning Agreement State: No (Letter of Intent - 7/6/15)
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools Committees: Environment & Public Works (Clean Air &
  • Believes the public should have a say in license transfers of Nuclear Safety; Superfund, Waste Management, and decommissioning plants Regulatory Oversight; Transportation and Letters to NRC:

Infrastructure); Energy & Natural Resources (Energy;

  • Aug. 3, 2018 -Aug. 3, 2018 - Joint letter concerning NRC's proposed National Parks; Water and Power); Health, Education, decommissioning rule and treatment of public participation, spent Labor & Pensions (Children and Families; Primary fuel storage, and financial and physical protections Health and Retirement Security); Veterans' Affairs;
  • March 7, 2017 - Joint Vermont delegation letter urging NRC to hold a Budget - Full Committee Ranking Member public meeting in Vermont on the proposed Vermont Yankee license Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY transfer and decommissioning plans First Elected: 2006 (2nd term)
  • Sept. 16, 2016- Co-signed letter to NRC re: rulemaking titled Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children "regulatory improvements for power reactors transitioning to decommissioning" Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960;
  • May 13, 2016 - One of 29 senators to co-sign Sen. Wyden's letter U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science) urging the Commission to deny a petition for rulemaking to prohibit Career: College instructor, freelance writer; third-party arbitration on access authorization determinations documentary filmmaker; carpenter
  • March 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey and Rep. Welch on Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work collaboratively with U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007, sought states, locals, and interested parties Democratic nomination for President, 2016 Legislation:
  • Sponsor of the "Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act" (S. 2388)
  • Co-sponsor of Sen. Markey's "Dry Cask Storage Act of 2017" (S. 1265)
  • Co-sponsor of Sen. Harris' "Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of Last Updated: 09/17/18 2018" (S. 2396)

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Concerned about 60-year timeframe for decommissioning
  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful role" in Vermont Yankee decommissioning planning Agreement State: No (Letter of Intent - 7/6/15)
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools Committees: Environment & Public Works (Clean Air &
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in decommissioning trust for VY Nuclear Safety; Superfund, Waste Management &
  • Believes the public should have a say in possible license transfers of Regulatory Oversight; Transportation & Infrastructure); decommissioned plants Energy & Natural Resources (Energy; National Parks; Letters to NRC:

Water & Power); Health, Education, Labor & Pensions;

  • March 7, 2017 - Joint letter to NRC requesting agency conduct a public Veterans' Affairs; Budget - Full Committee Ranking meeting in Vermont re: post-shutdown decommissioning activities report Member
  • Sept. 16, 2016 - co-signed letter to NRC re: rulemaking titled "regulatory Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY improvements for power reactors transitioning to decommissioning"
  • May 13, 2016 - One of 29 senators to co-sign Sen. Wyden's letter urging the First Elected: 2006 (2nd term)

Commission to deny a petition for rulemaking to prohibit third-party Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children arbitration on access authorization determinations Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960;

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey and Rep. Welch on U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science) decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work collaboratively with states, Career: College instructor, freelance writer; locals, and interested parties documentary filmmaker; carpenter
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter requesting additional public meetings and an extension of the comment period for advance notice of proposed Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning rulemaking U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007, sought Democratic nomination for President, 2016 Legislation:
  • TBD - Plans to reintroduced a modified version of his "Nuclear Plant Note: July 6, 2015 - Governor Peter Shumlin submitted a Decommissioning Act"
  • May 25, 2017 - Cosponsored Sen. Markey's "Dry Cask Storage Act of 2017" Letter of Intent to enter VT into an Agreement with the (S. 1265)

NRC

  • April 15, 2016 (114 th Congress) - Sponsored the "Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2015" (S. 964)

Last Updated: 06/02/17

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Plants in State: None Nuclear Topics of Interest:

Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning:

  • Concerned about allowed time for decommissioning (60 Vermont Yankee years)

Agreement State: No

  • Supports states and local communities having a "meaningful Committees: Environment & Public Works; Budget - role" in decommissioning planning Ranking Member; Energy & Natural Resources;
  • Concerned about high-density storage in spent fuel pools
  • Concerned about allowed use of funds in decommissioning Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (Primary trust for Vermont Yankee Health and Retirement Security Sub - Ranking Member); Veterans' Affairs Letters to NRC:

Born: Sept. 8, 1941; Brooklyn, NY

  • Mar. 15, 2016 - Joint letter with Sen. Markey, Rep. Welch First Elected: 2006 (2nd term) regarding decommissioning rulemaking urging NRC to work Family: Wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders; four children collaboratively with states, locals, and interested parties Education: Brooklyn College, attended 1959-1960;
  • Dec. 7, 2015 - Joint letter requesting additional public meetings and an extension of the comment period for U. of Chicago, A.B. 1964 (political science) advance notice of proposed decommissioning rulemaking Career: College instructor; Documentary filmmaker;
  • May 15, 2014 - Joint letter on EP exemptions, spent fuel carpenter; pool transfers to dry cask, considerat ion of local views on Political Highlights: Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989; decommissioning U.S. House of Representatives, 1991-2007
  • May 1, 2014 -Joint letter urging NRC to stop allowing EP and security requirement exemptions for decommissioning Reintroduced Legislation: April 15, 2015 - Nuclear reactors Plant Decommissioning Act of 2015 (S. 964} to
  • Feb. 11, 2014 & March 4, 2014- Urging NRC to provide host states with a larger role in the decommissioning process, require licensees to consult with affected states and concerns about decommissioning trust funds local governments in developing post-shutdown
  • Jan. 24, 2014 - Joint request for information on financial plans, to hold two hearings within a facility's host assurance of funding for operations of Entergy's merchant state, and allow state to have input on those plans. fleet Last Updated: 03/2016

Baran, Jeff From: Powell, Amy Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 3:32 PM To: Baran, Jeff Cc: Krsek, Robert

Subject:

Final QFR responses Attachments: Baran QFR Responses EPW 4-15-15 Hearing - FINAL.docx AP Amy Powell Note to requester: The attachment is Chief of Staff immediately following this email record. A portion Office of Commissioner Jeff Baran of this email record is redacted under FO IA U S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Exemption 5, Deliberative Process Privilege.

Phone: 301-415-1839

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito QUESTION 1. Are you satisfied that the NRC staff is following the Commission*s direction on the use of qualitative factors in regulatory changes that are currently under development?

ANSWER.

Yes. In addition, the staff is updating the guidance on the use of qualitative factors as part of the staff's larger effort to update the overall cost-benefit guidance. The updated guidance aims to assist the staff in better articulating how qualitative factors are used in the agency's regulatory analyses to enhance clarity, transparency, and consistency.

1

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 1. States* concerns with existing PSDAR plans:

On January 27th of this year, the Vermont Attorney General's office sent a letter to you to join the New York and Massachusetts Attorneys General in asking you to investigate the ability of Entergy to pay for decommissioning activities. In this letter, the Attorney General states:

"While Vermont Yankee recently disconnected from the electric grid, there are a number of immediate and long term activities that will occur at the plant that could affect the safety of Vermonters. The State of Vermont has a direct interest in the NRC abiding by its statutory duty to ensure that Vermont Yankee"s owners and operators have - and continue to have - the ability to pay for these activities .... To determine whether Entergy .** has adequate financial means without undue or unauthorized reliance on the (Nuclear Decommissioning Trust] Fund, the NRC should fully investigate the financial qualifications of Entergy and its subsidiaries. 11 Is it the NRC's duty to ensure that licensees like Entergy are able to finance decommissioning and that involving states in the process would help to ensure that a financially responsible plan is drafted and avoid situations like the one in which Vermonters currently find themselves?

ANSWER.

As Chairman Burns indicated in his response to this question, NRC has a regulatory program in place to provide reasonable assurance that sufficient funding will be available for radiological decommissioning and irradiated fuel management of all U.S. commercial nuclear reactors.

States have an important role in determining how funds are collected from ratepayers and establishing site restoration requirements.

2

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 2. NRC review and decision-making on decommissioning plans:

Do you think that the NRC should have to review post-shutdown decommissioning plans (PSDARs) in a clear, transparent, and consistent way before decommissioning plans are officially accepted? Has the NRC ever rejected a decommissioning plan?

ANSWER.

I support the rulemaking effort that is now underway to take a fresh look at a range of decommissioning issues, including the advisability of requiring a licensee's post-shutdown decommissioning activity report to be approved by NRC. With several plants retiring, I think the agency will benefit from getting public comment on this issue.

3

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 3. The role of states In the decommissioning planning process:

There are a number of states In which nuclear power plants will be shut down in the coming years. To the people of those states, including California, Vennont and others, the decommissioning process is enormously important because of the obvious impact it will have on them. As you know, when one closes down a nuclear power plant, it means lost jobs. It means lost revenue to the community and lost revenue to the State. Mostly, it is an issue of safety. People want to know what is happening and want the assurance that they will be safe. People want to know - will the process take 60 years or 10 years? Will the company rigorously ensure that the site is free of radioactivity after decommissioning?

Where will the nuclear fuel rods be placed? In light of this, do you feel that states and communities affected by the decommissioning of nuclear plants should have a seat at the table when companies like Entergy are drafting their decommissioning plans to make sure that their interests are given due weight during the process?

ANSWER.

I support the rulemaking effort that is now underway to take a fresh look at a range of decommissioning issues, including the appropriate role ofstate and local governments in the decommissioning process. I agree that states and localities should have their views considered.

Currently, there are formal public comment periods after the post-shutdown decommisstoning activities report is submitted and again much later when decontamination is nearly complete and the license termination plan is submitted. As part of the rulemaking process, NRC will take public comment on whether this level of public participation is sufficient.

4

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 4. Upholding the accountablllty of licensees:

One of the main concerns I have has been highlighted by the Vermont Yankee decommissioning process thus far. Entergy, the licensee, seems to be taking every advantage to use its decommissioning fund to pay for things they shouldn't be using It for, like paying litigation expenses when concerned groups attempt to hold them accountable. This in essence extends the decommissioning process, and Is irresponsible- it's a blatant prioritization of the company"s bottom line over safety.

What is NRC willing to do to make sure that safe and responsible decommissioning Is prioritized over the financial concems of the licensees?

ANSWER.

Chairman Burns' response details the NRC's commitment to ensuring that decommissioning is completed in accordance with NRC regulations and an established funding program that provides reasonable assurance that sufficient funding is available. With respect to Vermont Yankee, the NRC staff is currently reviewing a January 2015 request from Entergy for an exemption to allow use of a portion of the Vermont Yankee decommissioning trust fund for the management of irradiated fuel consistent with the licensee's updated irradiated fuel management program and the post-shutdown decommissioning activities report. NRC staff would only grant such an exemption after independently reviewing the licensee's request to verify that NRC regulations would still be met, including a determination that sufficient decommissioning trust funds are available to complete the radiological decommissioning of Vermont Yankee.

5

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 5. Price-Anderson and the true cost of the nuclear industry: Is it true that because of Price-Anderson legislation, if there were ever a nuclear disaster like Fukushima at any of our nation's 61 operating nuclear power plants or at the 19 that are being decommissioned, the tax-payers of this country could be called upon to come up with an untold amount of money, maybe tens of billions of dollars. to deal with the cost incurred In that disaster?

ANSWER.

I concur with the description of the Price-Anderson Act provided by Chairman Burns in his response to this question.

6

Responses from Commissioner Baran The Honorable Bernie Sanders QUESTION 6. Nuclear Regulatory Commission transparency during rulemaking:

Every United States Senator has to cast some very difficult and controversial votes, and even though those votes may be distorted, that's our reality, and we must live with that Is there any reason why every vote that you cast should not be made public?

ANSWER.

I agree that the Commission should strive to maximize the transparency of its decision-making.

As a general matter, my votes as a commissioner are public. There are a limited number of cases where it may not be appropriate to release the text of votes. For example, some votes include adjudicatory or security sensitive information. In cases where my vote has included security sensitive information, I worked with the NRC staff to publicly release as much of the vote as possible.

7

Baran, Jeff From: Powell, Amy Note to requester: The attachment is Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 4:55 PM immediately following this email record. A To: Baran, Jeff portion of this email record is redacted under Subje<t: OCA report o n attendance to mo rrow FOIA Exemption 5, Deliberative Process Attachments: Hearing Pre-Brief Agenda 4.15.15 (2).docx Privilege.

Follow Up Flag: Fo llow up Flag Status: Completed (b )(5)

(b )(5)

Amy 2

Hearing Briefing Agenda Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Full-Committee Hearing Hearing

Title:

NRC Fiscal 2016 Budget Request Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Time: 10:00am Location: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building Committee Members Senate Majority Committee Members (11) Senate Minority Committee Members (9)

  • James M. lnhofe (R-OK) - Chairman
  • Barbara Boxer (0-CA)- Ranking Member
  • David Vitter (R-LA)
  • Thomas R. Carper (D-DE)
  • John Barrasso (R-WY)
  • Benjamin L. Cardin (0-MD)
  • Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
  • Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
  • Michael D. Crapo (R-ID)
  • Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
  • John Boozman (R-AR)
  • Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
  • Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
  • Roger Wicker (R-MS)
  • Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)
  • Deb Fischer (R-NE)
  • Edward Markey (D-MA)
  • Michael Rounds (R-SD)
  • Dan Sullivan (R-AK)

NRC Witnesses:

  • Chairman Stephen G. Burns
  • Commissioner Kristine L. Svinicki
  • Commissioner William C. Ostendorff
  • Commissioner Jeff Baran Other Hearings at the same time:
  • 9:30am - Senate Forelgn Relations Committee hearing titled "American Food Aid: Why Reform Matters." Senators Barrasso, Cardin (Ranking Member), Boxer, and .,arkey are committee members.
  • 9:30am - Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower will hold a closed briefing on the major threats facing Navy.forces and the Navy's current and projected capabilities to meet those threats in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program. Senators Wicker (Chalnnan), Sessions, Rounds, and Sullivan are committee members.
  • 1O:OOam - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled "IRS Challenges in Implementing the Affordable Care Act." Senators Carper (Ranking Member) and Booker are Committee members.
  • 1O:OOam - Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled 'The Need to Reform Asset Forfeiture." Senators Sessions, Vitter, and Whitehouse are committee members.

Hearing Briefing Agenda Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Full-Committee Hearing

  • 10:30am - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies will hold a hearing on proposed fiscal 2016 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction. Senators Boozman and Moore Capito are committee members .

Status of Attendance:

Senate Majority Jim. lnhofe (R-OK) -Attending (budget, staffing, industry burdens, licensing timelines, rule makings)

David Vitter (R-LA) - Attending (Fukushima activities, NRC internal processes)

John Barrasso (R-WY)-Attending (Wyoming/Agreement State, uranium recovery, 40 CFR Part 190 EPA rule)

Shelley Moore Capito (R-WJ) - Attending Mike Crapo (R-10) - Possibly attending (industry burden, new reactors)

John Boozman (R-AR) - Possibly attending Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Attending (post-Fukushima regula1ions, NRC corporate support, Yucca Mountain)

Roger Wicker (R-MS) - Not attending; chairing an Armed Services subcommittee)

Deb Fischer (R-NE) - Attending (rulemaking prioritization; cumulative impacts; cost-benefit analyses, Crow Butte Marsland facility expansion)

Mike Rounds (R-SD) - Not likely to attend (Armed Services subcommittee hearing)

Dan Sullivan (R-AK)- Not likely to attend Senate Minority Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Attending (Fukushima, SONGS, Diablo Canyon,)

Tom Carper (D-DE) - Possibly attending (Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs conflict)

Ben Cardin (D-MD) -Unlikely to attend (Foreign Relations committee hearing)

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) -Attending (VY decommissioning funding and schedule; state input, Commission voting process)

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) -Not attending (Judiciary Committee hearing)

Jeff Merkley (D-OR)- Not attending Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) -Attending (Indian Point emergency preparedness, natural gas pipeline project)

Cory Booker (D-NJ) - Possibly attending (Fukushima activities)

Edward Markey (D-MA) - Attending Logistics:

  • Room 468 Dirksen will be available for Commissioners prior to the hearing.
  • An NRC van has been reserved for transportation. The van will leave the White Flint Complex (lWFN) at 8: 15am. Mark Satori us, Margie Doane, Maureen Wylie, Jason Zorn, Patty Bubar, Tammy Bloomer, Cathy Kanatas, and Felix Bryant will travel in the van.
  • Committee staff has reserved 12 seats for NRC staff.

Five key topics to expect:

1. Status of Fukushima-related activities
2. Cost and timeliness of NRC reviews
3. Yucca Mountain licensing review
4. California nuclear plant issues (i.e., seismic, SONGS decommissioning)
5. Rulemakings, cumulative costs of regulation
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