Revision as of 19:23, 28 May 2018

Text

Transcript of LaSalle Draft Supplemental EIS, Public Meeting March 22, 2016, Pages 1-39
	ML16091A441
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	03/22/2016
From:	; NRC/OCM
To:	;
References
	NRC-2254
	Download: ML16091A441 (40)
	v • d • e

Official Transcript of ProceedingsNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONTitle:LaSalle County StationDraft Supplemental EISDocket Number:(n/a)Location:Ottawa, Illinois Date:Tuesday, March 22, 2016Work Order No.:NRC-2254Pages 1-39NEAL R. GROSS AND CO., INC.Court Reporters and Transcribers1323 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20005(202) 234-4433 1UNITED STATES OF AMERICA1NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION2+ + + + +3LaSALLE COUNTY STATION4DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL EIS (DSEIS)5PUBLIC MEETING6+ + + + +7TUESDAY8MARCH 22, 20169+ + + + +1011 12 13The Public Meeting was convened at the14LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency, Emergency15Operations Center, 711 East Etna Road, Ottawa,16Illinois at 7:00 p.m., David Drucker, Facilitator,17presiding.18 19PRESENT:20DAVID DRUCKER, Facilitator21 22 23 24 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 2P R O C E E D I N G S1MR. DRUCKER: Good evening. Thanks for2coming out tonight. I'm David Drucker with the U.S.3Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and I'm --4THE OPERATOR: Mr. Drucker, I have to join5you to the main conference. I'm sorry. One moment.6MR. DRUCKER: Sure. 7THE OPERATOR: Welcome, and thank you for8standing by. At this time, all participants are on9listening mode. During our Q&A session, you may press10*1 on your touch tone phone if you would like to ask11a question. Today's conference is being recorded. If12you have any objections, you may disconnect at this13time. Now I'd like to turn the meeting over to Mr.14David Drucker, so you may begin.1516 17 18 19 20MR. DRUCKER: Thank you, India. This isDavid Drucker. I'm Nuclear RegulatoryCommission. I'm project manager for theenvironmental review of the LaSalle County Stationlicense renewal application. Hereafter, I will referto the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the NRC. 21There are two primary purposes for this22meeting. The first purpose is to discuss the contents23of this document that I'm holding up, the draft24supplemental environmental impact statement for25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 3license renewal of LaSalle County Station. Hereafter,1I will refer to this document as the draft SEIS. SEIS2stands for Supplemental Environmental Impact3Statement.4The second purpose of this meeting is to5obtain comments on the draft SEIS. This meeting is6available by teleconference and, India, I just want to7make sure. Can you ask the folks on the line, or8actually, folks on the line, can you hear me? Because9I'm speaking at a distance from the speakerphone. 10THE OPERATOR: Everyone, your lines are11now open, and you can respond.1213MR. MAHRS: David, this is SteveMahrs, and I can hear you just fine.14 15 16 17 18 19MR. DRUCKER: Okay. Good, if one personcan hear me, the rest of you all can hear me. Before going further, I want to introduce NRC staffhere tonight. Stu Sheldon is an NRC Region IIIlicense renewal inspector, and Robert Ruiz is thesenior resident at the plant. 2021 22 23 24I'd also like to point out that on thephone we have or will have a few NRC staff folks. Mysupervisor, Jim Danna is the chief of theenvironmental review and project management branch.

Michele Moser is the technical reviewer for aquatic25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 4resources. 12 3

4 5Kevin is the technical reviewer forservice water resources. Bill Ford is the technicalreviewer for ground water. And you hear earlier SteveMaharris is the consultant from Pacific NorthwestLaboratories for the high burn-up fuel section. 6Next, I'd like to cover a few details7about this meeting. Exelon applied to the NRC to8renew the operating licenses for LaSalle County9Station units one and two for an additional 20 years. 10The NRC is reviewing that application, and will use11the results of that review to decide whether to renew12the licenses.13Tonight I will tell you the preliminary14results of the environmental review. These results15are documented in the draft SEIS. And I will also ask16for your comments on the draft SEIS. The meeting17tonight will, essentially, have four parts. The18introduction is the part that we're doing now. 1920 21 22 23he second part I will discuss the reviewprocess and the preliminary findings of the review. Copies of this presentation are on the table by thedoor and Stu Sheldon, it looks like he handed outcopies to everyone here. 24The next portion will be an opportunity to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 5ask questions about the material presented, and I will1answer those questions. And finally, the NRC staff2will listen to your comments about the draft SEIS. 3Note that the NRC will listen during this time. We4generally won't respond to what you're saying here in5the meeting. Instead, we will prepare written6responses to your comments that will be published as7a part of the final SEIS. 8Please note that this meeting is being9recorded,; a transcriber's sitting right up here in10front. And he's doing that to produce a written11record of what's said at this meeting. In order for12the transcript to be accurate, please comply with the13following. 14First, please silence your phones and any15other personal electronics you have with you. If you16must accept a call during this meeting, please step17outside into the lobby so the other meeting18participants can hear the proceedings and so your19phone ringing, nor your conversation is recorded.20When you speak, please use a microphone. 21And I'll bring it around for the question and answer22period to you guys. That's how we will ensure that23what you say is recorded. When you speak, identify24who you are and, if you represent a group, what group25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 6you represent. Also, if you have an uncommon name or1if your name has an unusual spelling, please spell2your name. And to ensure the recording is clear,3please don't hold side conversations, and do not4interrupt the speaker. Thank you. 56 7

8 910When you signed in tonight, you may havenoted yellow cards, like the one I'm holding up, onthe table. Several of you have alreadyfilled them out, and that's a speaker. So if youwant to speak, let me know. I'll bring a cardaround to you, and you can fill that out now.11When we get to the public comment portion12of this evening, I will give each public commenter13three minutes to speak. And then, after everyone's14had a chance to speak, we can, if you haven't finished15your comments, you can certainly have more time. So16far I only have four folks who are signed up to speak. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23Also on the table outside is a stack ofpublic meeting feedback forms. Please fill one outand provide it to me or leave it on the table, or youcan drop it in the mail; it's postage free. our assessment of this meeting tonight will helpimprove future meetings.24And finally, for those who don't know, the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 7restrooms are out the hallway to the left. Emergency1exit is out the hallway to the right. And security is2located at the LaSalle County Sheriff's Office. It's3just across the parking lot, if we should need4security. 56 7

8Okay, do you have any questions on thisbrief introduction before I go any further, and startdiscussing the environmental review? . 91011 12 13 14 15 16 17I'm going to theenvironmental review and preliminary results from thedraft SEIS. First, I would like to emphasize that theenvironmental review is not yet complete. I hope theinformation provided in this presentation will helpyou understand what we've done so far, and the roleyou can play in helping to make sure that the finalenvironmental impact statement is accurate andcomplete.18I'd like to start off by briefly going19over the agenda for this portion of my speech. First20of all, I'll comment on the NRC's regulatory role,21then I'll provide the preliminary findings of our22environmental review, and then I will present the23current schedule for the remainder of the24environmental review, and tell you how you can submit25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 8comments outside of this meeting.1At the end of the presentation, there will2be time for questions and answers on the comments of3my briefing and, most importantly, time for you to4present your comments on the draft SEIS. 5The NRC was established to regulate6civilian use of nuclear materials, including7facilities producing electric power. The NRC conducts8license renewal reviews for plants whose owners wish9to operate them beyond their initial license period. 1011NRC license renewal reviews address safety12issues related to managing the affects of aging and13environmental issues related to an additional 20 years14of operation. In all aspects of the NRC regulation,15our mission is three-fold. To ensure adequate16protection of the public health and safety, to promote17common defense and security, and to protect the18environment. 19 20 21 22 23 24 environmental review potential site-specific impacts of license renewal ofthe LaSalle County Stations nits and . Ageneric environmental impact statement, or GEIS,examines the possible environmental impacts that couldoccur as a result of renewing licenses of individual25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 9nuclear power plants.12 3

4 5

6The GEIS es thesignificance of these potential impacts. The analysisin the GEIS pertains to operating power reactors. Foreach type or environmental impact, the GEISestablishes generic findings, covering as many plantsas possible. 78 910 11 12 13For some environmental issues, the GEISfound that a generic evaluation was not sufficient,and that a plant-specific analysis was required. he 2013 revision to the GEIS issitting here on the table; these three volumes. TheGEIS was originally done in 1996. Its r thanthese three volumes, and there was an addendum in141999.15 16 17 18 19 gives you an idea of the effortthat went in to looking nuclear power plants acrossthe country, and determining which impacts,environmental impacts were generic, and which requiresite-specific analysis. 20The site-specific findings for the LaSalle21County Station are contained in the draft SEIS22published in February, 2016. This document contains23analyses of all possible site-specific issues, as well24as a review of issues covered by the GEIS, to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 110determine whether the conclusion in the GEIS are validfor LaSalle County Station. 23 4

5 6

7In this process, the NRC staff alsoreviews environmental impacts of potential powergeneration alternatives to license renewal. Finally,I want to mention that on March 10th of last year,March 10th of last year, I was here conducting theenvironmental scoping meetings. 8910 11 12During those meetings and the scopingperiod, the NRC collected comments formed thescope of the environmental review. Those comments,and the NRC responses to those comments, are found inthe scoping summary report. 13 14 15 16 17Hard copies and CDs of the scoping summaryreport are available on the table by the door. Andalso, that same CD that has the scoping summary reportcontains a copy of the draft SEIS.1819 20 21 22 23 24For each environmental issue identified animpact level is assigned. The NRC's standard significance for impacts was established using theWhite House counsel on environmental qualityterminology for significant. The NRC establishedthree levels of significance for potential impacts,small, moderate and large, as defined on the slide.25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 11For a small impact, the effects are not1detectible or are so minor that they will neither2destabilize nor noticeable alter any important3attribute of the resource. For a moderate impact, the4effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not5destabilize important attributes of the resource. And6for a large impact, the effects are clearly noticeable7and are sufficient to destabilize important8attributes of the resource. 9While these impact level designations are10used for most of the resource areas that we looked at11in the draft SEIS, there are three areas that have12their own impact level designations. And these are13discussed on the next slide. 14So for special status species, the impact15significance determination language comes from the16Endangered Species Act. And choices to describe the17impacts are no effect, may affect but not likely to18adversely affect, and may affect and is likely to19adversely affect. 20For cultural and historic resources, the21National Historic Preservation Act requires Federal22agencies to consider the effects of their undertakings23on historic properties. And for environmental24justice, under Executive Order 12898, Federal agencies25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 12are responsible for identifying and addressing1disproportionately high and adverse human health and2environmental impacts on minority and low-income3populations.4This slide lists the issues the NRC5reviewed for the continued operation of the LaSalle6County Station during the proposed license renewal7period. So in this one slide, this is basically a8very quick summary of what you would find in that9larger document, the draft SEIS. 10For all issues, except aquatic resources,11the impacts of license renewal were found to be small,12which means the effects are not detectible, or are so13minor that they will neither destabilize nor14noticeably alter any important attribute of the15resource.16Thermal impacts would be small for aquatic17resources in the Illinois River, and small for aquatic18resources in the cooling pond, except for gizzard and19threadfin shad. Gizzard and threadfin shad would20experience moderate thermal impacts in the cooling21pond. 22The NRC staff also considered cumulative23impacts. Cumulative impacts are the effects on the24environment from other past, present and reasonably25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 13foreseeable future human actions, other than LaSalle1County Station. The effects not only included2operation of LaSalle County Station, but also impacts3unrelated to LaSalle, such as future urbanization,4other energy producing facilities in the area and5climate change. 6The analysis considers potential impacts7through the end of the current license term, as well8as the 20-year license renewal term. The NRC staff9determined that most cumulative impacts would be10small, and the analysis is provided in section 4.16 of11the draft SEIS.12The National Environmental Policy Act13mandates that each environmental impact statement14consider alternatives to any proposed major Federal15action. A major step for determining whether license16renewal is reasonable or not is comparing the likely17impacts of continued operation of a nuclear plant with18the likely impacts of alternatives means of power19generation.20Alternatives must provide an option that21allows for power generation capability beyond the term22of the current nuclear power plant operating license23to meet future system generation needs. In the draft24SEIS, NRC staff initially considered 17 different25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 14alternatives, and then we narrowed those 17 down to1five, and looked at those five in detail.2Additionally, the NRC staff considered3what would happen if no action is taken and LaSalle4shuts down at the end of its current licenses without5a specific replacement alternative. This alternative6would not provide power generation capacity nor would7it meet the needs currently met by LaSalle.8The NRC's preliminary conclusion is that9the environmental impacts of renewal of the operating10licenses for LaSalle would be smaller than those11feasible and commercially viable alternatives. 12Continued operation would have smaller environmental13impacts in almost all areas. The staff concluded that14continued operation of the existing LaSalle County15Station is the environmentally preferred alternative. 1617Based on review of likely environmental18impacts from license renewal, as well as potential19environmental impacts of alternatives to license20renewal, the NRC staff's preliminary recommendation in21the draft SEIS is that the adverse environmental22impacts of license renewal for LaSalle County Station23are not great enough to deny the option of license24renewal for energy planning decision makers. And that25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 15preliminary conclusion shows up several places in the1draft SEIS, but chapter five is the conclusion2chapter. 3I would like to re-emphasize that the4environmental review is not yet complete. Your5comments tonight, and all written comments received by6the end of the comment period on April 4th, will be7considered by the NRC staff as we develop the final8SEIS, which we currently plan to issue in August of92016.10Those comments that are within the scope11of the environmental review and provide new and12significant information can help change the staff's13findings. The final SEIS will contain the staff's14final recommendation on the acceptability of license15renewal based on the work we've already performed and16any new and significant information we receive in the17form of comments during the comment period. I just18want to emphasize that the comment period closes on19April 4th, the second to the last line here on this20slide. 2122 23 24As many of you know, I am primarycontact for the environmental review, and JeffMitchell is the primary contact for the safety review,and our information is on the handouts that I provided25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 16you tonight, our contact information. Copies of the1draft SEIS are available on CD on the table near the2door. In addition, the library shown on this slide3has a copy available, current copy available for4review.5You can also find electronic copies of the6draft SEIS, along with other information about the7LaSalle County Station license renewal review online8at the website shown. And finally, additional9information can also be obtained by contacting the10representatives of NRC's Region III office of public11affairs, as shown on the slide.12NRC staff will address written comments in13the same way we address spoken comments received14today. You can submit written comments either online15or via conventional manner. To submit written16comments online, visit the website regulations.gov and17search for docket ID NRC-2014-0268. If you have18written comments today, you may give them to me or any19other member of the NRC staff.20Please note that if you provide verbal21comments tonight, you don't need to submit them in22writing since your verbal comments are part of the23transcribed record, and they will be responded to. So24this concludes my formal presentation. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 1712 3

4 5So now we enter the question and answerportion. his is distinct from the comment portion. questions specific to the material that Ipresented here tonight. perator?6THE OPERATOR: Yes.7MR. DRUCKER: If there's anyone on the8phone that has questions about the material I9presented, can you please go ahead and let them ask10their questions one at a time, and I'll do my best to11answer them.12THE OPERATOR: Certainly. If you would13like to as a question on the phone line, please press14*1 and record your name when prompted. Please make15sure your phone is not muted when you record your16name. Once again, that's *1 and record your name. 17One moment for our first question. And no questions18have come in.19 20 21 22 23 24MR. DRUCKER: Okay , thank you. Most of the folks here in the room have been apart of the license renewal process. They're familiarwith the scoping process we did last year. But I justwant to emphasize, for anyone who's listening, thatyou know, this is not a hearing. This is a public25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 18meeting. 12 3

4 5

6And the goal of this meeting is two-waycommunication; for me to provide information about theenvironmental impact statement that we've been workingon and have developed, and then to receive comment onthat document. So . 7With that, I'm going to go to questions. 8Does anyone have any questions about the material I9presented here in the room? If there are no10questions, I just want to --1112 13MS. SNYDER: I have a question.MR. DRUCKER: Gail, go ahead.

MS. SNYDER: My first question is you said1415 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24this is a public meeting. There's not really manymembers of the public here, so I'm just wondering whatdoes the NRC do to promote this? I find it hard tobelieve in an area where there's thousands of peoplewho could be impacted by this decision that nobody'sshown up, no elected officials, unless there'ssomething here I don't know about. I'm justwondering, you know, why there's such a poor turnout.MR. DRUCKER: G question. Certainly,certainly, let me answer that first; your first partof the question was how do we advertise, basically,25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 12 319this public. This meeting is advertised through manymeans. he first place that it's advertised is we putout a Federal Register notice, NRC does, announcingthe meeting.45 6

7 8

9And then the Environmental ProtectionAgency, it a Federal Register notice thatannounces the release of the draft SEIS, and then howto contact me if you're interested in learning moreabout that. So there's two Federal Register noticesthat go out.10The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's11website also has actually several places where we talk12about the meeting. We have a public meeting web page13that speaks to all the meetings that we have. We have14a license renewal web page that talks about this15meeting. There's also the regular LaSalle operating16license web page, which also points to my license17renewal web page. So there's those web pages.18 19 20 21 22 23We also have advertisements in localnewspapers. I can get those for you if you'reinterested. But we did advertise in the localnewspapers, announcing this meeting. I also reachedout to everyone who attended the scoping meetings lastyear through e-mail. 24I either sent them a hard copy of the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 20draft SEIS, along with a copy of the Federal Register1notice, which provided the information on when and2where this meeting would be held. Either hard copy,3or I provided them a CD of the draft SEIS. 4Off the top of my head, I actually used to5carry a list of all different ways that we advertised6the meetings; off the top of my head, that's how we do7it. There were e-mails, too. For example, e-mail8reminders I sent out to the EPA via Region V folks so9they may be on the phone tonight.1011 12 13 14 15So those are the basic ways. If I missedanything, and my boss is listening feel free to chimein, Jim, and let me know what I missed. But those arethe major ways. Oh, a; the fliers. Iasked the resident inspector to post fliers locallyaround. 16Good question and, yeah, sometimes we get17a big turnout at these meetings, and sometimes we18don't. Personally, I was at one down in Mississippi,19Grand Gulf. There were a few flakes of snow, and the20Governor basically told everyone to stay in. And I21flew own with my boss at the time, and we had no22trouble. There was no snow on the roads; didn't23understand what the problem was. But it was a local24thing. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 21I was paying attention to the news this1morning, and I heard the terrible, terrible news of2what was going on in Belgium, but I doubt that that3somehow would impact people showing up here. I did4read the local paper to see there were a couple other5meetings. 67 8

910 11 12There was a board of education meeting inone of the schools, but I didn't think it would impactattendance at this meeting. And I did work with thefolks at the plant, and I worked with our residentinspector trying to pick a night that wasn't busy withother activities. elected official 13 14: Yes, I'm a member of theLaSalle County board. 15 16MR. DRUCKER: : Chair of legislative17rules. 1819 20MR. DRUCKER: Great.: County board member.MR. DRUCKER: Good question. Any other21questions from folks in the room? 22MS. SNYDER: I have more questions. 23MR. DRUCKER: Please.24MS. SNYDER: Slide number 10, which is25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 22titled environmental review of LaSalle County Station1has the resources areas and the impacts listed. On2the bottom it says waste management, and the impact is3small. And I'm just wondering can you define what4waste management is in this?56 7

8 910 11MR. DRUCKER: Yes, that's a greatquestion. And there's a section on wastemanagement. . ear with me just for a moment, and I will flip toit. It's section 4. -- 12MS. SNYDER: Does it refer to nuclear13waste, or is it waste from the plant, other than?14 15 16 17 18 19 20MR. DRUCKER: the spent fuel. low level waste storage and disposal,. So this is the section that doescover the spent nuclear fuel. 21 22 23 24So there's five s thatare looked at. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 23talked about.1MS. SNYDER: And when you say the impact2is small, do you mean that it's small in comparison to3what's already there, or that 20 years of additional4waste will have a small impact?5MR. DRUCKER: Yeah, this is, this section6is talking to 20 years of additional operation. 7MS. SNYDER: The small impact.8MR. DRUCKER: Yes. 9MS. SNYDER: I have another question.10MR. DRUCKER: Please.11MS. SNYDER: I don't want to hog the12questions. Slide number 12, alternatives; and you're13talking about citing alternatives and the criteria14required to replace the energy. If you nuclear plant15had shut down, you said something about what would16happen if the nuclear plant shut down, and you found17that there wouldn't be an alternative power source18that would replace that power.19And I was just wondering if you had, or20the committee had, whoever drafted this, whatever21group drafted it had looked at the report from the22State of Illinois? There were a number of agencies;23there was a bill, HR, a resolution, HR1146, which was24looking at nuclear power in the state. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 24And state agencies drafted a report, and1they came out with the opposite finding of what you're2saying. So maybe we will e-mail that report to you. 3I think that would be informative to what their4position is, is not the same as your conclusion.5MR. DRUCKER: .6MS. SNYDER: And that's a state study by7state agencies.8MR. DRUCKER: All right. I appreciate9that very much. Thanks, Gail. Okay, if there are no10other questions, then we're going to move right along11to the comment portion of tonight's meeting. And as12I stated at the beginning, primarily the NRC staff13will be listening, and we will respond to any comments14in written form in the final SEIS. 15So let me go to the operator. India, is16there anyone on the phone that wants to provide a17comment?18THE OPERATOR: If you do have comments,19please press *1 and record your name when prompted. 20Once again, that's *1 -- and no comments have come in21over the phone.22MR. DRUCKER: Thank you. Thank you, very23much.24THE OPERATOR: You're welcome.25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 2512 3

4 5MR. DRUCKER: Okay, I have yellow cardsfrom three, from four folks. I'll shuffle them andpull them out randomly. I matter. I would appreciate, would the speakers comeup to the front here, and you can use this microphone. Gail, are you available first?6MS. SNYDER: Sure. 7MR. DRUCKER: And the next speaker will be8Doug O'Brien, so Doug if you want to prepare yourself9and move up to the front to save some time. In fact,10there's only four of you. It'll be Gail, Doug, Steve11and Tom.12MS. SNYDER: I don't know if this makes13your life easier. 14AUDIENCE MEMBER: Oh great, thank you.15MS. SNYDER: Good evening. My name is16Gail Snyder, and I'm here representing Nuclear Energy17Information Service. I serve as the president of the18board. Our comments tonight are really directed,19maybe, not specifically at environmental issues, but20the licensing renewal. 21And one of our first comments is that the22analysis of socioeconomic impacts are incomplete. No23analysis of impacts for early or unexpected closures24were considered or provided. The Exelon safety25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 26evaluation report documents a significant tax impact1for the presence of the LaSalle County Station, yet2only addresses the positive impacts. 3No mention or analysis of negative impacts4resulting from a abrupt planned or unexpected early5closure of LaSalle is presented. This is a6significant omission, particularly in light of Exelon7Corporation's threat of two years ago to close8reactors in Illinois on economic grounds. 9According to the Exelon SER, LaSalle10represents a sizeable portion of the county total tax11base. It also accounts for large portions of the12school district's adjusted property tax levy. These13are not insignificant amounts. Their abrupt14disappearance would wreak economic havoc on the15affected governmental and essential service entities'16ability to operate, just as Exelon's predecessor,17ComEd, did to the community of Zion in 1997, when they18unilaterally closed the Zion reactors.19The SER either fails to recognize or20mention at all some of the possible events that could21result in such a closure situation, such as an22unexpected major accident resulting in immediate and,23presumably, premature closing, NRC-ordered shutdown,24Exelon unilateral decision to close the plant on25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 27economic or other grounds, as it did in Zion,1resulting in an immediate loss of about 55 percent of2Zion's tax base.3Devaluation through sale has occurred at4the Clinton Station, resulting in enormous loss of the5tax base, eventual old age, license expiration6closure, which is the outcome of -- and I would add,7in light of what's happening in Brussels today, and8the fact that they've shut down their nuclear reactors9and can't provide security, terrorism is also a10possible way that a nuclear reactor could shut down11unexpectedly.12Exelon's being a business will certainly13make the calculations it made when it closed Zion and14decided that LaSalle should continue to operate. In15this omission, the SER makes the same mistake the U.S.16Government made when it invaded Iraq. No exit17strategy. To simply assume that the only18socioeconomic effects of LaSalle's presence will be19positive ones is simply irrational. 20Our recommendation: Planning for some21kind of eventual closure must be made long before it22happens to minimize economic and service disruptions23to the entities whose tax bases will be affected. 24Debate about the license extension serves as a good25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 28reminder of this fact, and an opportunity to take1action. 2We recommend that dependent government and3tax entities begin formal negotiations with Exelon to4establish an escrow of mitigation funds based on some5mutually agreeable assessment and payment structure so6that dependent entities will have some kind of7temporary funds available to soften the economic blow8or closure and not radically disrupt essential9services.10Our second comment, which is shorter, is11the inadequate attention paid to water availability at12the LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant under potential future13climate disruption conditions. Historically, LaSalle14Nuclear Power Plant has been one of the Illinois15reactor sites most sensitive to water availability16under severe drought conditions; for example, 1998,172005, 2006. 18It's siting on a portion of the Illinois19River network that is shallower than other parts has20brought the reactors close to mandatory shutdowns to21stay within EPA regulatory limits for thermal22pollution during extreme droughts on more than one23occasion over the past two decades.24Forecast for the future of Illinois's25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 29climate over the next few decades indicate it1approaching that of current day west Texas. This will2have severe impacts on the aquatic system in the area,3and on the availability of water for intake and4discharge at LaSalle.5A more thorough re-examination of6LaSalle's ability to safely operate, obtain sufficient7cooling water, and not thermally and radiologically8damage the local aquatic ecosystem is in order in this9re-licensing proceeding. Thank you.10MR. DRUCKER: The next speaker is Doug11O'Brien from the Illinois Clean Energy Coalition.12MR. O'BRIEN: Thank you. My name is Doug13O'Brien. I'm with the Illinois Clean Energy14Coalition, and this is another one in a long number of15these hearings or events that I've been to, talking16about a lot of the positive impacts that Illinois's17nuclear generating stations have had on the economy. 1819It's ironic that I'm following somebody20who came up and posited these impacts, these21beneficial impacts and somehow turned them into a22negative. And I think that it's also a little bit23insulting to the intelligence of local officials here24and around Illinois to assume that they don't have the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 30sense to plan for the future. And I know that many1local governments do just that. They do it2vigilantly, and they do it effectively. 3But I wanted to talk a little bit about4the environmental impacts, the positive environmental5impacts of the plant. As the initial NRC reports6shows, the overall impacts when it comes to energy7generation are positive. That the alternative sources8for energy generation in Illinois would create more9negative impacts environmentally, particularly in the10area of CO2 emissions, as it's critically important11that we always consider the beneficial impact of12Illinois's nuclear fleet on CO2 emissions here in13Illinois. 14The Illinois Clean Energy Coalition's15study in 2014 showed that Illinois's nuclear fleet16prevents the emission of over 92 million tons of CO217annually. Now this is a significant contributor to18global climate change, and something that we can do in19preserving and protecting our nuclear fleet that will20have a real, immediate, ongoing positive impact on our21environment.22Now, other sources of clean energy are23vital to our future, as well. But the simple truth is24we cannot quickly or easily replace nuclear generation25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 31with other clean sources. And a nuclear plant like1LaSalle would require, for example, thousands of new2wind turbines to replace its electricity generation. 34And we still can't rely on wind 24/7, nor5on solar 24/7. And the process of siting these wind6farms, the capital and the permitting that is needed7to begin operating them is daunting. So losing any of8Illinois's nuclear plants would leave us with no9short-term alternative but to increase our use of10fossil fuels and move us in the wrong direction.11Additionally, I think it's important to12note that it's vital for the NRC and our national13government to continue to push forward with practical14waste storage solutions that will allow for the15continued safe and secure storage of spent fuel, while16we wait for the Federal government to put aside17politics and live up to the commitment it made years18ago to establish a nationwide solution for spent fuel19storage.20In the meantime, plants like LaSalle's21spent fuel is expertly handled, never having produced22any impact to the surrounding ecosystem. And while23the plants and the NRC have managed a laudable short-24term solution, we have to continue to push for the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 32permanent solution promised by our government. 1So I think, in conclusion, the Illinois2Clean Energy Coalition applauds the NRC and its3findings. We believe that it's accurate in showing4the LaSalle Station, like other stations across the5state, has a positive impact on the environment moving6forward here in Illinois. Thank you.7MR. DRUCKER: Steve Buck is next.8MR. BUCK: Good evening. I'm Steve Buck. 9I'm an engineer at LaSalle Station. I just recently10started back in August. I am a resident of Ottawa,11Illinois, and I'm a former Eagle Scout, originally12from Crystal Lake, Illinois. So environmental13stewardship is something that is very much a part of14my character. It's something that I developed early15on in my youth, and I still continue it to this day as16an adult.17I'd like to share a couple key points of18how LaSalle Station is trying to be an environmental19steward itself through our activities to help conserve20the environment and leave the environment at least in21the best, the same condition, if not better condition22than we came in.23We had recently installed, last year, a24couple of charging stations for electrical vehicles. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 33So there's four charging ports available, which saved1about 1,300 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions for any2of our workers who chose to use their electric3vehicles instead of a carbon-producing combustion4engine vehicle.5We have an annual station earth day6activity every year. Some of those include electronic7waste recycling programs where we collect electronic8waste. And we typically give out green gifts to those9who participate to bring in their electronics for10recycling as a thank you for looking out for that so11that we don't throw electronics just simply into12landfills.13There's been a big push for LED lighting14upgrades, both inside the plant and outside, most15noticeably in the parking lot. The LED lights were16replaced. They should last about seven to 10 years17out in the conditions outside in the parking lot. 18And we're noticing that there's reduced electricity19usage for those, longer life span, and we've been20doing studies at other places inside the plant where21we can utilize LED lighting.22We are members of the Wildlife Habitat23Council certification. We have achieved24re-certification last year for our efforts. We have25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 34many projects around the site, such as bat boxes, Uber1boxes, and activities with the fish hatchery in the2lake. 3Our North American Young Generation4Nuclear, it's a youth group primarily of those who are5new to the nuclear industry, which I am a site6director at LaSalle Station; we have an7adopt-a-highway program for about a two-mile stretch8near the facility. And during the summer months, the9warmer months, we do a highway clean-up where we go10both sides of the highway, and just pick up any trash,11litter that might be on the side of the road.12We have a Gabby Green educational program13that goes out to our elementary schools. We discuss14energy conservation, resource conservation. We talk15about limited use of our water in certain situations,16turning the lights off when we go to the rooms. Some17very simple concepts for young children to understand18so that they can be environmental conscious starting19at a young age.20We are starting to develop a program with21Boy Scouts of America. As I said, I'm a Boy Scout,22and this is something that's just starting to develop23in the last month. Developing programs with the Boy24Scouts to help encourage them with their environmental25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 35practices, some of their merit badges and their rank1advancements and helping them live up to that2environmental stewardship themselves.3We also are firm supporters of the Who4Haven, which is wildlife rehabilitation center,5primarily for birds of prey, where we collect food for6those animals and also participate in bird releases,7releasing them back into the environment. 8MR. DRUCKER: Thanks. The final speaker9from the cards, where's Tom, Tom Jackson?10MR. JACKSON: Good evening. My name's Tom11Jackson. I'm site superintendent at Illini State12Park, Marseilles fish and wildlife area in LaSalle. 13I work for the Department of Natural Resources, and14the IDNR currently has a lease through 2025 with15Exelon to manage the wildlife area and the fishing16opportunities.17LaSalle Lake is a fish and wildlife area,18along with a public fishing area. We're open to the19public from March 15th to October 15th every year for20fishing, providing many varieties of fish species,21including hybrid striped bass, large and small mouth22bass, crappie, blue gill and catfish. 23In the months from October 15th through24March 15th of every year, the site is closed to the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 36public, and provides a wildlife area for waterfowl1migrating through the area. IDNR works closely with2Exelon to provide a great recreational opportunity to3local resident and visitors from throughout the state4and even surrounding states.5LaSalle Lake provides good wildlife6habitat for the waterfowl, as mentioned before, and7provides good fishing and outdoor recreation for the8community. It also provides good economic benefits,9visitors to the area. 10In my time as site superintendent, Exelon11management has made themselves available and12supportive in our efforts to provide site visitors13with access to the lake, and a rewarding experience14while visiting the site. I thank you for the15opportunity to speak on behalf of LaSalle Lake fish16and wildlife area and the Department of Nature17Resources.18MR. DRUCKER: Okay, if there's no one else19here or on the phone who has comments, and there20doesn't appear to be, I want to thank everyone who21provided --22MS. BOUDART: I have a comment.23MR. DRUCKER: Oh.24MS. BOUDART: May I make a comment?25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 37MR. DRUCKER: Absolutely. 1MS. BOUDART: Okay.2MR. DRUCKER: Is it easier for me to bring3you the microphone there?4MS. BOUDART: Well, if you can so I think5I can speak loud enough. The person who spoke first,6who are you? Either the purple shirt or the white7striped shirt. Anyway, let me see --8MR. DRUCKER: Can you tell us your name.9MS. BOUDART: Oh yeah, my name is Jan10Boudart, and I'm with the Nuclear Energy Information11Service, and somebody, I guess I didn't get, yeah, I12asked, Doug O'Brien, the Clean Energy Coalition. Is13that you? 14Well, I was very interested in the fact15that you said that until our government keeps its16promise to take care of the high level nuclear waste,17it's being handled very efficiently and not being18allowed to harm anyone. And, in fact, your statement19was never having produced any impact from the high20level nuclear waste.21And I think this is something that, rather22than say that I, well, I personally don't believe23that, but I can't prove that it's wrong. Also, you24can't prove that it's right. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 38Recently, the Nuclear Regulatory1Commission decided not to conduct health studies of2the impacts of the power plants around the United3States. And without those studies, you can't say that4there is no impact, and you cannot say that there is5an impact because there is no study.6So to come up with the statement that this7activity of taking care of the high level nuclear8waste never produced any impact is a statement that is9not supported. If I were to say well, I know it has10produced an impact, that would also be an unsupported11statement. There has been no study to find out12whether or not there is an impact. And I think that13kind of a positive statement really exposes the feet14of clay. 15MR. DRUCKER: Thank you, and I'm going to16ask you could just fill out a card for me, just with17your name and e-mail address. All right, thank you18all. Do we have any other comments from anyone on the19phone?20THE OPERATOR: If you would like to have21a comment or question, please press *1 an record your22name when prompted. Thank you. No questions or23comments have come in.24MR. DRUCKER: Okay, thank you. Thanks to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 39everyone who provided comments during this meeting,1because that information exchange is what this2meeting's all about. Also, thanks to all of you for3giving the speakers your time and attention.4And I want to thank Connie Brooks who's5actually across the hallway there and Fred Moore who6work here for the use of LaSalle County emergency7operations center. And finally on the table, if you8want to, please pick up a meeting feedback form if you9haven't already, and either return it to me or any10other staff member. Feel free to mail it in. And11with that, this meeting is concluded. 12I'm going to stick around. If anyone had13any questions and wants to talk to me one-on-one, I'm14happy to stick around and do that. So thank you all,15again, for coming out tonight. 16THE OPERATOR: This concludes your17conference, and you may disconnect. Once again, your18conference has ended, and you may disconnect.19(Whereupon, at 8:00 p.m., the above-20mentioned public hearing was concluded.)2122 23 24 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 Official Transcript of ProceedingsNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONTitle:LaSalle County StationDraft Supplemental EISDocket Number:(n/a)Location:Ottawa, Illinois Date:Tuesday, March 22, 2016Work Order No.:NRC-2254Pages 1-39NEAL R. GROSS AND CO., INC.Court Reporters and Transcribers1323 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20005(202) 234-4433 1UNITED STATES OF AMERICA1NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION2+ + + + +3LaSALLE COUNTY STATION4DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL EIS (DSEIS)5PUBLIC MEETING6+ + + + +7TUESDAY8MARCH 22, 20169+ + + + +1011 12 13The Public Meeting was convened at the14LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency, Emergency15Operations Center, 711 East Etna Road, Ottawa,16Illinois at 7:00 p.m., David Drucker, Facilitator,17presiding.18 19PRESENT:20DAVID DRUCKER, Facilitator21 22 23 24 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 2P R O C E E D I N G S1MR. DRUCKER: Good evening. Thanks for2coming out tonight. I'm David Drucker with the U.S.3Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and I'm --4THE OPERATOR: Mr. Drucker, I have to join5you to the main conference. I'm sorry. One moment.6MR. DRUCKER: Sure. 7THE OPERATOR: Welcome, and thank you for8standing by. At this time, all participants are on9listening mode. During our Q&A session, you may press10*1 on your touch tone phone if you would like to ask11a question. Today's conference is being recorded. If12you have any objections, you may disconnect at this13time. Now I'd like to turn the meeting over to Mr.14David Drucker, so you may begin.1516 17 18 19 20MR. DRUCKER: Thank you, India. This isDavid Drucker. I'm Nuclear RegulatoryCommission. I'm project manager for theenvironmental review of the LaSalle County Stationlicense renewal application. Hereafter, I will referto the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the NRC. 21There are two primary purposes for this22meeting. The first purpose is to discuss the contents23of this document that I'm holding up, the draft24supplemental environmental impact statement for25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 3license renewal of LaSalle County Station. Hereafter,1I will refer to this document as the draft SEIS. SEIS2stands for Supplemental Environmental Impact3Statement.4The second purpose of this meeting is to5obtain comments on the draft SEIS. This meeting is6available by teleconference and, India, I just want to7make sure. Can you ask the folks on the line, or8actually, folks on the line, can you hear me? Because9I'm speaking at a distance from the speakerphone. 10THE OPERATOR: Everyone, your lines are11now open, and you can respond.1213MR. MAHRS: David, this is SteveMahrs, and I can hear you just fine.14 15 16 17 18 19MR. DRUCKER: Okay. Good, if one personcan hear me, the rest of you all can hear me. Before going further, I want to introduce NRC staffhere tonight. Stu Sheldon is an NRC Region IIIlicense renewal inspector, and Robert Ruiz is thesenior resident at the plant. 2021 22 23 24I'd also like to point out that on thephone we have or will have a few NRC staff folks. Mysupervisor, Jim Danna is the chief of theenvironmental review and project management branch.

Michele Moser is the technical reviewer for aquatic25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 4resources. 12 3

4 5Kevin is the technical reviewer forservice water resources. Bill Ford is the technicalreviewer for ground water. And you hear earlier SteveMaharris is the consultant from Pacific NorthwestLaboratories for the high burn-up fuel section. 6Next, I'd like to cover a few details7about this meeting. Exelon applied to the NRC to8renew the operating licenses for LaSalle County9Station units one and two for an additional 20 years. 10The NRC is reviewing that application, and will use11the results of that review to decide whether to renew12the licenses.13Tonight I will tell you the preliminary14results of the environmental review. These results15are documented in the draft SEIS. And I will also ask16for your comments on the draft SEIS. The meeting17tonight will, essentially, have four parts. The18introduction is the part that we're doing now. 1920 21 22 23he second part I will discuss the reviewprocess and the preliminary findings of the review. Copies of this presentation are on the table by thedoor and Stu Sheldon, it looks like he handed outcopies to everyone here. 24The next portion will be an opportunity to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 5ask questions about the material presented, and I will1answer those questions. And finally, the NRC staff2will listen to your comments about the draft SEIS. 3Note that the NRC will listen during this time. We4generally won't respond to what you're saying here in5the meeting. Instead, we will prepare written6responses to your comments that will be published as7a part of the final SEIS. 8Please note that this meeting is being9recorded,; a transcriber's sitting right up here in10front. And he's doing that to produce a written11record of what's said at this meeting. In order for12the transcript to be accurate, please comply with the13following. 14First, please silence your phones and any15other personal electronics you have with you. If you16must accept a call during this meeting, please step17outside into the lobby so the other meeting18participants can hear the proceedings and so your19phone ringing, nor your conversation is recorded.20When you speak, please use a microphone. 21And I'll bring it around for the question and answer22period to you guys. That's how we will ensure that23what you say is recorded. When you speak, identify24who you are and, if you represent a group, what group25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 6you represent. Also, if you have an uncommon name or1if your name has an unusual spelling, please spell2your name. And to ensure the recording is clear,3please don't hold side conversations, and do not4interrupt the speaker. Thank you. 56 7

8 910When you signed in tonight, you may havenoted yellow cards, like the one I'm holding up, onthe table. Several of you have alreadyfilled them out, and that's a speaker. So if youwant to speak, let me know. I'll bring a cardaround to you, and you can fill that out now.11When we get to the public comment portion12of this evening, I will give each public commenter13three minutes to speak. And then, after everyone's14had a chance to speak, we can, if you haven't finished15your comments, you can certainly have more time. So16far I only have four folks who are signed up to speak. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23Also on the table outside is a stack ofpublic meeting feedback forms. Please fill one outand provide it to me or leave it on the table, or youcan drop it in the mail; it's postage free. our assessment of this meeting tonight will helpimprove future meetings.24And finally, for those who don't know, the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 7restrooms are out the hallway to the left. Emergency1exit is out the hallway to the right. And security is2located at the LaSalle County Sheriff's Office. It's3just across the parking lot, if we should need4security. 56 7

8Okay, do you have any questions on thisbrief introduction before I go any further, and startdiscussing the environmental review? . 91011 12 13 14 15 16 17I'm going to theenvironmental review and preliminary results from thedraft SEIS. First, I would like to emphasize that theenvironmental review is not yet complete. I hope theinformation provided in this presentation will helpyou understand what we've done so far, and the roleyou can play in helping to make sure that the finalenvironmental impact statement is accurate andcomplete.18I'd like to start off by briefly going19over the agenda for this portion of my speech. First20of all, I'll comment on the NRC's regulatory role,21then I'll provide the preliminary findings of our22environmental review, and then I will present the23current schedule for the remainder of the24environmental review, and tell you how you can submit25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 8comments outside of this meeting.1At the end of the presentation, there will2be time for questions and answers on the comments of3my briefing and, most importantly, time for you to4present your comments on the draft SEIS. 5The NRC was established to regulate6civilian use of nuclear materials, including7facilities producing electric power. The NRC conducts8license renewal reviews for plants whose owners wish9to operate them beyond their initial license period. 1011NRC license renewal reviews address safety12issues related to managing the affects of aging and13environmental issues related to an additional 20 years14of operation. In all aspects of the NRC regulation,15our mission is three-fold. To ensure adequate16protection of the public health and safety, to promote17common defense and security, and to protect the18environment. 19 20 21 22 23 24 environmental review potential site-specific impacts of license renewal ofthe LaSalle County Stations nits and . Ageneric environmental impact statement, or GEIS,examines the possible environmental impacts that couldoccur as a result of renewing licenses of individual25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 9nuclear power plants.12 3

4 5

6The GEIS es thesignificance of these potential impacts. The analysisin the GEIS pertains to operating power reactors. Foreach type or environmental impact, the GEISestablishes generic findings, covering as many plantsas possible. 78 910 11 12 13For some environmental issues, the GEISfound that a generic evaluation was not sufficient,and that a plant-specific analysis was required. he 2013 revision to the GEIS issitting here on the table; these three volumes. TheGEIS was originally done in 1996. Its r thanthese three volumes, and there was an addendum in141999.15 16 17 18 19 gives you an idea of the effortthat went in to looking nuclear power plants acrossthe country, and determining which impacts,environmental impacts were generic, and which requiresite-specific analysis. 20The site-specific findings for the LaSalle21County Station are contained in the draft SEIS22published in February, 2016. This document contains23analyses of all possible site-specific issues, as well24as a review of issues covered by the GEIS, to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 110determine whether the conclusion in the GEIS are validfor LaSalle County Station. 23 4

5 6

7In this process, the NRC staff alsoreviews environmental impacts of potential powergeneration alternatives to license renewal. Finally,I want to mention that on March 10th of last year,March 10th of last year, I was here conducting theenvironmental scoping meetings. 8910 11 12During those meetings and the scopingperiod, the NRC collected comments formed thescope of the environmental review. Those comments,and the NRC responses to those comments, are found inthe scoping summary report. 13 14 15 16 17Hard copies and CDs of the scoping summaryreport are available on the table by the door. Andalso, that same CD that has the scoping summary reportcontains a copy of the draft SEIS.1819 20 21 22 23 24For each environmental issue identified animpact level is assigned. The NRC's standard significance for impacts was established using theWhite House counsel on environmental qualityterminology for significant. The NRC establishedthree levels of significance for potential impacts,small, moderate and large, as defined on the slide.25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 11For a small impact, the effects are not1detectible or are so minor that they will neither2destabilize nor noticeable alter any important3attribute of the resource. For a moderate impact, the4effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not5destabilize important attributes of the resource. And6for a large impact, the effects are clearly noticeable7and are sufficient to destabilize important8attributes of the resource. 9While these impact level designations are10used for most of the resource areas that we looked at11in the draft SEIS, there are three areas that have12their own impact level designations. And these are13discussed on the next slide. 14So for special status species, the impact15significance determination language comes from the16Endangered Species Act. And choices to describe the17impacts are no effect, may affect but not likely to18adversely affect, and may affect and is likely to19adversely affect. 20For cultural and historic resources, the21National Historic Preservation Act requires Federal22agencies to consider the effects of their undertakings23on historic properties. And for environmental24justice, under Executive Order 12898, Federal agencies25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 12are responsible for identifying and addressing1disproportionately high and adverse human health and2environmental impacts on minority and low-income3populations.4This slide lists the issues the NRC5reviewed for the continued operation of the LaSalle6County Station during the proposed license renewal7period. So in this one slide, this is basically a8very quick summary of what you would find in that9larger document, the draft SEIS. 10For all issues, except aquatic resources,11the impacts of license renewal were found to be small,12which means the effects are not detectible, or are so13minor that they will neither destabilize nor14noticeably alter any important attribute of the15resource.16Thermal impacts would be small for aquatic17resources in the Illinois River, and small for aquatic18resources in the cooling pond, except for gizzard and19threadfin shad. Gizzard and threadfin shad would20experience moderate thermal impacts in the cooling21pond. 22The NRC staff also considered cumulative23impacts. Cumulative impacts are the effects on the24environment from other past, present and reasonably25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 13foreseeable future human actions, other than LaSalle1County Station. The effects not only included2operation of LaSalle County Station, but also impacts3unrelated to LaSalle, such as future urbanization,4other energy producing facilities in the area and5climate change. 6The analysis considers potential impacts7through the end of the current license term, as well8as the 20-year license renewal term. The NRC staff9determined that most cumulative impacts would be10small, and the analysis is provided in section 4.16 of11the draft SEIS.12The National Environmental Policy Act13mandates that each environmental impact statement14consider alternatives to any proposed major Federal15action. A major step for determining whether license16renewal is reasonable or not is comparing the likely17impacts of continued operation of a nuclear plant with18the likely impacts of alternatives means of power19generation.20Alternatives must provide an option that21allows for power generation capability beyond the term22of the current nuclear power plant operating license23to meet future system generation needs. In the draft24SEIS, NRC staff initially considered 17 different25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 14alternatives, and then we narrowed those 17 down to1five, and looked at those five in detail.2Additionally, the NRC staff considered3what would happen if no action is taken and LaSalle4shuts down at the end of its current licenses without5a specific replacement alternative. This alternative6would not provide power generation capacity nor would7it meet the needs currently met by LaSalle.8The NRC's preliminary conclusion is that9the environmental impacts of renewal of the operating10licenses for LaSalle would be smaller than those11feasible and commercially viable alternatives. 12Continued operation would have smaller environmental13impacts in almost all areas. The staff concluded that14continued operation of the existing LaSalle County15Station is the environmentally preferred alternative. 1617Based on review of likely environmental18impacts from license renewal, as well as potential19environmental impacts of alternatives to license20renewal, the NRC staff's preliminary recommendation in21the draft SEIS is that the adverse environmental22impacts of license renewal for LaSalle County Station23are not great enough to deny the option of license24renewal for energy planning decision makers. And that25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 15preliminary conclusion shows up several places in the1draft SEIS, but chapter five is the conclusion2chapter. 3I would like to re-emphasize that the4environmental review is not yet complete. Your5comments tonight, and all written comments received by6the end of the comment period on April 4th, will be7considered by the NRC staff as we develop the final8SEIS, which we currently plan to issue in August of92016.10Those comments that are within the scope11of the environmental review and provide new and12significant information can help change the staff's13findings. The final SEIS will contain the staff's14final recommendation on the acceptability of license15renewal based on the work we've already performed and16any new and significant information we receive in the17form of comments during the comment period. I just18want to emphasize that the comment period closes on19April 4th, the second to the last line here on this20slide. 2122 23 24As many of you know, I am primarycontact for the environmental review, and JeffMitchell is the primary contact for the safety review,and our information is on the handouts that I provided25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 16you tonight, our contact information. Copies of the1draft SEIS are available on CD on the table near the2door. In addition, the library shown on this slide3has a copy available, current copy available for4review.5You can also find electronic copies of the6draft SEIS, along with other information about the7LaSalle County Station license renewal review online8at the website shown. And finally, additional9information can also be obtained by contacting the10representatives of NRC's Region III office of public11affairs, as shown on the slide.12NRC staff will address written comments in13the same way we address spoken comments received14today. You can submit written comments either online15or via conventional manner. To submit written16comments online, visit the website regulations.gov and17search for docket ID NRC-2014-0268. If you have18written comments today, you may give them to me or any19other member of the NRC staff.20Please note that if you provide verbal21comments tonight, you don't need to submit them in22writing since your verbal comments are part of the23transcribed record, and they will be responded to. So24this concludes my formal presentation. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 1712 3

4 5So now we enter the question and answerportion. his is distinct from the comment portion. questions specific to the material that Ipresented here tonight. perator?6THE OPERATOR: Yes.7MR. DRUCKER: If there's anyone on the8phone that has questions about the material I9presented, can you please go ahead and let them ask10their questions one at a time, and I'll do my best to11answer them.12THE OPERATOR: Certainly. If you would13like to as a question on the phone line, please press14*1 and record your name when prompted. Please make15sure your phone is not muted when you record your16name. Once again, that's *1 and record your name. 17One moment for our first question. And no questions18have come in.19 20 21 22 23 24MR. DRUCKER: Okay , thank you. Most of the folks here in the room have been apart of the license renewal process. They're familiarwith the scoping process we did last year. But I justwant to emphasize, for anyone who's listening, thatyou know, this is not a hearing. This is a public25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 18meeting. 12 3

4 5

6And the goal of this meeting is two-waycommunication; for me to provide information about theenvironmental impact statement that we've been workingon and have developed, and then to receive comment onthat document. So . 7With that, I'm going to go to questions. 8Does anyone have any questions about the material I9presented here in the room? If there are no10questions, I just want to --1112 13MS. SNYDER: I have a question.MR. DRUCKER: Gail, go ahead.

MS. SNYDER: My first question is you said1415 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24this is a public meeting. There's not really manymembers of the public here, so I'm just wondering whatdoes the NRC do to promote this? I find it hard tobelieve in an area where there's thousands of peoplewho could be impacted by this decision that nobody'sshown up, no elected officials, unless there'ssomething here I don't know about. I'm justwondering, you know, why there's such a poor turnout.MR. DRUCKER: G question. Certainly,certainly, let me answer that first; your first partof the question was how do we advertise, basically,25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 12 319this public. This meeting is advertised through manymeans. he first place that it's advertised is we putout a Federal Register notice, NRC does, announcingthe meeting.45 6

7 8

9And then the Environmental ProtectionAgency, it a Federal Register notice thatannounces the release of the draft SEIS, and then howto contact me if you're interested in learning moreabout that. So there's two Federal Register noticesthat go out.10The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's11website also has actually several places where we talk12about the meeting. We have a public meeting web page13that speaks to all the meetings that we have. We have14a license renewal web page that talks about this15meeting. There's also the regular LaSalle operating16license web page, which also points to my license17renewal web page. So there's those web pages.18 19 20 21 22 23We also have advertisements in localnewspapers. I can get those for you if you'reinterested. But we did advertise in the localnewspapers, announcing this meeting. I also reachedout to everyone who attended the scoping meetings lastyear through e-mail. 24I either sent them a hard copy of the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 20draft SEIS, along with a copy of the Federal Register1notice, which provided the information on when and2where this meeting would be held. Either hard copy,3or I provided them a CD of the draft SEIS. 4Off the top of my head, I actually used to5carry a list of all different ways that we advertised6the meetings; off the top of my head, that's how we do7it. There were e-mails, too. For example, e-mail8reminders I sent out to the EPA via Region V folks so9they may be on the phone tonight.1011 12 13 14 15So those are the basic ways. If I missedanything, and my boss is listening feel free to chimein, Jim, and let me know what I missed. But those arethe major ways. Oh, a; the fliers. Iasked the resident inspector to post fliers locallyaround. 16Good question and, yeah, sometimes we get17a big turnout at these meetings, and sometimes we18don't. Personally, I was at one down in Mississippi,19Grand Gulf. There were a few flakes of snow, and the20Governor basically told everyone to stay in. And I21flew own with my boss at the time, and we had no22trouble. There was no snow on the roads; didn't23understand what the problem was. But it was a local24thing. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 21I was paying attention to the news this1morning, and I heard the terrible, terrible news of2what was going on in Belgium, but I doubt that that3somehow would impact people showing up here. I did4read the local paper to see there were a couple other5meetings. 67 8

910 11 12There was a board of education meeting inone of the schools, but I didn't think it would impactattendance at this meeting. And I did work with thefolks at the plant, and I worked with our residentinspector trying to pick a night that wasn't busy withother activities. elected official 13 14: Yes, I'm a member of theLaSalle County board. 15 16MR. DRUCKER: : Chair of legislative17rules. 1819 20MR. DRUCKER: Great.: County board member.MR. DRUCKER: Good question. Any other21questions from folks in the room? 22MS. SNYDER: I have more questions. 23MR. DRUCKER: Please.24MS. SNYDER: Slide number 10, which is25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 22titled environmental review of LaSalle County Station1has the resources areas and the impacts listed. On2the bottom it says waste management, and the impact is3small. And I'm just wondering can you define what4waste management is in this?56 7

8 910 11MR. DRUCKER: Yes, that's a greatquestion. And there's a section on wastemanagement. . ear with me just for a moment, and I will flip toit. It's section 4. -- 12MS. SNYDER: Does it refer to nuclear13waste, or is it waste from the plant, other than?14 15 16 17 18 19 20MR. DRUCKER: the spent fuel. low level waste storage and disposal,. So this is the section that doescover the spent nuclear fuel. 21 22 23 24So there's five s thatare looked at. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 23talked about.1MS. SNYDER: And when you say the impact2is small, do you mean that it's small in comparison to3what's already there, or that 20 years of additional4waste will have a small impact?5MR. DRUCKER: Yeah, this is, this section6is talking to 20 years of additional operation. 7MS. SNYDER: The small impact.8MR. DRUCKER: Yes. 9MS. SNYDER: I have another question.10MR. DRUCKER: Please.11MS. SNYDER: I don't want to hog the12questions. Slide number 12, alternatives; and you're13talking about citing alternatives and the criteria14required to replace the energy. If you nuclear plant15had shut down, you said something about what would16happen if the nuclear plant shut down, and you found17that there wouldn't be an alternative power source18that would replace that power.19And I was just wondering if you had, or20the committee had, whoever drafted this, whatever21group drafted it had looked at the report from the22State of Illinois? There were a number of agencies;23there was a bill, HR, a resolution, HR1146, which was24looking at nuclear power in the state. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 24And state agencies drafted a report, and1they came out with the opposite finding of what you're2saying. So maybe we will e-mail that report to you. 3I think that would be informative to what their4position is, is not the same as your conclusion.5MR. DRUCKER: .6MS. SNYDER: And that's a state study by7state agencies.8MR. DRUCKER: All right. I appreciate9that very much. Thanks, Gail. Okay, if there are no10other questions, then we're going to move right along11to the comment portion of tonight's meeting. And as12I stated at the beginning, primarily the NRC staff13will be listening, and we will respond to any comments14in written form in the final SEIS. 15So let me go to the operator. India, is16there anyone on the phone that wants to provide a17comment?18THE OPERATOR: If you do have comments,19please press *1 and record your name when prompted. 20Once again, that's *1 -- and no comments have come in21over the phone.22MR. DRUCKER: Thank you. Thank you, very23much.24THE OPERATOR: You're welcome.25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 2512 3

4 5MR. DRUCKER: Okay, I have yellow cardsfrom three, from four folks. I'll shuffle them andpull them out randomly. I matter. I would appreciate, would the speakers comeup to the front here, and you can use this microphone. Gail, are you available first?6MS. SNYDER: Sure. 7MR. DRUCKER: And the next speaker will be8Doug O'Brien, so Doug if you want to prepare yourself9and move up to the front to save some time. In fact,10there's only four of you. It'll be Gail, Doug, Steve11and Tom.12MS. SNYDER: I don't know if this makes13your life easier. 14AUDIENCE MEMBER: Oh great, thank you.15MS. SNYDER: Good evening. My name is16Gail Snyder, and I'm here representing Nuclear Energy17Information Service. I serve as the president of the18board. Our comments tonight are really directed,19maybe, not specifically at environmental issues, but20the licensing renewal. 21And one of our first comments is that the22analysis of socioeconomic impacts are incomplete. No23analysis of impacts for early or unexpected closures24were considered or provided. The Exelon safety25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 26evaluation report documents a significant tax impact1for the presence of the LaSalle County Station, yet2only addresses the positive impacts. 3No mention or analysis of negative impacts4resulting from a abrupt planned or unexpected early5closure of LaSalle is presented. This is a6significant omission, particularly in light of Exelon7Corporation's threat of two years ago to close8reactors in Illinois on economic grounds. 9According to the Exelon SER, LaSalle10represents a sizeable portion of the county total tax11base. It also accounts for large portions of the12school district's adjusted property tax levy. These13are not insignificant amounts. Their abrupt14disappearance would wreak economic havoc on the15affected governmental and essential service entities'16ability to operate, just as Exelon's predecessor,17ComEd, did to the community of Zion in 1997, when they18unilaterally closed the Zion reactors.19The SER either fails to recognize or20mention at all some of the possible events that could21result in such a closure situation, such as an22unexpected major accident resulting in immediate and,23presumably, premature closing, NRC-ordered shutdown,24Exelon unilateral decision to close the plant on25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 27economic or other grounds, as it did in Zion,1resulting in an immediate loss of about 55 percent of2Zion's tax base.3Devaluation through sale has occurred at4the Clinton Station, resulting in enormous loss of the5tax base, eventual old age, license expiration6closure, which is the outcome of -- and I would add,7in light of what's happening in Brussels today, and8the fact that they've shut down their nuclear reactors9and can't provide security, terrorism is also a10possible way that a nuclear reactor could shut down11unexpectedly.12Exelon's being a business will certainly13make the calculations it made when it closed Zion and14decided that LaSalle should continue to operate. In15this omission, the SER makes the same mistake the U.S.16Government made when it invaded Iraq. No exit17strategy. To simply assume that the only18socioeconomic effects of LaSalle's presence will be19positive ones is simply irrational. 20Our recommendation: Planning for some21kind of eventual closure must be made long before it22happens to minimize economic and service disruptions23to the entities whose tax bases will be affected. 24Debate about the license extension serves as a good25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 28reminder of this fact, and an opportunity to take1action. 2We recommend that dependent government and3tax entities begin formal negotiations with Exelon to4establish an escrow of mitigation funds based on some5mutually agreeable assessment and payment structure so6that dependent entities will have some kind of7temporary funds available to soften the economic blow8or closure and not radically disrupt essential9services.10Our second comment, which is shorter, is11the inadequate attention paid to water availability at12the LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant under potential future13climate disruption conditions. Historically, LaSalle14Nuclear Power Plant has been one of the Illinois15reactor sites most sensitive to water availability16under severe drought conditions; for example, 1998,172005, 2006. 18It's siting on a portion of the Illinois19River network that is shallower than other parts has20brought the reactors close to mandatory shutdowns to21stay within EPA regulatory limits for thermal22pollution during extreme droughts on more than one23occasion over the past two decades.24Forecast for the future of Illinois's25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 29climate over the next few decades indicate it1approaching that of current day west Texas. This will2have severe impacts on the aquatic system in the area,3and on the availability of water for intake and4discharge at LaSalle.5A more thorough re-examination of6LaSalle's ability to safely operate, obtain sufficient7cooling water, and not thermally and radiologically8damage the local aquatic ecosystem is in order in this9re-licensing proceeding. Thank you.10MR. DRUCKER: The next speaker is Doug11O'Brien from the Illinois Clean Energy Coalition.12MR. O'BRIEN: Thank you. My name is Doug13O'Brien. I'm with the Illinois Clean Energy14Coalition, and this is another one in a long number of15these hearings or events that I've been to, talking16about a lot of the positive impacts that Illinois's17nuclear generating stations have had on the economy. 1819It's ironic that I'm following somebody20who came up and posited these impacts, these21beneficial impacts and somehow turned them into a22negative. And I think that it's also a little bit23insulting to the intelligence of local officials here24and around Illinois to assume that they don't have the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 30sense to plan for the future. And I know that many1local governments do just that. They do it2vigilantly, and they do it effectively. 3But I wanted to talk a little bit about4the environmental impacts, the positive environmental5impacts of the plant. As the initial NRC reports6shows, the overall impacts when it comes to energy7generation are positive. That the alternative sources8for energy generation in Illinois would create more9negative impacts environmentally, particularly in the10area of CO2 emissions, as it's critically important11that we always consider the beneficial impact of12Illinois's nuclear fleet on CO2 emissions here in13Illinois. 14The Illinois Clean Energy Coalition's15study in 2014 showed that Illinois's nuclear fleet16prevents the emission of over 92 million tons of CO217annually. Now this is a significant contributor to18global climate change, and something that we can do in19preserving and protecting our nuclear fleet that will20have a real, immediate, ongoing positive impact on our21environment.22Now, other sources of clean energy are23vital to our future, as well. But the simple truth is24we cannot quickly or easily replace nuclear generation25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 31with other clean sources. And a nuclear plant like1LaSalle would require, for example, thousands of new2wind turbines to replace its electricity generation. 34And we still can't rely on wind 24/7, nor5on solar 24/7. And the process of siting these wind6farms, the capital and the permitting that is needed7to begin operating them is daunting. So losing any of8Illinois's nuclear plants would leave us with no9short-term alternative but to increase our use of10fossil fuels and move us in the wrong direction.11Additionally, I think it's important to12note that it's vital for the NRC and our national13government to continue to push forward with practical14waste storage solutions that will allow for the15continued safe and secure storage of spent fuel, while16we wait for the Federal government to put aside17politics and live up to the commitment it made years18ago to establish a nationwide solution for spent fuel19storage.20In the meantime, plants like LaSalle's21spent fuel is expertly handled, never having produced22any impact to the surrounding ecosystem. And while23the plants and the NRC have managed a laudable short-24term solution, we have to continue to push for the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 32permanent solution promised by our government. 1So I think, in conclusion, the Illinois2Clean Energy Coalition applauds the NRC and its3findings. We believe that it's accurate in showing4the LaSalle Station, like other stations across the5state, has a positive impact on the environment moving6forward here in Illinois. Thank you.7MR. DRUCKER: Steve Buck is next.8MR. BUCK: Good evening. I'm Steve Buck. 9I'm an engineer at LaSalle Station. I just recently10started back in August. I am a resident of Ottawa,11Illinois, and I'm a former Eagle Scout, originally12from Crystal Lake, Illinois. So environmental13stewardship is something that is very much a part of14my character. It's something that I developed early15on in my youth, and I still continue it to this day as16an adult.17I'd like to share a couple key points of18how LaSalle Station is trying to be an environmental19steward itself through our activities to help conserve20the environment and leave the environment at least in21the best, the same condition, if not better condition22than we came in.23We had recently installed, last year, a24couple of charging stations for electrical vehicles. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 33So there's four charging ports available, which saved1about 1,300 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions for any2of our workers who chose to use their electric3vehicles instead of a carbon-producing combustion4engine vehicle.5We have an annual station earth day6activity every year. Some of those include electronic7waste recycling programs where we collect electronic8waste. And we typically give out green gifts to those9who participate to bring in their electronics for10recycling as a thank you for looking out for that so11that we don't throw electronics just simply into12landfills.13There's been a big push for LED lighting14upgrades, both inside the plant and outside, most15noticeably in the parking lot. The LED lights were16replaced. They should last about seven to 10 years17out in the conditions outside in the parking lot. 18And we're noticing that there's reduced electricity19usage for those, longer life span, and we've been20doing studies at other places inside the plant where21we can utilize LED lighting.22We are members of the Wildlife Habitat23Council certification. We have achieved24re-certification last year for our efforts. We have25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 34many projects around the site, such as bat boxes, Uber1boxes, and activities with the fish hatchery in the2lake. 3Our North American Young Generation4Nuclear, it's a youth group primarily of those who are5new to the nuclear industry, which I am a site6director at LaSalle Station; we have an7adopt-a-highway program for about a two-mile stretch8near the facility. And during the summer months, the9warmer months, we do a highway clean-up where we go10both sides of the highway, and just pick up any trash,11litter that might be on the side of the road.12We have a Gabby Green educational program13that goes out to our elementary schools. We discuss14energy conservation, resource conservation. We talk15about limited use of our water in certain situations,16turning the lights off when we go to the rooms. Some17very simple concepts for young children to understand18so that they can be environmental conscious starting19at a young age.20We are starting to develop a program with21Boy Scouts of America. As I said, I'm a Boy Scout,22and this is something that's just starting to develop23in the last month. Developing programs with the Boy24Scouts to help encourage them with their environmental25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 35practices, some of their merit badges and their rank1advancements and helping them live up to that2environmental stewardship themselves.3We also are firm supporters of the Who4Haven, which is wildlife rehabilitation center,5primarily for birds of prey, where we collect food for6those animals and also participate in bird releases,7releasing them back into the environment. 8MR. DRUCKER: Thanks. The final speaker9from the cards, where's Tom, Tom Jackson?10MR. JACKSON: Good evening. My name's Tom11Jackson. I'm site superintendent at Illini State12Park, Marseilles fish and wildlife area in LaSalle. 13I work for the Department of Natural Resources, and14the IDNR currently has a lease through 2025 with15Exelon to manage the wildlife area and the fishing16opportunities.17LaSalle Lake is a fish and wildlife area,18along with a public fishing area. We're open to the19public from March 15th to October 15th every year for20fishing, providing many varieties of fish species,21including hybrid striped bass, large and small mouth22bass, crappie, blue gill and catfish. 23In the months from October 15th through24March 15th of every year, the site is closed to the25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 36public, and provides a wildlife area for waterfowl1migrating through the area. IDNR works closely with2Exelon to provide a great recreational opportunity to3local resident and visitors from throughout the state4and even surrounding states.5LaSalle Lake provides good wildlife6habitat for the waterfowl, as mentioned before, and7provides good fishing and outdoor recreation for the8community. It also provides good economic benefits,9visitors to the area. 10In my time as site superintendent, Exelon11management has made themselves available and12supportive in our efforts to provide site visitors13with access to the lake, and a rewarding experience14while visiting the site. I thank you for the15opportunity to speak on behalf of LaSalle Lake fish16and wildlife area and the Department of Nature17Resources.18MR. DRUCKER: Okay, if there's no one else19here or on the phone who has comments, and there20doesn't appear to be, I want to thank everyone who21provided --22MS. BOUDART: I have a comment.23MR. DRUCKER: Oh.24MS. BOUDART: May I make a comment?25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 37MR. DRUCKER: Absolutely. 1MS. BOUDART: Okay.2MR. DRUCKER: Is it easier for me to bring3you the microphone there?4MS. BOUDART: Well, if you can so I think5I can speak loud enough. The person who spoke first,6who are you? Either the purple shirt or the white7striped shirt. Anyway, let me see --8MR. DRUCKER: Can you tell us your name.9MS. BOUDART: Oh yeah, my name is Jan10Boudart, and I'm with the Nuclear Energy Information11Service, and somebody, I guess I didn't get, yeah, I12asked, Doug O'Brien, the Clean Energy Coalition. Is13that you? 14Well, I was very interested in the fact15that you said that until our government keeps its16promise to take care of the high level nuclear waste,17it's being handled very efficiently and not being18allowed to harm anyone. And, in fact, your statement19was never having produced any impact from the high20level nuclear waste.21And I think this is something that, rather22than say that I, well, I personally don't believe23that, but I can't prove that it's wrong. Also, you24can't prove that it's right. 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 38Recently, the Nuclear Regulatory1Commission decided not to conduct health studies of2the impacts of the power plants around the United3States. And without those studies, you can't say that4there is no impact, and you cannot say that there is5an impact because there is no study.6So to come up with the statement that this7activity of taking care of the high level nuclear8waste never produced any impact is a statement that is9not supported. If I were to say well, I know it has10produced an impact, that would also be an unsupported11statement. There has been no study to find out12whether or not there is an impact. And I think that13kind of a positive statement really exposes the feet14of clay. 15MR. DRUCKER: Thank you, and I'm going to16ask you could just fill out a card for me, just with17your name and e-mail address. All right, thank you18all. Do we have any other comments from anyone on the19phone?20THE OPERATOR: If you would like to have21a comment or question, please press *1 an record your22name when prompted. Thank you. No questions or23comments have come in.24MR. DRUCKER: Okay, thank you. Thanks to25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433 39everyone who provided comments during this meeting,1because that information exchange is what this2meeting's all about. Also, thanks to all of you for3giving the speakers your time and attention.4And I want to thank Connie Brooks who's5actually across the hallway there and Fred Moore who6work here for the use of LaSalle County emergency7operations center. And finally on the table, if you8want to, please pick up a meeting feedback form if you9haven't already, and either return it to me or any10other staff member. Feel free to mail it in. And11with that, this meeting is concluded. 12I'm going to stick around. If anyone had13any questions and wants to talk to me one-on-one, I'm14happy to stick around and do that. So thank you all,15again, for coming out tonight. 16THE OPERATOR: This concludes your17conference, and you may disconnect. Once again, your18conference has ended, and you may disconnect.19(Whereupon, at 8:00 p.m., the above-20mentioned public hearing was concluded.)2122 23 24 25NEAL R. GROSSCOURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.(202) 234-4433WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701(202) 234-4433

ML16091A441: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:23, 28 May 2018

Text

Navigation menu

ML16091A441: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:23, 28 May 2018

Text

Navigation menu

Search