ML062650221

2006/08/30-Comment from David R. Lewis of Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw and Pittman on Massachusetts Attorney General'S Petition for Rulemaking PRM-51-10 to Amend 10 CFR Part 51 (August 25, 2006)

ML062650221
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee  File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	08/30/2006
From:	Lewis D R Entergy Nuclear Generation Co, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP
To:	Jaczko G B, Klein D E, Lyons P B, McGaffigan E, Merrifield J S NRC/Chairman, NRC/OCM
Ngbea E S
References
71FR64169, PRM-51-10
Download: ML062650221 (5)

Text

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.2300 N Street NW Washington, DC 20037-1122 Tel 202.663.8000 Fax 202.663.8007 www.plflsburyaw.com DOCKETED USNRC August 30, 2006 September 20, 2006 (3:45pm) OFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF David R. Lewis Phone: 202.663.8474 david.lewis@pillsburylaw.com PRM-51-10 Hon. Dale E. Klein, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 ,don. Jeffrey S. Merrifield, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Hon. Edward McGaffigan, Jr., U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Hon. Gregory B. Jaczko, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Hon. Peter B. Lyons U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20005 Re: Massachusetts Attorney General's Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 C.F.R. Part 51 (Aug. 25, 2006) Dear Chairman Klein and Commissioners McGaffigan, Merrifield, Jaczko, and Lyons: On August 25, 2006, the Massachusetts Attorney General filed a Petition for Rulemaking to amend 10 C.F.R. Part 51 because of information asserted to be new and significant and alleged to show that the determination made in the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Licenses -that "the likelihood of a fuel cladding fire is highly remote"- is incorrect.

The Petition's claims of new and significant information parallel those made by the Massachusetts Attorney General in the license renewal proceedings for the Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim Nuclear Power Stations (Docket Nos. 50-271-LR and 50-293-LR) and the Petition relies on and incorporates the contention and the supporting materials filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General in those proceedings.

For completeness, Entergy wishes to direct the Commission's attention to Entergy's answers and brief in those proceedings (to which the Massachusetts Attorney General has replied) which explain why the Massachusetts Attorney General's 400448933v1 1FemploJ-ee&zL,7r5 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission August 30, 2006 Page 2 information is neither new nor significant.

See Entergy's Answer to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Request for a Hearing, Petition for Leave to Intervene, and Petition for Backfit Order (June 22, 2006) (ML061790134 at 14-25, Pilgrim; ML 061780616 at 13-25 Vermont Yankee); "Entergy's Brief on New and Significant Information in Response to Licensing Board Order of July 14, 2006" (July 21, 2006) (ML062080589 at 11-24, Pilgrim).

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Rulemaking Petition requests (at 3) that the Commission "withhold any decision to renew the operating licenses for the Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee nuclear power plants until the requested rulemaking has been completed and until the NRC has completed" the related NEPA process that may be required by any amended rule. Entergy notes that the NRC Staff has tentatively scheduled issuance of the renewed licenses for both plants, if approved, by November 27, 2007 (if no hearing is granted) and by July 27, 2008 (if a hearing is granted).

See www.nrc. gov/reactors/operatine/icensing/renewal/applications/vermont-yankee.html; www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/Iicensing/renewal/applications/Silgrjm.html.

While disagreeing with the Attorney General's request to withhold license renewal pending the completion of any rulemaking, Entergy respectfully asks that the Commission act on and resolve the rulemaking petition by November 2007 in order to avoid any potential for delay in the renewal of the Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim licenses.

Entergy reserves the right to provide additional comments on whether new and significant information exists and whether issuance of the renewed licenses should be withheld pending completion of any rulemaking if and when the Commission publishes the Petition for public comment.

Sincerely, David R. Lewis Counsel for Entergy cc: Service Lists for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee License Renewal Proceedings Certificate of Service I certify that copies of the foregoing letter to Chairman Klein and Commissioners McGaffigan, Merrifield, Jaczko and Lyons from David R. Lewis dated August 30, 2006, were served on the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and the counsel and other representatives of the parties to the Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee licensing renewal proceedings listed below by deposit in the U.S. mail, first class, postage prepaid, this 30e day of August, 2006.Administrative Judge Alex S. Karlin, Esq., Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 ask2@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Dr. Thomas S. Elleman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 5207 Creedmoor Road, #101, Raleigh, NC 27612. tse@nrc.gov; elleman@eos.ncsu.edu Administrative Judge Dr. Richard F. Cole Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 rfcl@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Dr. Richard E. Wardwell Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 rew@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Ann Marshall Young, Esq., Chair Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 amy@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Paul B. Abramson Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 pba~nrc.gov 400448933v0 Secretary Att'n: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff Mail Stop 0-16 CI U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 secy@nrc.gov, hearingdocket(nrc.gov Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Mail Stop 0-16 Cl U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Mitzi A. Young, Esq. Steven C. Hamrick, Esq. Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop 0-15 D21 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 may@nrc.gov; schl@nrc.gov Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq. National Legal Scholars Law Firm 84 East Thetford Road Lyme, NH 03768 aroisman@nationallegalscholars.com Callie B. Newton, Chair Gail MacArthur Lucy Gratwick Town of Marlboro Selectboard P.O. Box 518 Marlboro, VT 05344 marcialynn@evl.net; cbnewton(asover.net Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Sarah Hofmann, Esq. Director of Public Advocacy Department of Public Service 112 State Street -Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Sarah.hofinann(state.vt.us Ronald A. Shems, Esq. Karen Tyler, Esq. Shems, Dunkiel, Kassel & Saunders, PLLC 9 College Street Burlington, VT 05401 rshems(sdkslaw.com ktyler@sdkslaw.com Diane Curran, Esq. Harmon, Curran, Spielberg

&Eisenberg, LLP 1726 M Street, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036 dcurran@harmoncurran.com Matthew Brock, Esq. Assistant Attorney General Environmental Protection Division Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Matthew.brock@ago.state.ma.us Mr. Dan MacArthur Director, Emergency Management P.O. Box 30 Marlboro, VY 50344 dmacarthur@igc.org Ms. Mary Lampert 148 Washington Street Duxbury, MA 02332 lampert@adelphia.net Mr. Mark D. Sylvia Town Manager Town of Plymouth I 1 Lincoln St. Plymouth MA, 02360 msylvia@townhall.plymouth.ma.us Susan L. Uttal, Esq. Marian L. Zobler, Esq. Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop 0-15 D21 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 slu@nrc.gov; hew@nrc.gov Molly H. Bartlett, Esq. 52 Crooked Lane Duxbury, MA 02332 mollyhbartlett@hotmail.com Sheila Slocum Hollis, Esq. Duane Morris LLP 1667 K Street, N.W. Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 sshollis@duanemorris.com David R. Lewis