ML060340238

G20060064/LTR-06-0041 - Rep. V. Demacedo and Rep. T. O'Brien Ltr. Re. Concerns Relicensing of Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee

ML060340238
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	02/27/2006
From:	Dyer J E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	deMacedo V, O'Brien T State of MA, House of Representatives
Weaver, K, NRR/DLR/RLRA, 415-3407
Shared Package
ML060240300	List: ML060240309 ML060340238
References
CORR-06-0019, G20060064, LTR-06-0041, TAC MC9599, TAC MC9600
Download: ML060340238 (4)

Text

February 27, 2006The Honorable Thomas O'BrienMassachusetts House of Representatives Boston, Massachusetts 02133

Dear Mr. O'Brien:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter ofJanuary 12, 2006, concerning NRC's review of the license renewal applications for the PilgrimNuclear Power Station (NPS) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) of Vernon, Vermont. In your letter, you requested that the NRC denyEntergy Corporation's request to merge the proceedings into one review process, so that the NRC staff could fully assess the specific characteristics of each plant individually.There appears to be some mis-communication about Entergy submitting a joint application forlicense renewal for the two plants. In fact, separate license renewal applications were submitted by letters dated January 25, 2006. The applications will be reviewed based on thecontent of the separate submittals and separate evaluations will be issued by the NRC. TheNRC will fully assess the specific characteristics of each plant on an individual basis todetermine if the plant can safely operate for an additional twenty years past its current license expiration date. The reviews conducted by the NRC may involve some of the same subjectmatter experts to ensure that the NRC actions are effective, efficient, realistic, and timely. Thereview process will include separate notices of the opportunity for a hearing on eachapplication.The NRC has established clear requirements, codified in Title 10 of the Code of FederalRegulations Parts 51 and 54, to assure safe plant operation for extended plant life. The NRCalso follows an established license renewal application review process to guide the staff's evaluation of an applicant's compliance with license renewal requirements. This process includes opportunities for public involvement. The NRC staff conducts a thorough review ofeach license renewal application and prepares a safety evaluation report and environmental impact statement to document the results of each review. During these reviews, the NRC implements a license renewal inspection program to verify that applicants meet these regulations and have implemented license renewal programs and activities consistent with their applications for license renewal. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) conducts an independent review of each safety evaluation report before making a recommendation to the Commission. Established by Congress in 1957, the ACRS is a body ofexperts representing diverse technical perspectives that is independent of the staff and reports directly to the Commission. The ACRS reviews are conducted in public meetings. I hope this information addresses your concern. If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. Frank Gillespie, Director, Division of License Renewal at 301-415-1183. Sincerely,/RA/ J. E. Dyer, DirectorOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation February 27, 2006The Honorable Vinny deMacedoMassachusetts House of Representatives Boston, Massachusetts 02133

Dear Mr. deMacedo:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter ofJanuary 12, 2006, concerning NRC's review of the license renewal applications for the PilgrimNuclear Power Station (NPS) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) of Vernon, Vermont. In your letter, you requested that the NRC denyEntergy Corporation's request to merge the proceedings into one review process, so that the NRC staff could fully assess the specific characteristics of each plant individually.There appears to be some mis-communication about Entergy submitting a joint application forlicense renewal for the two plants. In fact, separate license renewal applications were submitted by letters dated January 25, 2006. The applications will be reviewed based on thecontent of the separate submittals and separate evaluations will be issued by the NRC. TheNRC will fully assess the specific characteristics of each plant on an individual basis todetermine if the plant can safely operate for an additional twenty years past its current license expiration date. The reviews conducted by the NRC may involve some of the same subjectmatter experts to ensure that the NRC actions are effective, efficient, realistic, and timely. Thereview process will include separate notices of the opportunity for a hearing on eachapplication.The NRC has established clear requirements, codified in Title 10 of the Code of FederalRegulations Parts 51 and 54, to assure safe plant operation for extended plant life. The NRCalso follows an established license renewal application review process to guide the staff's evaluation of an applicant's compliance with license renewal requirements. This process includes opportunities for public involvement. The NRC staff conducts a thorough review ofeach license renewal application and prepares a safety evaluation report and environmental impact statement to document the results of each review. During these reviews, the NRC implements a license renewal inspection program to verify that applicants meet these regulations and have implemented license renewal programs and activities consistent with their applications for license renewal. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) conducts an independent review of each safety evaluation report before making a recommendation to the Commission. Established by Congress in 1957, the ACRS is a body ofexperts representing diverse technical perspectives that is independent of the staff and reports directly to the Commission. The ACRS reviews are conducted in public meetings. I hope this information addresses your concern. If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. Frank Gillespie, Director, Division of License Renewal at 301-415-1183. Sincerely,/RA/ J. E. Dyer, DirectorOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation