ML19226A107
| ML19226A107 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 08/14/2019 |
| From: | Annette Vietti-Cook NRC/SECY |
| To: | |
| SECY RAS | |
| References | |
| 50-293-LT, 72-1044 LT, CLI-19-08, License Transfer, RAS 55166 | |
| Download: ML19226A107 (5) | |
Text
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS:
Kristine L. Svinicki, Chairman Jeff Baran Annie Caputo
David A. Wright In the Matter of ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., ENTERGY NUCLEAR GENERATION COMPANY, HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, AND
HOLTEC DECOMMISSIONING INTERNATIONAL, LLC Docket Nos. 50-293-LT 72-1044-LT (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station
) CLI-19-08 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER In this license transfer proceeding, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Pilgrim Watch have each separately petitioned to intervene.
1 The Commonwealth now requests that we stay "all activities" in this proceeding for 90 days to permit it to complete settlement negotiations with the license transfer applicants. Specifically, the Commonwealth requests that the Commission "take no action on any of the pending requests for 90 days, or until a settlement is reached and the Commonwealth withdraws its Petition or the parties notify the NRC that an agreement cannot be reached, whichever occurs sooner."
2 In support of its motion, the
1 Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Petition for Leave to Intervene and Hearing Request (Feb. 20, 2019); Pilgrim Watch Petition for Leave to Intervene and Hearing Request (Feb. 20, 2019). 2 See Motion of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Stay Proceeding to Complete Settlement Negotiations (Aug. 1, 2019), at 3. Commonwealth states that allowing the participants to reach an accord through a settlement agreement may resolve the Commonwealth's concerns in a timelier and more efficient fashion than a potential hearing , thereby avoiding the need to expend the NRC's or the participants' resources.
We deny the Commonwealth's motion to hold this adjudicatory proceeding in abeyance. While we encourage settlement negotiations and have held adjudicatory proceedings in abeyance at the request of participants in negotiations, 3 here only the Commonwealth requests that we hold this adjudication in abeyance pending negotiations. The applicants oppose the Commonwealth's motion on several grounds, despite the ongoing settlement negotiations
.4 And while petitioner Pilgrim Watch did not oppose the Commonwealth's motion, it has not requested that we also hold its intervention request in abeyance.
Further, the Commonwealth requests that we stay "all activities" connected with this proceeding. To the extent that the Commonwealth's motion requests that we
-as an exercise of our inherent supervisory authority over proceedings
-suspend the Staff's action on the license transfer application, we deny th e request. The Commonwealth's interest in potentially resolving its concerns more efficiently outside of the adjudicatory process do es not present a compelling basis for us to suspend the Staff's activities or its decision on the application
. 5 3 See, e.g., Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station), CLI 3, 87 NRC 87 (2018). 4 See Applicants' Answer Opposing the Motion of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Stay Proceedings to Complete Settlement Negotiations (Aug. 5, 2019), at 2-3, 5, 7. The applicants are Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Entergy Nuclear Generation Co., Holtec International, and Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC.
5 See, e.g., Union Electric Co. d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Callaway Plant, Unit 2), CLI 5, 74 NRC 141, 158 (2011) (suspension of licensing proceedings is a "drastic" action, generally unwarranted absent an immediate threat to public health and safety or other compelling ground); DTE Electric Co. (Fermi Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3), CLI 7, 80 NRC 1, 7
-8 (2014) (denying request to suspend issuance of decisions on reactor license applications).
Moreover, the Commonwealth did not address the factors that we weigh when considering whether to grant a request to stay the effectiveness of a Staff order on a license transfer application
.6 The Commonwealth will have the opportunity to do so if the Staff issues such an order. For the reasons outlined, the Commonwealth's motion presents insufficient grounds for us to hold this adjudicatory proceeding in abeyance or to stay or suspend all activities relating to the license transfer application. We therefore deny the motion. IT IS SO ORDERED.
For the Commission NRC Seal /RA/ ___________________________
Annette L. Vietti-Cook Secretary of the Commission
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this14th day of August 2019.
6 See 10 C.F.R. § 2.1327(b)(2), (d); see also 10 C.F.R. § 2.342(e)
(outlining same four stay factors for consideration in requests to stay the decision or action of a Presiding Officer).
We note that our regulations contemplate that the Staff may issue an order on a license transfer application before the Commission has concluded the adjudication. See 10 C.F.R. 2.1316(a).
In such instances, however , "the application will lack the agency's final approval until and unless the Commission" concludes the adjudication and approves the transfer.
See Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., and Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC (Palisades Nuclear Plant), CLI 19, 68 NRC 251, 257 n.8 (2008) (quoting Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station), CLI 17, 52 NRC 79, 83 (2000)). Until the adjudicatory proceeding is concluded, the Commission retains the authority to modify the license by imposing license conditions or, if warranted, to rescind an order approving a license transfer.
See id.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
) ) ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATI ONS, INC. ) ENTERGY NUCLEAR GENERATION
) Docket No s. 50-293 and 72-1044 LT COMPANY, HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, ) and HOLTEC DECOMMISSIONING
) INTERNATIONAL, LLC
) ) (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station
)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby cert ify that copies of the foregoing Commission Memorandum and Order (CLI-19-08) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Mail Stop: O
-16B33 Washington, DC 20555
-0001 E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the Secretary of the Commission
Mail Stop: O
-16B33 Washington, DC 20555
-0001 E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
-0001 E. Roy Hawkens, Chairman E-mail: Roy.Hawkens@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop - O-14A44 Washington, DC 20555
-0001 Tison A. Campbell, Esq. Anita G. Naber, Esq.
David E. Roth, Esq.
Rebecca A. Susko, Esq.
Jeremy L. Wachutka, Esq. Jennifer E. Scro, Esq.
E-mail: Tison.Campbell@nrc.gov Anita.Naber@nrc.gov David.Roth@nrc.gov Rebecca.Susko@nrc.gov Jeremy.Wachutka@nrc.gov Jennifer.Scro@nrc.gov
Entergy Services, Inc.
101 Constitution Ave., NW Suite 200 East Washington, DC 20001 Susan H. Raimo E-mail: sraimo@entergy.com
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Docket Nos. 50-29 3 and 72-1044 LT Commission Memorandum and Order (CLI 08) 2 Balch & Bingham LLP 1710 Sixth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203
-2015 Peter R. LeJeune, Esq Alan D. Lovett, Esq, E-mail: plejeune@balch.com alovett@balch.com Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 1200 Seventeenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Meghan Hammond, Esq.
David R. Lewis, Esq. E-mail: Meghan.Hammond@pillsburylaw.com David.Lewis@pillsburylaw.com Pilgrim Watch F148 Washington Street Duxbury, MA 02332 Mary Lampert, Director E-mail: Mary.Lampert@comcast.net Counsel for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Energy and Environmental Bureau Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 18 th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Joseph Dorfler, Esq.
Seth Schofield, Esq.
E-mail: Joseph.Dorfler@state.ma.gov Seth.Schofield@mass.gov
[Original signed by Krupskaya T. Castellon] Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland, th is 14 th day of August 2019