ML101970370

License Renewal Process Overview

ML101970370
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	07/19/2010
From:	Plasse R, Susco J License Renewal Projects Branch 1
To:
SUSCO, J NRR/DLR 415-2927
References
Download: ML101970370 (17)

Text

Seabrook Station License Renewal Process Overview Rick Plasse Jeremy Susco Safety Project Manager Environmental Project Manager Division of License Renewal 1

NRC Regulatory Oversight

• NRCs Primary Governing Statutes

- Atomic Energy Act

- Energy Reorganization Act

- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• NRCs Mission

- Protect public health and safety

- Promote the common defense and security

- Protect the environment 2

Seabrook Station License Renewal

• Current operating license expires on 3/15/2030 (40 years of operation)

• NRC received Seabrooks license renewal application on 6/1/2010

• If the NRC decides to renew the license, it would expire in 2050 3

Why 20 years?

• Common question: Why can Seabrook Station apply for renewal with 20 years remaining on its current license?

- Seabrook Station is legally allowed to do so:

• Section 54.17(c) in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations

- NRC determined that:

• 20 years of operational and regulatory experience provides an applicant with substantial amounts of information and would disclose any plant-specific concerns with regard to age-related degradation

• 20 years remaining on the operating license would be reasonable considering the estimated time for utilities to plan for replacement of retired plants 4

Application Contents

• General information about the plant owner or operator

• Technical information about plant structures and components and how the applicant proposes to manage aging

• Changes to plant technical specifications

• Environmental report documenting the effects of extending the license by 20 years 5

License Renewal Process Safety Review by Review ACRS License Renewal NRC Renewal Application Hearings*

Decision Submitted to NRC Environmental Consultation Review and Comment

• If a Request for Hearing is Granted 6

Safety Review (10 CFR Part 54)

• Focus is on the effects of component aging and structures important to plant safety

• Staff review is to determine that aging effects will be effectively managed

- Review application and supporting documentation

- On-site audits

• On-site inspections by NRC Region I

• Issue Safety Evaluation Report

• Independent review by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) 7

License Renewal Safety Principles

• The ongoing regulatory process is adequate to ensure the safety of all currently operating plants

• The same plant operating rules apply during the renewal term

- NRC applies additional conditions for aging management 8

Ongoing Regulatory Oversight

• Emergency Planning

- 10 CFR Section 50.47

• Security

- 10 CFR Part 73

• Current Safety Performance

- Reactor Oversight Process 9

Environmental Review (10 CFR Part 51)

• Focus is on environmental impacts of continued plant operation for an additional 20 years

• Staff review is to determine if the environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that license renewal would be unreasonable

• Staff prepares an Environmental Impact Statement

• Public input drives consideration of environmental issues 10

Environmental Impact Statement

• Staff evaluates impacts to resources

- Fish and Wildlife

- Water and Air Resources

- Historical and Cultural Resources

- Socioeconomic (taxes, community development, environmental justice)

- Human Health

- Land Use

• Significant coordination with State agencies, Federal agencies, and the public 11

Critical Milestones

• Acceptance Review

• Public Meeting - Scoping & Process Overview

• Safety & Environmental Site Audits

• Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

• Public Meeting - Comments on Draft EIS

• Independent review by ACRS

• Final EIS

• Safety Evaluation Report

• NRC Renewal Decision 12

Opportunities for Public Involvement

• Opportunity for hearing*

• Environmental scoping input*

- Public meeting

• Draft EIS input*

- Public meeting

• Independent review by ACRS*

• Other meetings (as required) to support the NRC staffs application review

• Federal Register Notice and Press Release 13

Final Agency Decision

• Commission considers:

- Results of the safety review

- Environmental impact statement

- NRC inspection findings and conclusions

- Recommendations from the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards

- Outcome of the hearing process

• Typical License Renewal Review

- 22 months without a hearing

- 30 months if a hearing is conducted 14

Document Locations

• Seabrook, NH Public Library

• Amesbury, MA Public Library

• http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/

licensing/renewal/applications/

seabrook.html 15

Keeping Up-To-Date

• Website for public comments on Federal documents and actions:

www.regulations.gov

• If you would like to keep up-to-date with all of the correspondence related to Seabrook Station (which includes license renewal), sign up for the Seabrook Station listserver:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/

listserver/plants-by-region.html 16

Points of Contact Rick Plasse (800) 368-5642 x1427 richard.plasse@nrc.gov Jeremy Susco (800) 368-5642 x2927 jeremy.susco@nrc.gov 17