ML042080410
| ML042080410 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 01/14/2004 |
| From: | Cosgrove B Vermont Yankee |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Vermont Yankee |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2004-0267 | |
| Download: ML042080410 (1) | |
Text
Page~I ofi 2 P.2 Sienel, Beth From: Cosgrove, Brian Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 12:28 PM To: VTY - All Users
Subject:
FW: PSB Uprate Hearings Focus on NRC Timetable Importance: High
Dear Fellow Entergy Vermont Yankee,
There has been some concern expressed this morning about the headline in today's Brattleboro Reformer that says "Uprate decision put off to 2005" based on a story by reporter Toby Henry. This quote is based on yesterday's testimony from Vermont State Nuclear Engineer William Sherman, speculating that the current NRC review of the VY power uprate could run into 2005. According to VY Site Vice President Jay Thayer, Entergy believes there are no such implications.
Much of the discussion during Tuesday's PSB hearing centered on a Dec. 15 NRC letter that informed Entergy that additional information was needed to complete the initial acceptance review, and as a result, the NRC 12 month review clock would not begin until completion of the initial acceptance review.
As reported in Wednesday's Brattleboro Reformer, Jay has stated that the company will be providing the NRC with technical responses to 61 additional pieces of information requested by the NRC that will provide them with all the information that they need to complete the initial acceptance review and to begin the 12 month review. "Our current plan ... is to prepare the information to respond to those by Jan.
31,"he said.
Jay also explained that the extensive NRC staff review work of Vermont Yankee's application that has been underway since September means there is good reason to believe that the main federal review can be completed in less than 12 months.
Although most US nuclear plants have been uprated to some extent, Vermont Yankee's application is the first that will be reviewed under a new formalized year-long process. Part of that formal process is an initial "acceptance review" that ensures the NRC the bulk of the information it needs to begin a formal 12-month review.
Throughout this process, the NRC will have questions and requests for additional information and Vermont Yankee has the technical staff available to provide the NRC with the information it needs to keep the review process on track. In the meantime, Vermont Yankee sees no reason for delay of the Public Service Board decision and the PSB has not suggested that it would delay the state proceedings.
Those proceedings are focused on the installation of uprate-related equipment which is scheduled for the April refueling outage.
Ifyou have any further questions or comments on the PSB proceedings please respond by email..
- Thanks, Brian eI. CPnV'Afl