ML20267A102

Letter to K. Manzione, Holtec International, Holtec International'S Application for Specific Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation License for the Hi-Store Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel - Revised Review

ML20267A102
Person / Time
Site:	HI-STORE
Issue date:	09/22/2020
From:	John Mckirgan Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch
To:	Manzione K Holtec
JRCuadrado NMSS/DFM/STL 301.415.0606
References
CAC 001028, EPID L-2018-NEW-0001
Download: ML20267A102 (2)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September 22, 2020 Ms. Kimberly Manzione, Licensing Manager Holtec International Holtec Technology Campus One Holtec Boulevard Camden, NJ 08104

SUBJECT:

HOLTEC INTERNATIONALS APPLICATION FOR SPECIFIC INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATION LICENSE FOR THE HI-STORE CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL - REVISED REVIEW SCHEDULE

Dear Ms. Manzione:

By letter dated March 30, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17115A431), as supplemented on April 13 (ML17109A386),

October 6 (ML17310A218), December 21 (ML17362A097), and 22 (ML18011A158), 2017; February 23 (ML18058A617), May 24 (ML18150A319), July 27 (ML18213A206), November 30 (ML18345A153), 2018; January 31 (ML19037A280), March 15 (ML19081A083), and 30 (two submissions, ML19094A271 and ML19106A183), and May 13 (ML19143A268), and 16 (ML19143A319), 2019, Holtec International (Holtec) submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) an application for a specific independent spent fuel storage installation license to construct and operate the HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF), in Lea County, New Mexico, in accordance with the requirements of Part 72 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 72), Licensing Requirements for the Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level Radioactive Waste and Reactor-Related Greater than Class C Waste. The license application seeks NRC approval to store up to 8,680 metric tons of commercial spent nuclear fuel in the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System for a 40-year license term.

On February 28, 2018, the NRC staff docketed the license application, began a detailed safety, security, and environmental review, and established a schedule for the issuance of requests for additional information and the completion of these reviews (ML18059A251). On July 1, 2019, the NRC staff revised its schedule for the completion of the safety, security, and environmental reviews (ML19182A147). Consistent with this revised schedule, the staff published the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on March 9, 2020. On March 20, 2020, NRC staff published a Federal Register notice providing a 60-day opportunity to provide comments on the draft EIS. In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the NRC granted two additional 60-day extensions to the public comment period. The public comment period will now close on September 22, 2020.

As a result of these extensions, the NRC staff has revised its schedule for the completion of its environmental review. The revised schedule for the environmental review will now provide for staff to publish a final EIS by July 2021. For its safety and security review, the staff has determined that it will revise its previously established review schedule to account for the time

K. Manzione 2 incurred in the issuance of requests for additional information (RAIs). The staff expects to complete its final safety evaluation report (SER) by May 2021. However, this schedule assumes that Holtec will provide timely and high-quality responses to all outstanding requests for additional information (RAIs) by November 2020, and that no follow-up RAIs are necessary.

If additional RAIs are necessary, the staff may delay its schedule accordingly. The NRC staff is prepared to meet with your staff, as necessary, to clarify any questions you may have about the NRCs RAIs, or to discuss any proposed responses to these prior to your submission.

In our February 28, 2018, letter announcing our decision to begin a detailed review, the staff estimated that the costs required to complete the review of the application and make a licensing decision would be approximately 7.5 million dollars. The staff has determined that this estimate of the costs is still accurate for the updated dates above for the completion of the review.

If you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact Mr. Jose R. Cuadrado, Project Manager, at (301) 415-0606.

Sincerely, Digitally signed by Chau N.

Chau N. Nguyen Nguyen Date: 2020.09.23 10:30:19 -04'00' For John McKirgan, Chief Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 72-1051 CAC/EPID No.: 001028/

L-2018-NEW-0001