ML22231B136

Review of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Findings of No Significant Impact for Catawba Nuclear Station, H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, and Oconee Nuclear Station Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Decommissioning Fundi

ML22231B136
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee, Catawba, 07200040, 07200003, 07200060
Issue date:	09/01/2022
From:	Yoira Diaz-Sanabria Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch
To:	Jenkins S State of SC, Dept of Health & Environmental Control
TLIU NMSS/DFM/STLB 4049974730
Shared Package
ML22231B135	List: ML22231B136
References
L-2017-FPR-0001, L-2017-FPR-0003, L-2017-FPR-0014, L-2017-FPR-0030, L-2017-FPR-0048
Download: ML22231B136 (4)

Text

PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION IS LIMITED TO USE BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THIS INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT PRIOR NRC PERMISSION.

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September 1, 2022 Susan Jenkins, Chief South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Radiological Health 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201

SUBJECT:

REVIEW OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, H.B.

ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, AND OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS DECOMMISSIONING FUNDING PLANS

Dear Susan Jenkins:

By letters dated March 29, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System

[ADAMS] Accession No. ML17088A701), April 1, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19091A079),

and March 30, 2021 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21089A271), Duke Energy Progress, LLC and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC [collectively, Duke Energy] submitted updated decommissioning funding plans (DFPs) for the Catawba Nuclear Station (Catawba), located in York, SC, the H.B.

Robinson Steam Electric Plant (Robinson) located in Hartsville, SC, and the Oconee Nuclear Station (Oconee), located in Seneca, SC, Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSIs), for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs review and approval. The NRC staff is currently reviewing the above updated DFPs submitted by Duke Energy. As part of the review process, we are seeking your consultation on the updated DFPs for the Catawba, Robinson, and Oconee ISFSIs.

The NRC regulations at 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, govern the storage of spent nuclear fuel (spent fuel) generated at commercial nuclear power reactors licensed by the NRC. Spent fuel that has been removed from the reactors spent fuel pool is typically stored at a nuclear power plants ISFSI.

The NRC requires its licensees to plan for the eventual decommissioning of their licensed facilities prior to license termination. On June 17, 2011, the NRC published a final rule Upon removal of the enclosure(s),

this document is decontrolled.

PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION IS LIMITED TO USE BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THIS INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT PRIOR NRC PERMISSION.

S. Jenkins 2 amending its decommissioning planning regulations (76 Federal Register (FR) 35512). The final rule amended the NRC regulation, 10 CFR 72.30, which concerns financial assurance and decommissioning for ISFSIs. This regulation now requires each holder of, or applicant for, a license under 10 CFR Part 72 to submit, for NRC review and approval, a DFP. The purpose of the DFP is to demonstrate the licensees financial assurance (i.e., that funds will be available to decommission the ISFSI). The NRC staff is reviewing the information submitted by Duke Energy.

Specifically, the NRC must determine whether Duke Energy DFPs contain the information required by 10 CFR 72.30(c), and whether Duke Energy has provided reasonable assurance that funds will be available to decommission Catawba, Robinson, and Oconee ISFSIs.

In accordance with 10 CFR Part 51, which is the NRC regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the agency has prepared a separate draft environmental assessment (EA) for Catawba, Robinson, and Oconee ISFSIs, respectively, for the proposed action (enclosed). We are providing your office with the opportunity to review the draft EAs and comment on environmental issues prior to the public issuance and publication of the EAs. We request that distribution and use of the enclosed draft EAs be limited only to those staff involved in the review and comment process.

Please submit any comments within 30 days from the date of this letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Document Control Desk, ATTN: Yoira Diaz-Sanabria, Mail Stop:

TWFN 4B34, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. If you have any questions, please contact Tilda Liu of my staff by telephone at 404-997-4730, or by e-mail at Tilda.Liu@nrc.gov. The NRC staff will consider your timely comments and will revise the EA, as appropriate, before its final issuance and publication. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely, Signed by Diaz-Sanabria, Yoira on 09/01/22 Yoira K. Diaz-Sanabria, Chief Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos.: 72.45, 72-60, 72-03, 72-40, 72-04 License Nos.: SFGL-31, SFGL-26, SNM-2502, SFGL-40, SNM-2503 EPID Nos.: L-2017-FPR-0014, L-2017-FPR-0001 L-2017-FPR-0030, L-2017-FPR-0003, L-2017-FPR-0048

Enclosures:

1. Draft EA for Catawba ISFSI

2. Draft EA for Robinson ISFSI

3. Draft EA for Oconee ISFSI

ML22231B135(Pkg), ML22231B136(Ltr), ML22231B137(Enc1),

ML22231B138(Enc2), ML22231B139(Enc3)

OFFICE NMSS/DFM/STLB:PM NMSS/DFM/STLB:LA NMSS/DFM/STLB:BC NAME TLiu WWheatley YDiaz-Sanabria DATE 8/29/2022 8/29/2022 9/01/2022

ML22231B135; Ltr ML22231B136

• via email OFFICE NMSS/DFM/MCAB NMSS/DFM/STLB* NMSS/DFM/STLB NAME TLiu TL WWheatley WW YDiaz-Sanabria YD DATE Aug 19, 2022 Aug 29, 2022 Sep 1, 2022