ML20202J190

Discusses License Renewal for Operating Power Reactors.Two Applications Received for Renewing Operating Licenses. Commission Established Adjudicatory Schedule Aimed at Completing License Renewal Process in 30-36 Months

ML20202J190
Person / Time
Site:	Calvert Cliffs, Oconee
Issue date:	01/28/1999
From:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Domenici P, Packard R SENATE, APPROPRIATIONS
References
NUDOCS 9902090060
Download: ML20202J190 (4)

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UNITED STATES -

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% . January 28, 1999 The Honorable Pete V, Domenici, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development ,

Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 '

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In the FY 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, House Report 105-581, the Committee stressed the importance of license renewal for operating power reactors and directed the Commission to issue guidance by December 1998 to ensure that the regulatory framework for license renewal is readily understandable and timely.

I directed the Executive Council to provide overall oversight of the license renewal process to ensure the adequacy of resources and timely surfacing of any policy issues for Commission i decision. In June 1998, the NRC staff issued procedures for conducting the license renewal reviews (Office Letter 805) and established a steering committee to monitor implementation of those procedures. At that time, the steering committee met with the industry working group on license renewal and discussed the regulatory framework that had been established to ensure the timely review of the license renewal applications, while continuing to develop technical and process improvements. The NRC has received two applications for renewing operating

- licenses for the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee nuclear power plants, and has established

aggressive review schedules for both applications. I Subsequently, the Commission published a revised policy statement on the conduct of adjudicatory proceedings on August 5,1998 (63 FR 41872), which described the Commission's expectations regarding the conduct of fair and timely hearings, particularly as they relate to i license renewal applications. On August 19,1998, and September 15,1998, respectively, in the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee hearing proceedings, the Commission established an adjudicatory schedule aimed at completing the license renewal process in 30-36 months, defined the scope of the proceedings, and guided discovery management.

The steering committee and NiiC staff conduct frequent public meetings with industry and the two applicants to discuss the progress on the two applications and related technical and

. process experience. The feedback thus far from the industry and applicants has been positive.

We will continue to monitor the progress of this program very carefully to ensure continued improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, clarity, and timeliness of the license renewal

. process.

Sincerely, j ,

n, Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Senator Harry Reid 9902090060 990128 #

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. cmAN RSanders, NRR KCyr, 0GC The Honorable Ron Packard, Chairman GTracy, EDO Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development JFunches, CF0 Committee on Appropriations .

G19980711 United States House of Representatives EDO r/f Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

. In the FY 1999 Energy ano Water Development Appropriations Act, House Report 105-581, the Committee stressed the importance of license renewal for operating power reactors and directed the Commission to issue guidance by December 1998 to ensure that the regulatory

' framework for license renewal is readily understandable and timely.

l I directed the Executive Council to provide overall oveisight of the license renewal process to ensure the adequacy of resources and timely surfacing of any policy issues for Commission decision, in June 1998, the NRC staff issued procedures for conducting the license renewal reviews (Office Letter 905) and established a steering committee to monitor implementation of those procedures. At that time, the steering committee met with the industry working group on

. license renewal and discussed the regulatory framework that had been established to ensure the timely review of the license renewal applications, while continuing to develop technical and process improvements. The NRC has received two applications for renewing operating licenses for the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee nuclear power plants, and has established aggressive review schedules for both applications.

Subsequently, the Commission published a revised policy statement on the conduct of adjudicatory proceedings on August 5,1998 (63 FR 41872), which descr' bed , the Commission's expectations regarding the conduct of fair and timely hearings, particularly as they relate to license renewal applications. On August 19,1998, and September 15,1998, respectively, in

' the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee hearing proceedings, the Commission established an adjudicatory schedule aimed at completing the license renewal process in 30-36 months,

]

defined the scope of the pre,eedings, and guided discovery management. J The steering committee and NRC staff conduct frequent public meetings with industry and the 4 two applicants to discuss the progress on the two applications and related technical and - l process experience. The feedback thus far from the industry and applicants has been positive. 1 We will continue to monitor the progress of this program very carefully to ensure continued iroprovements in the efficiency, effectiveness, clarity, and timeliness of the license renewal .

process.

Sincerely,

'1

&%F-1 ,

Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Repn sentative Peter J. Visclosky j Originated by:. [RSanders.NRR]

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PDLR RF -

Central File EDO RF (G19980711)

Travers -

Knapp Miraglia

! Norry Blaha Bums Tracy Collins /Zimmerman Boger Sheron Roe Grimes NRR Mailroom (G19980711)

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% The Hsn:rtbla Joseph M.' McD:de IDENTICAL LTR SENT TO I Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy Senator Pete V. Domenici  !

and Water Development  !

Committee on Appropriations  !

i United States House i i of Representatives )

{ Washington, DC 20515 i

[

Dear Mr. Chairman:

i-l In the Energy and Water Development Appropriations I for 1999 (Report 105-581), the Committee stressed the importance of license renew for operating power reactors and directed the Commission to issue guidance by December 1 8 to ensure that the regulatory framework forlicense renewalis readily understandable and mely. ,

I I

in June 1998, the NRC staff issued procedure for conducting the license renewal reviews (Office Letter 805) and established a steerin committee to monitor implementation of those proadures. At that time, the steering com ittee met with the industry working group on license renewal and discussed the regulatory fra ework that had been established to ensure the timely review of the license renewal applicatio , while continuing to develop technical and process  !

improvements. The NRC has receive two applications for renewing operating licenses for the  !

Calvert Cliffs and Oconee nuclear p er plants, and has established aggressive review i schedules for both applications. I Subsequently, the Commission blished a revised policy statement on the conduct of adjudicatory proceedings on A ust 5,1998 (63 FR 41872), which described the Commission's expectations regarding the co duct of fair and timely hearings, particularly as they relate to i license rene,wal applications

. The steering committee a d NRC staff conduct frequent public meetings with industry and the two applicants totiiscus the progress on the two applications and related technical and process experience. Thefeed ck thus far from the industry and applicants has been positive. We will continue to monitort progress of this program very carefully to ensure continued improvements inthe efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of the license renewal process.

Sincerely, 7

I "Dfb9 o Shirley Ann Jackson cc: RepresentativeVic Fazio Distribution: See next page *See previous concurrences 'A:\G980711.WPD OFFCE - Tech Ed D:PDLR:DRPM AD.DRPM.NRR D;NRR NAME Rsenders ClGrimes JWRoe sJCollins DATE 12r/Jg8*. 12/1/98* 12/8/98* 12/11 /96*

OFFCE CFO- OCA EDO M f Chairman NAME JLFunches DKRethbun WDTM f sAJedson DATE 12na ee- 12/ /9e 12Mes et/22se 0]00 5

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