ML22110A068
| ML22110A068 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hermes File:Kairos Power icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/19/2022 |
| From: | Public Commenter Public Commenter |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| NRC/NMSS/DREFS | |
| References | |
| 87FR9394 | |
| Download: ML22110A068 (7) | |
Text
From: AUSTGEN, Kati <kra@nei.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 4:02 PM To: KairosHermes-CPEIS Resource Cc: Dozier, Tami; Doub, Peyton; Beasley, Benjamin; Cuadrado de Jesus, Samuel
Subject:
[External_Sender] NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application [Docket ID: NRC-2021-0193]
Attachments: 04-19-2022_NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application.pdf
THE ATTACHMENT CONTAINS THE COMPLETE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER April 19, 2022
NRC Office of Administration Mail Stop TWFN-7-A60M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 ATTN: Program Managem ent, Announcements, and Editing Staff
Submitted via KairosHermes-CPEIS@nrc.gov
Subject:
NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application [Docket ID: NRC -2021-0193]
Project Number: 689
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)[1] appreciates the opportunity to provide comments as part of the scoping process for the NRCs environmental review of Kairos Powers construction permit application for the Hermes advanced non-power test reactor to be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We support the NRCs efforts to meet its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider any potentially significant environmental impacts of proposed licensing actions and inform the public about the agencys environmental decision making. We also look forward to future opportunities for public participation in the NRCs NEPA review process for this project, including the NRCs development of its draft environmental impact statement.
[1] The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is responsible for establishing unified policy on behalf of its members relating to matters affecting the nuclear energy industry, including the regulatory aspects of generic operational and technical issues. NEIs members include entities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect and engineering firms, fuel cycle facilities, nuclear materials licensees, and other organizations involved in the nuclear energy industry.
With regard to the scoping of this environmental review, we urge the NRC to consider the widely recognized environmental benefits of nuclear energy. In addition to not producing carbon emissions, nuclear power plants do not emit other harmful air pollutants that contribute to heart disease, neurological disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Due to nuclear powers high energy density, reactors have relatively small geographic footprints that lessen land use impacts. For these reasons, nuclear power avoids adverse climate change, air quality, and other environmental impacts that have been shown to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. We recognize that the Hermes non-power test reactor will not supply electricity to the grid. However, the construction and operation of the proposed test facility is necessary to demonstrate the key technologies of the Kairos Power Fluoride Salt-Cooled, High Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) for future commercial deployment.
Moreover, in defining the purpose and need for the proposed facility for purposes of its NEPA review, the NRC should acknowledge the significant national and legislative policy considerations undergirding this project.[2] As discussed in Section 1.3 of Kairos Environmental Report, the Hermes project was selected for an award under the Department of Energys (DOE) new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) associated with Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration projects. Therefore, the need for the project is also tied directly to the DOEs objective under ARDP to assist private industries in the United States to demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors, with a goal of designing and developing safe and affordable reactor technologies that can be licensed and deployed over the next 10 to 14 years. Section 9005 of the Energy Act of 2020 formally authorized the ARDP, the primary purpose of which is to demonstrate a variety of advanced nuclear reactor technologies, including those that could be used to produce safer, emissions-free power at a competitive cost of electricity compared to other new energy generation technologies; heat for community heating, industrial purposes, heat storage, or synthetic fuel production; remote or off-grid energy supply; or backup or mission-critical power supplies.[3] As DOEs Dr. Kathryn Huff noted last year, these are critical U.S. Government objectives:
The Administration believes that we must prioritize activities that preserve the existing fleet of nuclear reactors, deploy advanced reactor technologies, and expand nuclear energy to markets beyond electricity if we intend to meet our ambitious carbon reduction goals. Nuclear can play a role in the transition to a clean energy economy by fundamentally enabling our nations targets for clean, carbon-free electricity as well as non-electric energy markets. We have the potential to decarbonize many industrial sectors in the United States and abroad.[4]
[2] Citizens Against Burlington, Inc. v. Busey, 938 F.2d 190, 196 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (citing City of New York v. Dept of Transp., 715 F.2d 732, 743-45 (2d Cir. 1983)) (noting that an agency should always consider the views of Congress, expressed, to the extent that the agency can determine them, in the agencys statutory authorization to act, as well as in other congressional directives).
[3] 42 U.S.C. § 16279a(b)(1)(A)-(D)
[4] DOE, Office of Nuclear Energy, Q&A: Acting Assistant Secretary Dr. Kathryn Huff Shares Her Vision for the Future of Nuclear Energy (June 24, 2021), https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/qa-acting-assistant-secretary-dr-kathryn-huff-shares-her-vision-future-nuclear-energy.
Katherine R. Austgen Senior Project Manager, New Reactors
Nuclear Energy Institute 1201 F St NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004 www.nei.org
P: 202.739.8068 M: 202.340.1224 E: kra@nei.org
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Federal Register Notice: 87FR9394 Comment Number: 16
Mail Envelope Properties (CH0PR03MB6195710E7531B7BDB1E4A3B4AFF29)
Subject:
[External_Sender] NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application [Docket ID: NRC-2021-0193]
Sent Date: 4/19/2022 4:01:54 PM Received Date: 4/19/2022 4:02:50 PM From: AUSTGEN, Kati
Created By: kra@nei.org
Recipients:
"Dozier, Tami" <Tamsen.Dozier@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Doub, Peyton" <Peyton.Doub@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Beasley, Benjamin" <Benjamin.Beasley@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Cuadrado de Jesus, Samuel" <Samuel.CuadradoDeJesus@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "KairosHermes-CPEIS Resource" <KairosHermes-CPEIS.Resource@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None
Post Office: CH0PR03MB6195.namprd03.prod.outlook.com
Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 7109 4/19/2022 4:02:50 PM 04-19-2022_NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application.pdf 598716
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KATI R. AUSTGEN Senior Project Manager, New Reactors
1201 F Street, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004 P: 202.739.8 068 kra@ nei.org nei.org
April 19, 2022
NRC Office of Administratio n Mail Stop TWFN-7-A60M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555- 0001 ATTN: Program Management, Announcements, and Editing Staff
Submitted via KairosHermes-CPEIS@nrc.gov
Subject:
NEI Comments Regarding the Scope of the Environmental Review for the Kairos Power Hermes Non-Power Test Reactor Construction Permit Application [Docket ID: NRC-2021-0193]
Project Number: 689
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 1 appreciates the opportunity to provide comments as part of the scoping process for the NRCs environmental review of Kairos Powers construction permit application for the Hermes advanced non-power test reactor to be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We support the NRCs efforts to meet its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider any potentially significant environmental impacts of proposed licensing actions and inform the public about the agencys environmental decision making. We also look forward to future opportunities for public participation in the NRCs NEPA review process for this project, including the NRCs development of its draft environmental impact statement.
With regard to the scoping of this environmental review, we urge the NRC to consider the widely recognized environmental benefits of nuclear energy. In addition to not producing carbon emissions, nuclear power plants do not emit other harmful air pollutants that contribute to heart disease, neurological disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Due to nuclear powers high energy density, reactors have relatively small geographic footprints that lessen land use impacts. For these reasons, nuclear power avoids adverse climate change, air quality, and other environmental impacts that have been shown to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. We recognize that the Hermes non-power test reactor will not supply electricity to
1 The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is responsible for establishing unified policy on behalf of its members relating to matters affecting the nuclear energy industry, including the regulatory aspects of generic operational and technical issues. NEIs members include entities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect and engineering firms, fuel cycle facilities, nuclear materials licensees, and other organizations involved in the nuclear energy industry.
Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff April 19, 2022 Page 2
the grid. However, the construction and operation of the proposed test facility is necessary to demonstrate the key technologies of the Kairos Power Fluoride Salt-Cooled, High Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) for future commercial deployment.
Moreover, in defining the purpose and need for the proposed facility for purposes of its NEPA review, the NRC should acknowledge the significant national and legislative policy considerations undergirding this project. 2 As discussed in Section 1.3 of Kairos Environmental Report, the Hermes project was selected for an award under the Department of Energys (DOE) new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) associated with Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration projects. Therefore, the need for the project is also tied directly to the DOEs objective under ARDP to assist private industries in the United States to demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors, with a goal of designing and developing safe and affordable reactor technologies that can be licensed and deployed over the next 10 to 14 years. Section 9005 of the Energy Act of 2020 formally authorized the ARDP, the primary purpose of which is to demonstrate a variety of advanced nuclear reactor technologies, including those that could be used to produce safer, emissions-free power at a competitive cost of electricity compared to other new energy generation technologies; heat for community heating, industrial purposes, heat storage, or synthetic fuel production; remote or off -grid energy supply; or backup or mission-critical power supplies. 3 As DOEs Dr. Kathryn Huff noted last year, these are critical U.S. Government objectives:
The Administration believes that we must prioritize activities that preserve the existing fleet of nuclear reactors, deploy advanced reactor technologies, and expand nuclear energy to markets beyond electricity if we intend to meet our am bitious carbon reduction goals. Nuclear can play a role in the transition to a clean energy economy by fundamentally enabling our nations targets for clean, carbon-free electricity as well as non-electric energy markets. We have the potential to decarbonize many industrial sectors in the United States and abroad. 4
The scoping of this environmental review also should include recognition of the positive economic impact of bringing innovative technology research facilities to a community and the exemplary safety record of nuclear energy. Conversely, issues outside the scope of this specific regulatory decision should not be considered.
The applicant has taken the time to analyze available sites and resources; thus, the scope of the NRC environmental rev iew should consider what is realistic and within the agencys jurisdiction. As both the Commission and the federal courts have held, when the proposed action subject to NEPA review is triggered by a proposal or application from a private party, the agency should give substantial weight to the goals
2 Citizens Against Burlington, Inc. v. Busey, 938 F.2d 190, 196 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (citing City of New York v. Dept of Transp., 715 F.2d 732, 743-45 (2d Cir. 1983)) (noting that an agency should always consider th e views of Congress, expressed, to the extent that the agency can determine them, in the agencys statutory authorization to act, as well as in other congressional directives).
3 42 U.S.C. § 16279a(b)(1)(A)-(D)
4 DOE, Office of Nuclear Energy, Q&A: Actin g Assistant Secretary Dr. Kathryn Huff Shares Her Vision for the Future of Nuclear Energy (June 24, 2021), https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/qa-acting-assistant-secretary-dr-kathryn-huff-shares-her-vision-future-nuclear-energy.
Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff April 19, 2022 Page 3
and objectives of that private entity. Thus, in such cases, for a project alternative to be reasonable, it should meet the goals of the private applicant. 5
We further encourage the NRC to consider the efficiency of the environmental review during this scoping process. Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidelines recommend federal agency staff use the applicants environmental report (ER) as the basis for the draft environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS), and further allow that the federal agency may use the applicants ER as the draft EA or EIS. 6 NRC should maximize the use of existing evaluations and the inherent attributes of the Kairos Hermes design, and the NRCs own regulatory process, to avoid duplication of effort in the environmental review process. Identifying how NRC will achieve such efficiencies during the scoping process will provide regulatory clarity for all stakeholders, many of whom have voiced strong support for this project.
Finally, we recognize the NRC staffs ongoing efforts to develop the advanced nuclear reactor generic environmental impact statement (ANR GEIS). While the rulemaking for the ANR GEIS is still in progress, the NRC staff should leverage the supporting technical analyses already completed in that effort (see, e.g., draft NUREG-2249) to address those areas of the Kairos Hermes application that are bounded. This will create substantial efficiencies in addressing at least 80% of the scope of the environmental review.
In summary, the scoping of the environmental review pertaining to Kairos Powers construction permit application for the Hermes test reactor to be b uilt in Oak Ridge, Tennessee offers the opportunity for NRC staff to implement tangible improvements to the efficiency and timeliness of NRC environmental reviews for new reactor applications.
If you have questions concerning this letter, please contac t me at kra@nei.org or 202.739.8068.
Sincerely,
Katherine R. Austgen c: Tamsen Dozier, NRC/NMSS/REFS/ERNRB Peyton Doub, NRC/NMSS/REFS/ERNRB Benjamin Beasley, NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1 Samuel Cuadrado de Jesus, NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1
5 Paina Hawaii, LLC (Materials License Application), CLI 18, 72 NRC 56, 77 (2010) ((The applicants stated purpose defines the correlating range of alternatives that should be considered: while different from the specific proposal, the alternatives that should be considered m ust still accomplish the underlying purpose of the proposed action.); Citizens Against Burlington, 938 F.2d at 195 (When the purpose is to accomplish one thing, it makes no sense to consider the alternative ways by which another thing might be achieved. ).
6 See Section 4.4 of NEI White Paper, Recommendations for Streamlining Environmental Reviews for Advanced Reactors, (ADAMS Accession No. ML20065N155)