ML16084A717

SRM-M150521A-2 - Acknowledgement Letter to Petitioner, Friends of the Earth 2.206 Petition Based on Commission Memorandum and Order CLI-15-14 (CAC Nos. MF6443 and MF6444)

ML16084A717
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	04/12/2016
From:	Dean W M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Ayres R Ayres Law Group
Regner L M, NRR/DORL/LPL4-1
References
CAC MF6443, CAC MF6444, CLI-15-14, SRM-M150521A-2
Download: ML16084A717 (12)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mr. Richard Ayres Attorney for Friends of the Earth Ayres Law Group, LLP 1707 L Street, NW., Suite 850 Washington, DC 20036

Dear Mr. Ayres:

April 12, 2016 On August 26, 2014, you filed, on behalf of Friends of the Earth (FOE), a Petition to Intervene and Request for Hearing (Petition) concerning Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP). Within this Petition, FOE asserted concerns about DCPP's operational safety and ability to safely shut down in the event of a nearby earthquake. The Commission referred those concerns to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Executive Director for Operations (ED0)1 for consideration under the regulations of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (1 O CFR) Section 2.206, "Requests for Action Under this Subpart." The EDO then referred these concerns to the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation for consideration under 1 O CFR 2.206. On two occasions, the NRC offered FOE opportunities to address the Petition Review Board (PRB), which was established to review the FOE concerns referred to the EDO from the Commission, as discussed above. In response, on September 30, 2015, and February 8, 2016, you provided written submissions on behalf of FOE to the PRB in lieu of FOE addressing the PRB in person or via telephone (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Package No. ML 15226A316). Based on the information described above, the PRB has decided to accept the FOE concerns referred to the EDO by the Commission for consideration under the 10 CFR 2.206 process because these concerns meet the criteria provided in Management Directive 8.11, "Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions." Following the regulations of 10 CFR 2.206, the NRC will take action on your request within a reasonable time. I have assigned Lisa Regner, Seriior Licensing Project Manager, and Margaret Watford, Licensing Project Manager, to be the petition managers for the FOE concerns that the NRC is reviewing under 10 CFR 2.206. The Mechanical and Civil Engineering Branch in the Division of Engineering within the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is reviewing the technical merits of the FOE concerns that the Commission referred to the EDO, and the supplemental written submissions FOE sent to the PRB. I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that the NRC will file with the Office of the Federal Register for publication. On August 6, 2015, you were sent by e-mail a copy of Management Directive 8.11, "Review Process for 1 O CFR 2.206 Petitions" (ADAMS Accession 1 Memorandum and Order CLl-15-14, dated May 21, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15141A084).

R. Ayers No. ML 15226A312). I have enclosed the associated brochure NUREG/BR-0200, "Public Petition Process," with this letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML050900248). I would like to express my appreciation to FOE for bringing these matters to the attention of the NRC. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Lisa Regner at Lisa.Regner@nrc.gov, 301-415-1906; or Ms. Margaret Watford at Margaret.Watford@nrc.gov, 301-415-1233. Sincerely, Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499

Enclosures:

1. Federal Register Notice 2. NUREG/BR-0200, "Public Petition Process" cc: Mr. Edwin D. Halpin Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 56, Mail Code 104/6 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Listserv ENCLOSURE1 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ADAMS ACCESSION NO. ML 16084A737 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-275 and 50-323; NRC-2016-xxxx] Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Request for action; receipt. [7590-01-P] SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is giving notice that Friends of the Earth (FOE or petitioner) filed a Petition to Intervene and Request for Hearing concerning Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) on August 26, 2014, asserting, in part, its concerns about DCPP's operational safety and ability to safely shut down in the event of a nearby earthquake. The Commission referred those concerns to the NRC's Executive Director for Operations (EDO) for consideration. The petitioner's requests are included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2016-xxxx when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:

• Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-xxxx. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-3463; e-mail: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.

• NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select "ADAMS Public Documents" and then select "Begin Web-based ADAMS Search." For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced.

• NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room 01-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa M. Regner, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1906, e-mail: Lisa.Regner@nrc.gov SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 26, 2014, FOE filed a Petition to Intervene and Request for Hearing (Petition) concerning DCPP (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML 15226A316). Within this Petition, FOE asserted concerns about DCPP's operational safety and ability to safely shut down. The Commission referred those concerns to the NRC's ED01 for consideration under the regulations of title 1 O of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) section 2.206, "Requests for Action Under 1 Memorandum and Order CLl-15-14, dated May 21, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15141A084). 2 this Subpart." The EDO then referred these concerns to the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation for consideration under 10 CFR 2.206. On two occasions, the NRC offered the petitioner opportunities to address the Petition Review Board (PRB), which was established to review the concerns referred to the EDO from the Commission, as discussed above. In response, on September 30, 2015, and February 8, 2016, FOE's attorney provided written submissions on behalf of FOE to the PRB in lieu of FOE addressing the PRB in person or via telephone (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML 15226A316). Based on the information described above, the NRC has decided to accept the petitioner's concerns referred to the EDO by the Commission for consideration under the 1 O CFR 2.206 process because these concerns meet the criteria provided in Management Directive 8.11, "Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions." Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of Af>ril2016. /;J//id::ission William M. Dean, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. 3 ENCLOSURE 2 NUREG/BR-0200, REVISION 5, "PUBLIC PETITION PROCESS" ADAMS ACCESSION NO. ML050900248

Introduction The U.S. Nuclear Regulatnr)' (NRC) was established in 1975 10 protect public health anJ safety in the civilian U\C nf nuclear power and matt'riab in the United States. As part of its rc<.;pon\ihilitic\, NRC as\esst's a11 potential health and -;afct) related to licensed acti\ itic . .., and members of the puhlic to hnng -.,afrt) .... tn its attention Section 2.206 of r1tle 10 of the Code ff.*deral Rer.?ltlatiom ( 10 CTR 2.206) the proce\i.,-----thc primary mechani..,n1 for the puhli1.: to requc'\t al'tinn hy NRC in a public pnKT.._.., .. proce-.' permits anyone to petition NRC tu tak.c cnforct'ment action rl'lated fl) liccn ... cc-; or liccn\cd activitit.*-.. lkpending on the rc\ult-.. of ih evaluatinn. could mod if). or re\oJ...r an NRC-i:..sul'd liccn:-c or take am. other appropriate cnforccml'nt action a prohkm. Requests thal health and st.1frty "ithout requesting enforcement actrnn arl' H'\ in\ l'.d h\ mL*an-.. other than the 2 206 prol'l'"" "' In ih cffo1t to 1mpron: puhlic confidence. tht' NRC periodical!; rca:-.:..e:..:..e ... Lhe 2.206 retitiun tn cnharn.:e its cffccti\Tm".;:... tirnelinc..,.., and credihilit). A.., part of thesl' the NRC feedliack from pctitwncr.., and other "ta"-cholder:-through puhlic meeting:.., and work...hop.'-1. :-urvcy' and f'edera{ Regi\*10 notice:... a'\ \1,.-*ell a:.. frum its o\-' n :-.ta fl cxperiencl' SpccifiL' improvement:-. to the 2.206 from the"e iniiiati\c .. include:

• Offering two opportunitic:-. h.1 discus:.. the pctitiun with the NRC':. petilion review board (PRB). The i<.. lo allow the petitioner to pro\idc elaboration an<l clarification of the petition \RC aho ha' ..i.n pwu" rn v.lm:h inJ1\ 1du.1I' who nt1\I." pott'nllal for '.'\Rl rl.'.\ II'\.\, ar.: afforded ;1 <lqnee of prukct1011 (lt tht'.11 Hkn11!J Otho*r for puhlK' imolH*mcrll .Ht' lhtt'd ..t! th<." t'n<l ol !hi' p:11nphlt'! hdorc the PRB mcch tu thr pLtilio1L The :-.econd opportunity after lhl' PRB ha1, di:-.Cl1:-. .... cd the merih of the petition and alhw .... the petitioner to comment nn the PRB':-. n.:commcndatiom regarding acceptance of the petition and any rc4ut'""' for immcdi.tfl' aL*tion Otfr1 ill!! .in oppu1 tunJ!) flll a ..,ta ft pctit1onn-liccn .... cc meet inf! to di'>l'U'><.. tlw detail.\ uf the j..,..,uc duriniz ._\1ur'>t' nl the rnIL'\\

• h,*11t'1, morL' frl'LJUL'llt nicatiPn.., hL'l\\l'L'll lhl' ..,taff anJ pl'tilionei the-Pw\ cop1e.., ol all pertinent pct1tiPn rl'iatL'd corrc ... plmdcncL and nthe1 Joe unll'nh tn lhl' pl'litill\lt'f" Prn\ iding a 1..:opy u! till' prnpo..,l*d <lirn:tor* :-. d-.'n:-.ion un the petition. hnth lt1 till* pctitionL*r and tht.' affl'clcd licen..,ee ft n u11nn1l'nf-.,, and \Lil h commL'nl'> the in final form I hl' Petition Prot*css ThL* 2.206 p1rn .. *c"." pro\ 1Jc..., a ... 1mple. dfrcti\L flll'chani ... m f(Jr lli rLquc..,t L'nhircenlL'll\ aL"tion and 11hta111 '.':RC'" prnmpt. thorough. oh,1ecti\e l'\'aluation of underlying safct) It j-., :-eparate and Jistinct from thl' proce,,,..,e:-, for rulcmak.int: and although the) ton allow lhe puhlic tn rai\c ..,afct) cont L'rn.., to NRC l "ndcr th1..* 2.206 proi..*i..*:-..s. thi: petitioner a requc...r in \Hiting to NRC'.., Executive Director fo1 Opcratiori.... identifying the affected licen'.->ee or activily, thL' cnfon.:cnlL'nl c.u.:tion lo he taken. and the fach the petitioner hl'lic\*e.., provide -.ufficient grnunds for NRC to take enfun.:cmcnt action. Unsupported a:-.:-.ations of .. ,afety prnhlcm..;." general oppo:-.ition to nuclear power, ()I' identification of is .... ucs \.\rithout seeking enforcement action are not suffidcnl !;!fOund\ for con:-.ideration a.., a 2.206 Aftc1 ing a rcLJuc..,t, NRC lkrermine..., whL'ther the re4uc'1 qual1fie:-. a.., a 2.206 petition. If tht' reque ... 1 i" acct:ptcd for rn il'\\ a;; J 2.206 petition, the NRC '>t..'nlh .tn adowwkdt:metH ktll'J lo thL' pe1111u1i..:-r and .i cop)' to the appropriate liCl'lbt'L and ruhJi\hl'" a notilT in the Ft:derul II the fL'<.JllL>! h not acccpll'J. NR(

• nutific" tlw pctititmer ut ih decir,;ion and i11d1L*a1c ... that the> 1w1i1lont:r *..., under!) ing -.afct) L'1HlLL'flh >,\ 111 hl' t'd oubide the prnl't" On the ba-.,1:. ol an L\althtti1i111.il !!1l* pt'l1ti11n lhe appropriatl' oft it..:l' dirl'L'lllr i .... .. d Ut*ci-.,Jon and. it warr<1nted. NRC tai..,:, appr11pri.tlL' l'.Of,)rcc1nL*nt <Klitm l'hnmeh( 11J1!hl:1..'\ .1lu11tit in prncc""* NRC ..,enJ.., ._*nrL,, nt ,ill p1.*rtincn1 corn::.,pondenl..'c IP lhl' PL'lilitHln and tht' affrctcd lilTll">Ce '.\RC plan*, all rL'l,ttt'd l'OJTe:-.p(llldt"nce in it-.. Puhlic Document Room (PDRJ 111 <11HI in the d1)n1mc111 control Ho\\.l'\t"L tl;c \\JthhoJd..., infon.ll.tli11n th.11 \\Ouh! l'11mpromi:-.c an ur t'nlnrccmcnt actiun rclatin!! to l"'lll'., in tht' petition The :'\R( * \t';ld:.. thl' pditinne1 other inlurn1at1t111 ,u,*h <.1-., [Wrlllll'lll :,.:i..*1icri'" k*tti..'l" and bulletin-, 'I he J\RC lll1litiL'..., thL' pl'11l101h..'l Pt till' p1.*t11i1lll*, '>!atLh e\'LT) 60 da)-.. *l! lllorl' i'll'ljUt'lltly If d 'ignificant ac!Hin lln"Llr". Montlil: upddll'.., 011 all pend mg 2.20(1 pctit1Pth an: a\ :iil.ihk 1ir1 Nl{(".., v.cb :-itc at http://\\\\ read in i; -rm/t.ll>l"-C1ll IL'L'tion:../pcti ti lllh and in ttw PDR. Petition Technical Rr,ie\\ .\treting A petltitHl tedmical rn il'\V mce1rng nor only a.., a source l1l potenli.111) \ ,duahlt' information for NRC to evalu.tll' <.1 2.206 petitinn. hut aho afford.., tht? pelitioncr invoh't"l1lt'lll in lhe fC'\ iev. anJ decision-making procc..,.., through direct discus'\ions with NRC and the licensee Such a meeting \\/ill he held \\.hcnnt'r the stalt that it would he hc1wficial to !he review of the petition. Note that the meeting: can be offered at any time during rn iC\\ of a petition and i:-. open to puhlic nh'>crYation Director's Decision The NRc*.., official to a 2.206 pt'lit1011 j..., a Vvritten h\ the din.*ctor of the> .1pprnpriatc office that the rai.'>L'd in thi: pc1ition. The ageni..*) *s goal j.., to iv.;uc a propo:-.ed deci:..i()n for comment \'l:ithin I from lht: datt: of the acknowkdl.!mcnt kttcr. Howe\ er, additional time may bL-n:'cJL'd to conduct an inve<.;tigation. complete :in in..,pe\.:tion. or anal)/t' particularly compln technical If the goal mit rneL the NRC ... 1aff \\ill promptly inform the pctitinm'r ut .1 "l:hcduk d1ang.: rhc direL"lor> dCCl'1lllll include:-lhL' rm)fr..,..,il'llal ... tan*..., l'\aluatinn of all pcrt1nt'Jl! 1nfilrtll.lli1in hi1m thc pclllHHl. c1Jrrnpondt'I1l'l' \\ ith thl..' pl'lll11nwr anU th(" lil'L'lht'l' rnforn1ati11n !rorn am met'tine. of an\ im or and any Plhe.1 dPL'LlllWllh rcl,1k'd tu petition i .. :-.uc .... Ful!1l\\ ing re .... nlu!i11n u! :111\ comment... 1-c*ceivetl on the piopo:..ed dcci..,i(,111. lhe directtir\ deci:-.iun i" pnl\ Jdcd 111 ttlL' pl'litinnt'I and the liccn..,cL'. and h pn'>tl'd 1t1 NRc*.., wch ... ill' anJ maLk a\ ail.ibk 111 tht: PDR /\ notice of availahili!\ j, puhlt"hl*d 111 thc !-td,*111l lfrgl\N1 , I >m:ct11r*, dcL*i-..1on\ llU\ hL* '""11ed ,1.., fn!!,1i.\ ... *\ dt..'u ... H111 pant1nC! a pctllillll, m !u!l. c\plain ..... thL' ha"i' ftir tht.' dL'1.:io.;i11n and µr..tnh the action rL'LJUC'>ted in the pcli!ion (c.µ., i":-.uing an order to -.u..,pL'll<l. or rt'\'OkL' ;i lict:n"L' l. A dc1..*1-..Hlll a petition. 111 tu!L provide.., th;: for the denial .md di:..Cll'>">C.'-1 all rnatlt'.1" ra1 ... ed in the pLtitil'!l ;\ dc-ci'>ion granting .t pt'tilJllll. in pan. in <.:a"e" where the NRC decide ... not to 2ran! the action but take.., l;the1 appropriate enfon.:cment action or dm:ct'> thi.: liccn:-.ec to lake ccnain that adt.lre..,.., the identified safety concern..;. A partial <lirecto1 may be issued hy the NRC in where some of the as1,ociated with the petition can he completed promptly but significant are anticipated resolution of the entire petition. A final director's decision is issued at the conclusion of the effort. The Commission will not entertain requests for review of a director's decision. However. on its own. it may review a decision within 25 calendar days. NRC Management Directive 8.11. '"Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions." contains more detailed information on citizen petitions. For a free copy of the directive. write to the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office. P.O. Box 37082, Washington. DC 20013-7082. or call 202-512-1800. Electronic Access Those parts of the monthly status report on 2.206 petitions that are not of a sensitive nature. as well as recently issued director's decisions. and Management Directive 8.11. are placed on the NRC's web site at http:// www. nrc. gov /reading-rm/doc-collections/ petitions 206/index.html and in the agency's Public Document Room. Other Processes for Public Involvement In addition to the 2.206 petition process, NRC has several other ways that permit the public to express concerns on matters related to the NRC's regulatory activities.

• The NRC's allegarion process affords individuals who raise safety concerns a degree of protection of their identity.

• Under the provisions of JO CFR 2.802, NRC provides an opportunity for the public to petition the agency for a rulemaking.

• The NRC's licensi11g process offers members of the public. who are specifically affected by a licensing action. an opportunity to formally participate in licensing proceedings. This process applies not only to the initial licensing actions but also to license amendments and other activities such as missioning and license renewals.

• For major regulatory actions involving preparation of environmental impact statements, NRC offers separate opportunities for public participation in its em*ironmental proceedinp,s.

• The public can attend a number of meetinp,s including open Commission and staff meetings, periodic media briefings by Regional Administrators. and special meetings held near affected facilities to inform local communities and respond to their questions. More information on these activities can be found in NRC's pamphlet entitled. "Public Involvement in the Nuclear Regulatory Process." NUREG/BR-0215.

Office of Public Affairs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-000 l Telephone 301-415-8200 or 1-800-368-5642 NUREG/BR-0200. Rev. 5 February 2om R. Ayers No. ML 15226A312). I have enclosed the associated brochure NUREG/BR-0200, "Public Petition Process," with this letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML050900248). I would like to express my appreciation to FOE for bringing these matters to the attention of the NRC. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Lisa Regner at Lisa.Regner@nrc.gov, 301-415-1906; or Ms. Margaret Watford at Margaret.Watford@nrc.gov, 301-415-1233. Sincerely, IRA/ William M. Dean Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499

Enclosures:

1. Federal Register Notice 2. NUREG/BR-0200, "Public Petition Process" cc: Mr. Edwin D. Halpin Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant P.O. Box 56, Mail Code 104/6 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Listserv DISTRIBUTION: SRM-M150521A-2; CLl-15-14 PUBLIC LPL4-1 Reading RidsACRS_MailCTR Resource RidsEdoMailCenter Resource RidsNrrDorl Resource RidsNrrDorlLpl4-1 Resource RidsNrrLAJBurkhardt Resource RidsNrrMailCenter Resource RidsNrrOd Resource RidsNrrPMDiabloCanyon Resource RidsOcaMailCenter Resource RidsOpaMailCenter Resource ADAMS A ccess1on N Pk ML15226A316 L OS. :Q ' etter ML 16084A71 FRN ML 7, OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4-1/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4-1 /LA QTE* NAME LRegner JBurkhardt CHsu DATE 3/28/16 3/28/16 3/24/16 RidsRgn4MailCenter Resource RidsSecyMailCenter Resource MBanic, NRR TMcGinty, NRR YLi, NRR 16084A737 *see previous concurrence NRR/DRP/PGCB* NRR/DE/EMCB/BC* MBanic YLi 3/29/16 3/29/16 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4-1 /BC* OGC (NLO)* NRR/DSS/PRB Chair* NRR/DORL NRR/D NAME RPascarelli SLewman TMcGinty ABoland WDean DATE 3/30/16 3/29/16 3/29/16 4/1 /16 4/12/16 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY