* A draft of the early site permit guidelines was released in December, and the NRC hopes to finalize them by the end of the year. The three utilities are using the draft to guide their applications. "So how", asks the Hampton Roads Daiy Press, "can Dominion submit an application three months before the guidelines are even finalized?" The paper's answer: Michael Scott, ESP process project manager at the NRC, said the NRC, the utilities and their trade group, the Nuclear Energy Institute, are regularly discussing ways the guidelines might change, and any remaining issues can be resolved while the NRC reviews an application.

April 21, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

Grand Gulf

* [2007-04-18] NUREG-1840, "Safety Evaluation Report for an Early Site Permit (ESP) at the Grand Gulf Site." ML061070443 2006-04-30 544 05200009 NUREG-1840 2006-04-30 2006-04-17 NUREG-1840 Safety Evaluation Report for an Early Site Permit (ESP) at the Grand Gulf ESP Site \ Docket Nos. 52-009 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Washington, DC 20555-0001 A

* [2007-04-18] Title Page for Grand Gulf FSER, NUREG-1840. ML061070042 2006-04-30 1 05200009 2006-04-30 2006-04-17 NUREG-1840 Safety Evaluation Report for an Early Site Permit (ESP) at the Grand Gulf Site Docket No. 52-009 Manuscript Completed: October 2005 Date Published: April 2006 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Rea

North Anna

* [2007-04-18] 2006/04/07-North Anna ESP - Notice of Withdrawal for Michael A. Woods ML061010246 2006-04-07 3 05200008 +reviewedgfw +reviewednxp1 52-008-ESP ASLBP 04-822-02-ESP RAS 11513 2006-04-07 2006-04-17 2006-04-07 April 7, 2006 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the Matter of ) ) DOMINION NU

* [2007-04-17] Press Release-II-07-021: Licensing Board Schedules Evidentiary Hearing For North Anna Early Site Permit. ML071030410 2007-04-13 2 05200008 Press Release-II-07-021 2007-04-13 2007-04-16 NRC NEWS UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-07-021 April 13, 2007 CONTACT: Ken Clark (40

Vogtle

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Early Site Permit Alternative Sites Trip Report. ML071020310 2006-12-12 11 05200011 Job Code J3329 2006-12-12 2007-04-20 -I1 MM Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy December 12, 2006 Ms. Elinor Cunningham Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissio

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Early Site Permit Application - Response to Request for Additional Information on Hydrology. ML071020260 2006-12-27 12 05200011 AR-06-2865 2006-12-27 2007-04-20 J. A. "Buzz" Miller Southern Nuclear Senior Vice President Operating Company, Inc. Nuclear Development 40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Tel 205.992.5754 Fax 205.992.6165 SO

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Early Site Permit Site Audit Trip Report. ML071020317 2006-12-12 16 05200011 Job Code J3329 2006-12-12 2007-04-20 5, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy December 12, 2006 Ms. Elinor Cunningham Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Government and Public Meetings Trip Summary Report. ML071020304 2006-05-22 9 05200011 Job Code J3012 2006-05-22 2007-04-20 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy May 22, 2006 Ms. Sally Adams Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Initial Scouting Trip Summary Report. ML071020306 2006-04-12 6 05000321 05000366 05200011 Job Code J3012 2006-04-12 2007-04-20 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy April 12, 2006 Ms. Sally Adams Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commiss

* [2007-04-21] Vogtle Revised Initial Scouting Trip Summary Report. ML071020300 2006-04-14 6 05000321 05000366 05200011 Job Code J3012 2006-04-14 2007-04-20 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy April 14, 2006 Ms. Sally Adams Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commiss

* [2007-04-20] 2007/04/17-Commission Memorandum and Order (CLI-07-17). ML071090195 2007-04-17 11 05200011 52-011-ESP ASLBP 07-850-01-ESP-BD01 CLI-07-17 RAS 158 2007-04-17 2007-04-19 2007-04-17 1LBP-07-03, slip op. (March 12, 2007). 2LBP-07-03, slip op. at 44. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS DOCKETED 04/17/07 Dale E

* [2007-04-20] 2007/04/18-Memorandum and Order (Regarding Prehearing Conference on Scheduling) ML071090196 2007-04-18 4 05200011 52-011-ESP ASLBP 07-850-01-ESP-BD01 RAS 159 2007-04-18 2007-04-19 2007-04-18 1 The Joint Intervenors include the Center for a Sustainable Coast, Savannah Riverkeeper, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Atlanta WomenÕs Action for New Directions, a

* [2007-04-20] Draft Technical Information for Preliminary Site Evaluation Report (PSER). ML070650427 2007-03-06 2 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja 2007-03-06 2007-04-19 March 6, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Stephanie M. Coffin, Chief AP 1000 Projects Branch 1 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors FROM: Clifford G. Munson, Chief (acting) Geosciences and Geotec

* [2007-04-20] Letter from PNNL to Robert Moody dated December 8, 2006. ML063540103 2006-12-08 1 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja Job Code J3329 2006-12-08 2007-04-19 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy December 8, 2006 Mr. Robert Moody Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response Division of

* [2007-04-20] Ltr to Vanessa E. Quinn - Vogtle Early Site Permit (ESP) Application - Supplemental Emergency Planning Information (Compact Disc). ML062980350 2006-10-25 2 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja 2006-10-25 2007-04-19 October 25, 2006 Vanessa E. Quinn, Chief Radiological Emergency Preparedness Branch Chemical and Nuclear Preparedness and Protection Division Department of Homeland Security 1800 South Bell Street, Room

* [2007-04-20] Request for Additional Information and Preliminary Safety Analysis Report Input for the Vogtle Early Site Permit Application. ML070330513 2007-02-01 2 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja 2007-02-01 2007-04-19 February 1, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Stephanie M. Coffin, Chief AP1000 Projects 1 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors FROM: Margie A. Kotzalas, Chief /RA/ Accident Dose Branch Division o

* [2007-04-20] Scanned Document - (E-mail) Initial Draft EP Review of Vogtle ESP Application. ML063240552 2006-11-17 6 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja 2006-11-17 2007-04-19 Daniel Barss~ Initial Urati LP Heview of Vogtte ESP Application rage ~I Daniel Barssz Initial Dr t EP KeVieW 01 V09tie EbF'Application P'age 11 From: Daniel Barss To: Bruce Musico; Christian Araguas; Co

* [2007-04-20] Vogtle Early Site Permit Application re Supplemental Information Concerning Emergency Action Levels and Generic Communications. ML070650557 2007-03-01 302 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja AR-07-0404 2007-03-01 2007-04-19 J. A. "Buzz" llerie Soaahem Nuclear Senior Vice President Operating Companyf, Inc. Nuclear Development 40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Tel 205.992.5

* [2007-04-20] Vogtle Early Site Permit Application Supplemental Emergency Planning Information in Electronic Format. ML062790292 2006-10-04 3 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja AR-06-2295 2006-10-04 2007-04-19 J. A. 'Buzz" Miller Southern Nuclear Senior Vice President Operating Company, Inc. Nuclear Development 40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Tel 205.992.5

* [2007-04-20] Vogtle, Memo, Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report (PSER) Input and Request for Additional Information for the Vogtle Early Site Permit Chapter 2.3. ML070430088 2007-02-12 2 05200011 +findbmpk +reviewedcja 2007-02-12 2007-04-19 February 12, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Stephanie M. Coffin, Chief AP1000 Projects Branch 1 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors FROM: Rebecca L. Karas, Acting Chief /RA/ Thomas Cheng for S

March 23, 2007

North Anna Early Site Permit - licensing board sets out subjects for evidentiary hearings

The following "Specific Topics for the Evidentiary Hearing Testimony" were announced by the Atomic Safety Licensing Board responsible for North Anna Early Site Permit:
* Site Characterization - Hydrology, Soil, Vadose Zone, Groundwater, and Aquifers;
* Tritium;
* Zero Release Commitment;
* Radiological Releases and Doses from Normal Operations;
* Surface Water Impacts and Possible Mitigation Measures;
* Seismic Safety;
* NEPA Alternatives;

For more details, see today's entry at nuclear.com's North Anna page

March 8, 2007

* NRC Votes to Approve Early Site Permit for Clinton Site | Exelon has no plan to build a new nuclear plant at location in near future
Exelon Nuclear press release

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today voted to approve an Early Site Permit (ESP) for Exelon Generation Company, LLC. The ESP resolves with finality certain environmental, site suitability and emergency planning issues with regard to the possible construction and operation of a new nuclear plant next to the Clinton Power Station in Clinton, Ill. The next step in NRC's permit process is for NRC staff to actually issue the permit, which must occur within 10 days of the commission's vote. Exelon was the first to apply for an ESP, and will be the first company to receive an early site permit under the never before used licensing process. Exelon has not decided to move forward with building a new nuclear plant. "Certain conditions would have to fall into place before Exelon would consider building a plant: a workable solution to the spent fuel disposal problem; community acceptance; the right reactor technology; and the economics must be favorable," said Marilyn Kray, Exelon Nuclear Vice President. The 20-year permit allows Exelon to "bank" a site for a possible power plant; however, it does not authorize construction of a new plant. Should the company decide to build a power plant, it would need to apply for a combined operating license.

March 3, 2007

Environmental analysis for ESPs need not consider terrorism, sez Vogtle lawyers

One of the contentions brought up by intervenors in Vogtle Early Site Permit case (and other ESP cases) is that an analysis of the environmental impacts of terrorist attacks is required to meet NEPA. On March 1, Southern Nuclear Operating Company filed a legal brief explaining why the Vogtle ESP licensing board should dismiss this contention (contention EC 4). The legal brief discusses NRC's findings in other cases, and NRC's recent decisions which establish, Southern argues, a clear course of action by the licensing board in current case. In a February 26, 2007 decision in Grand Gulf case, for example, NRC found that "There is no basis for admitting [the] terrorism contention in [an] early site permit proceeding... The 'environmental' effect caused by third-party miscreants 'is ... simply too far removed from the natural or expected consequences of agency action to require a study under NEPA.'" The legal brief also discusses recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision about Diablo Canyon ISFSI which does require consideration of terrorism. Southern argues that the court ruling is not precedent for this case, citing the subsequent Grand Gulf ESP proceeding, where NRC noted that it was "refusing to follow the Mothers for Peace decision outside the Ninth Circuit." One of the notable quotes in the brief is from NRC's 2002 decision in Skull Valley case: "[A]n EIS is not an appropriate format to address the challenges of terrorism. The purpose of an EIS is to inform the decisionmaking agency and the public of a broad range of environmental impacts that will result, with a fair degree of likelihood, from a proposed project, rather than to speculate about 'worst case' scenarios and how to prevent them." Southern's legal brief is available as ADAMS ACN ML070600797.

February 27, 2007

Vogtle Early Site Permit ASLB considers whether hearings on environmental contentions could begin after draft EIS, to expedite process

Southern Nuclear Operating Co. is concerned that, if hearings are begun after EIS is finalized, the process could take too long. The company believes that if hearings are required, they could begin after draft EIS is issued. NRC staff and the petitioners see it differently, noting that NRC regulations do not provide for going to hearing on environmental issues in advance of the issuance of the final EIS. Actually, the two sides are not so far apart on this matter, as the utility recognizes that the Board would have to get specific authority from the Commission to change the normal hearing process. The petitioners, however, believe that expediting the ESP proceeding could potentially undermine its integrity. The Board tasked NRC staff with submitting a report setting forth the various participants' positions on the matter. The report, dated February 23, 2007, is available as ADAMS ACN ML070540378.

February 14, 2006

Need for power in Environmental Report?

In a telephone conference about Early Site Permit Environmental Report for Plant Vogtle, the utility committed to provide NRC staff with a white paper on whether need for power analysis is necessary. A summary of the telephone call is available via ADAMS as ML060660223. The utility also told NRC that alternative sites being considered are Plant Hatch, Farley and a greenfield site.

March 12, 2004

* North Anna ESP opposed by newly formed People's Alliance for Clean Energy, as well as BREDL, PC and NIRS

* Virginia - not that great for solar, sez Dominion

January 23, 2004

Grand Gulf ESP application - intervenors abound, environmental justice to be an issue

Entergy's plan to "bank" an early site permit for another nuclear plant at Grand Gulf is being opposed by anti-nuclear groups -- pretty much the same groups that successfully opposed Louisiana Energy Services plan to build a uranium enrichment plant in the area. The Electricity Daily reports that the groups intend to use the same environmental justice argument that carried the day in that case "against any possible Entergy nuclear generating plans." Nathalie Walker of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights of New Orleans told the Daily that the people will fight to the death to stop Entergy from dumping a dangerous nuclear facility in the Port Gibson African American community. Sierra Club Mississippi chapter contact voiced similar sentiment: Once again in Mississippi, low-income African-Americans are being placed at risk of harm so a greedy corporation can make big profits. Critical Mass, NIRS, and the state's Green Party are amongst the expected intervenors.

[Ref: The Electricity Daily, "No-Nukers Rally Against Entergy s Site Banking Plan", January 26, 2004]

November 19, 2003

Grand Gulf - the third early site applicant

The Grand Gulf early site permit application is available electronically at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html -- enter ML032960315 as the search term.

October 15, 2003, 2003

* The Clinton early site permit application is available electronically at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html -- enter ML032721596 as the search term.

October 3, 2003

Review schedule for first two ESP applications

NRC staff will initally perform an acceptance review of the ESP applications. This is NRC's "quick look" to see if the application is of suffcient quality to warrant full technical review. In accordance with NRC's resource and budgeting plans for FY 2004, the staff's technical review of the Dominion application will begin immediately after acceptance of the application for docketing, while the technical review of the Exelon application will begin at the end of November 2003.
[Ref: NRC Office of EDO, Weekly Information Report, ctober 3, 2003]

September 25, 2003

First applications filed for Early Site Permits - Clinton, North Anna

No permits for new nuclear power stations have been issued in the United States since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. But today, Exelon and Dominion filed applications requesting NRC approval for construction of a standardized design plant at their Clinton (Exelon) and North Anna (Dominion) sites. NRC's application review process is expected to take about 33 months. Each utility would then have twenty years (renewable to forty) to decide on and build a new plant at their site. The utilities have not decided if or when or what to build if their permit is approved. The USDOE contributed towards the cost of preparing the applications.

[Refs: Exelon press release, "Exelon Is the First to File an Early Site Permit Application With NRC", September 25, 2003 2:45 pm ET; and Reuters, "Utilities seek permits for possible nuke projects", September 25, 2003 6:13 pm ET]

September 11, 2003

After years of no applications for new US n-plants, three expected this fall

... three energy companies are planning to ask the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to build new reactors. If issued, the permits would be the first ones to be granted since the early 1970s.

Dominion Resources, a utility based in Richmond, Va., will most likely be first, with a filing planned for this month. Later this fall, Entergy is expected to request a permit for a new reactor at its Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Miss. Also expected this fall is a filing from AmerGen Energy, an Exelon unit that wants to expand its Clinton Power Station in Clinton, Ill.

... The companies face a year-and-a-half wait for approval. A new reactor would take six to seven years to construct and cost about $6.5 billion, figures Dominion CEO Thomas Capps.

Asking for a permit now could shave years off that timetable, although Dominion doesn't have immediate plans to build. "We're keeping our options open," Capps says. It's still a long way to new nukes.

[Source: Christopher Palmeri, "No nukes? On second thought...", Business Week, September 15, 2003, p. 12]

June 4, 2003: NRC today released the Inspection Manual chapter related to early site permit phase. This phase begins when the prospective applicant informs NRC of intent to apply for an ESP, and it continues until the ESP expires or a combined operating license or construction permit is issued. The 9-page document includes a time-line of events in the ESP process, such as an ASLB environmental hearing. A pdf version of the chapter -- IMC 2501 -- is available here.

May 2003

* Early Site Permits - flowchart of NRC review process -- from May 2003 presentation by Nanette Gilles (NRC New Reactor Licensing Project Office) and Thomas J. Kenyon (NRC License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program) -- ML042330210

April 17, 2003: Dominion Virginia Power "is at the forefront as the nuclear industry is quietly gearing up to get the first new reactors built in 20 years", reports a Virginia newspaper, the Hampton Roads Daily Press. The first new reactor, it notes, could be built at North Anna. Dominion hasn't made any commitments to build a reactor there, or anywhere else, but the company "wants to have that option when it looks at future energy needs", the article reports. Dominion told the NRC that the company plans to file an early site permit application for the North Anna site in September. Dominion spokesperson Richard Zuercher is quoted: "This allows us to bank the site for 20 years. We want to demonstrate that this process does work."

[Source: Chris Flores (Hampton Roads Daily Press), "Dominion unlikely to go unplugged: No nuclear plans, but Virginia unit in position to act", April 17, 2003]

DOE to pay half the $11-million ESP costs: Dominion expects the North Anna ESP application to cost $11-million, according to Dominion Resources spokesperson Richard Zuercher. The U.S. Department of Energy will pay half of that -- as an incentive for companies to apply and demonstrate that the new licensing process works.

[Source: Chris Flores (Daily Press), "Dominion unlikely to go unplugged: No nuclear plans, but Virginia unit in position to act", April 17, 2003]

April 1, 2003: Dominion is expected to begin work on the early site applications by July and to have them ready to file with the NRC by September.

[Source: Rusty Dennen (The Free Lance-Star), "North Anna's plan to add reactors goes to public", The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg Virginia), April 1, 2003]

2002

April 5, 2002: Reuters reports that "Several energy companies are taking early steps that might lead to licensing the first nuclear power plant in the U.S. since the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, although the plans appear likely to remain on the drawing boards for the next few years... An early site permit allows a company to "bank" the land for up to 20 years for possibly building a new reactor -- without having to specify the reactor type or committing to construction. The program, launched by the NRC in 1999 to smooth the way for new reactors, has not yet been tested... Although plans are preliminary, the fact that three utilities are considering permits is a big step for an industry that has been virtually in a deep freeze for decades."

Dominion Resources Inc. told NRC this week it intends to seek an early site permit for a possible new reactor at its two-unit North Anna power plant in Virginia. "We want to keep our options open, but we have no plans to build a new nuclear power plant," said Dominion Resources spokesman Richard Zuercher. "We're more interested in demonstrating the process than building anything," he said, adding that Dominion plans to apply for an early site permit in autumn 2003.

Exelon Nuclear, the largest nuclear fleet operator in the country intends to submit an early site bid by June 30, 2003. A company spokesman said Exelon will identify the site, or sites, by that time.

And a spokesman for Entergy Corp., the nation's second largest operator of nuclear plants, said the company is "actively" considering filing one or two early site permits.