ML25154A110
| ML25154A110 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 06/13/2025 |
| From: | Harris B, Michele Sampson NRC/NRR/DNRL/NLRP |
| To: | Coleman J Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25154A102 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML25154A110 (1) | |
Text
Jamie M. Coleman Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.
3535 Colonnade Parkway, N 274.EC Birmingham, AL 35243-1295
SUBJECT:
EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - DETERMINATION OF ACCEPTABILITY AND SUFFICIENCY FOR DOCKETING, PROPOSED REVIEW SCHEDULE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING REGARDING THE SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC APPLICATION FOR SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL
Dear Jamie Coleman:
By letter dated May 15, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25135A390), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. submitted an application for subsequent license renewal of Facility Operating License No. DPR-57 and NPF-5 for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Hatch), to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). By letter dated May 23, 2025 (ML25127A196), and Federal Register Notice dated June 2, 2025 (90 FR 23383), the NRC noticed the receipt and availability of this application.
The NRC staff reviewed your application following the guidance in NUREG-2192, Revision 0, Standard Review Plan for Review of Subsequent License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants, and NUREG-1555, Supplement 1, Revision 1, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, to determine if the application is sufficient and acceptable for docketing in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.101, Filing of application, 51.45, Environmental report, 51.53(c),
Postconstruction environmental reports, 54.19, Contents of application--general information, 54.21, Contents of application-technical information, 54.22, Contents of application-technical specifications, and 54.23, Contents of application-environmental information. The acceptance review is intended to identify whether the application is reasonably complete and conforms to the timing and information requirements in applicable regulations.
Based on the results of the NRC staffs sufficiency review, the NRC staff has concluded that the application is acceptable for docketing. The staffs determination that the application is acceptable for docketing does not preclude requests for additional information or topic specific audits. Additionally, the determination to accept the application for docketing does not constitute a determination that a renewed operating license should be issued. During the NRC staffs detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified. You will be June 13, 2025
J. Coleman advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.
This letter also forwards the NRC staffs projected review schedule for the subsequent license renewal application (SLRA) (Enclosure 1). The NRC staff will follow established review procedures and the enclosed schedule to complete the reviews required by 10 CFR Parts 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Functions, and Part 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants. Regarding the environmental review, the staff will document its findings in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. The staff will prepare an environmental assessment that will be used to determine whether an environmental impact statement is necessary, or a finding of no significant impact is warranted to satisfy the NRCs NEPA obligations.
Based on the information provided in your submittal and discussions during the pre-application meetings, the NRC staff has estimated that the review of this SLRA will take approximately 7,700 hours0.0081 days <br />0.194 hours <br />0.00116 weeks <br />2.6635e-4 months <br /> for the safety review and approximately 2,800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> for the environmental review for a total of 10,500 hours0.00579 days <br />0.139 hours <br />8.267196e-4 weeks <br />1.9025e-4 months <br /> to complete. These hours include both staff and contractor hours. If there are emergent complexities or challenges in our review that would cause changes to the initial forecasted completion date or significant changes in the forecasted hours, the reasons for the changes, along with the new estimates will be communicated via separate correspondence. Milestones for hearing activities that may be needed are not included in the enclosed schedule because these dates, if needed, would be established by the Commission or the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
The NRC staffs review schedule relies on your resolution of audit issues and responses to the NRC staff's initial round of requests for additional information (RAI), if needed, being of high quality and provided in a timely manner. A timely response is defined as 30 days from the date of the request, or within such other time as may be specified in the request in accordance with 10 CFR 2.108, Denial of application for failure to supply information. You should also be prepared to provide high quality support in a timely and organized manner during technical audits determined necessary by the NRC staff. Additional rounds of RAIs and delays in NRC staffs receipt of necessary information could result in changes to the plan for evaluating and processing your application, up to and including the denial of your application in accordance with the regulations or a significant delay in the schedule based on the overall workload for the NRC staff involved in the review. We request that you inform the NRC staff in writing as early as possible should potential delays arise in your support of the schedule. The NRC staffs goal is to complete the review in 12 months provided that the staffs information needs for the application are addressed in a timely manner.
If you have any questions on this matter, please contact Brian Harris at Brian.Harris2@nrc.gov or Ashley Waldron at Ashley.Waldron@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Michele Sampson, Director Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos: 50-321 & 50-366
Enclosure:
Federal Register Notice cc w/encl: Listserv Paige, Jason signing on behalf of Sampson, Michele on 06/13/25
PKG: ML25154A102 LTR: ML25154A110 FRN: ML25154A111
- via eConcurrence NRR-106 OFFICE PM/NLRP/DNRL LA/DNRL PM/EPMB1/REFS NAME BHarris KBratcher*
AWaldron*
DATE 05/28/2025 6/3/2025 06/11/2025 OFFICE BC/EPMB1/REFS (A)BC/NLRP/DNRL D/DNRL NAME SKoenick*
ANeuhausen*
MSampson*
DATE 06/11/2025 06/12/2025
Enclosure EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW SCHEDULE Milestone Scheduled Actual Receive Subsequent License Renewal Application (SLRA) 05/15/2025 5/15/2025 Publish Letter - SLRA Availability 05/2025 5/23/2025 Publish Letter - Docketing Acceptance/Rejection and Opportunity for Hearing 06/2025 Deadline for Filing Hearing Requests and Petitions for Intervention 08/2025 Issue Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for State Review 01/2026 Issue Final EA 03/2026 Issue Safety Evaluation Report 05/2026 Decision - Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 06/2026