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{{#Wiki_filter:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD Before Administrative Judges:
{{#Wiki_filter:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD Before Administrative Judges:
Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman Dr. Michael F. Kennedy Dr. Richard E. Wardwell In the Matter of  
Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman Dr. Michael F. Kennedy Dr. Richard E. Wardwell In the Matter of                                       Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.                      ASLBP No. 07-858-03-LR-BD01 (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3)        June 7, 2012 ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)
On June 1, 2012, the NRC Staff filed its Fourth Status Report (the Report) which, inter alia, updated the Board on its ongoing safety and environmental reviews.1 Regarding the NRC Staffs safety review, the Report stated that [t]he Staff had previously estimated that it will issue a Supplement to the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) to address the Applicants Reactor Vessel Internals Aging Management Program and Inspection Plan in August 2012. The NRC Staff notes that the estimated date for issuance of the SER Supplement could change, depending upon the substance and completeness of the Applicants answers to the Staffs RAIs.2 Although this ongoing review impacts Contention NYS-25 and the related portion of NYS-38/RK-TC-5, currently being held in abeyance,3 the NRC Staff also noted that this review 1
NRC Staffs Fourth Status Report in Response to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards Order of February 16, 2012 (June 1, 2012) [hereinafter June 1, 2012 Staff Update].
2 Id. at 2.
3 Id.


ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.
should not affect the litigation of any other portion of Contention NYS-38/RK-TC-5 or any other admitted contention.4 The Report also addressed the NRC Staffs ongoing NEPA review. On May 17, 2012, the NRC Staff contacted the Board stating that, though they were reinitiating consultations with National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), they did not expect this development to affect the issuance of the Draft Supplement to the Staffs Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement [FEIS]5 forecasted for May 31, 2012. Just two weeks later, the NRC Staff informed the Board that, though it missed the May 31 deadline, it now expects to publish the Draft FEIS Supplement on or before July 6, 2012, even though the NRC Staff does not expect to conclude consultations with NMFS until August 14, 2012, and does not expect to receive NMFSs Biological Opinion until September 28, 2012.6 The NRC Staff stated that it does not expect that its issuance of the Draft FEIS Supplement will affect the litigation of any admitted contention in this proceeding, other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8 (Endangered Species).7 In light of the NRC Staffs most recent Status Report, the Board has become increasingly concerned that the Staffs review will not be finalized prior to the anticipated October hearing dates, a prospect that seemed unlikely until the latest timelines summarized above were revealed.
(Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3)  
Section 2.332(d) states that [h]earings on safety issues may be commenced before a publication of the NRC staffs safety evaluation upon a finding by the presiding officer that commencing the hearings at that time would expedite the proceeding.8 However, hearings on 4
Id. at 2, n.5 (emphasis added).
5 Letter from Sherwin E. Turk, Counsel for the NRC Staff, to the ASLB Licensing Board (May 17, 2012).
6 June 1, 2012 Staff Update at 2-3.
7 Id. at 3.
8 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d).


Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR
environmental issues addressed in the EIS may not commence before the issuance of the final EIS.9 The Commission confirmed the lack of options licensing boards have to alter this regulation in CLI-07-17, emphasizing that a Board lacks discretion to proceed to hearing on an accelerated basis on environmental issues because . . . [the Staffs] work on environmental issues requires compliance with the public participation and public comment processes of NEPA and associated regulations.10 Separately, the Commission has found that the Staff Supplements (i.e., the Supplemental FEIS and the Supplemental SER) prevented the documents from being viewed as finalized and prevented the licensing board proceeding to evidentiary hearing on environmental issues.11 In light of the foregoing, the Board directs the NRC Staff to respond to the following questions:
 
: 1)  Why does the NRC Staff intend to publish the Draft Supplemental FEIS and make the document available for public comment in July 2012, when consultations with NMFS will not be completed until August 14, 2012 and a Biological Opinion will not be released until September 28, 2012?
ASLBP No. 07-858-03-LR-BD01 June 7, 2012 ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)
: 2) How confident is the NRC Staff that it expects the Draft Supplemental FEIS will not impact contentions other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that there will be no impacts on other admitted contentions? Specifically explain any uncertainties regarding the scope of the Draft Supplemental FEIS and the process for the resolution of those uncertainties.
On June 1, 2012, the NRC Staff filed its Fourth Status Report (the Report) which, inter alia, updated the Board on its ongoing safety and environmental reviews.
9 Id.
1  Regarding the NRC Staff's safety review, the Report stated that "[t]he Staff had previously estimated that it will issue a Supplement to the Safety Evaluation Report ("SER") to address the Applicant's Reactor Vessel Internals Aging Management Program and Inspection Plan in August 2012. The NRC Staff notes that the estimated date for issuance of the SER Supplement could change, depending upon the substance and completeness of the Applicant's answers to the Staff's RAIs."2  Although this ongoing review impacts Contention NYS-25 and the related portion of NYS-38/RK-TC-5, currently being held in abeyance, 3 the NRC Staff also noted that this review 1  NRC Staff's Fourth Status Report in Response to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board's Order of February 16, 2012 (June 1, 2012) [hereinafter June 1, 2012 Staff Update].
10 S. Nuclear Operating Co. (Early Site Permit for Vogtle ESP Site), CLI-07-17, 65 NRC 392, 395 (2007).
2  Id. at 2. 3  Id.    "should not affect the litigation of any other portion of Contention NYS-38/RK-TC-5 or any other admitted contention."
11 Duke Energy Corp. (McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2), CLI-01-20, 54 NRC 211, 214 (2001).
4    The Report also addressed the NRC Staff's ongoing NEPA review. On May 17, 2012, the NRC Staff contacted the Board stating that, though they were reinitiating consultations with National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), they did "not expect this development to affect the issuance of the Draft Supplement to the Staff's Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement [FEIS]"
: 3) In light of the fact that Entergy RAI answers are not expected until June 14, 2012, by when will the NRC Staff review those answers and determine whether the SER Supplement will be issued in August 2012?
5 forecasted for May 31, 2012. Just two weeks later, the NRC Staff informed the Board that, though it missed the May 31 deadline, it now expects to publish the Draft FEIS Supplement on or before July 6, 2012, even though the NRC Staff does not expect to conclude consultations with NMFS until August 14, 2012, and does not expect to receive NMFS's Biological Opinion until September 28, 2012.
: 4) How confident is the NRC Staff that the SER Supplement should not affect any other contention except the known portions of NYS-38/RK-TC-5 and NYS-25? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that no other contentions will be impacted?
6  The NRC Staff stated that it does not "
: 5) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17, is the Board obligated to suspend current proceedings on environmental issues until the NRC Staff has completed its environmental review and issued the FEIS Supplement or, in the NRC Staffs view, may we proceed to hearing at this time on all environmental contentions except Riverkeeper EC-8 and why?
expect that its issuance of the Draft FEIS Supplement will affect the litigation of any admitted contention in this proceeding, other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8 (Endangered Species)."
: 6) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d) and CLI-07-17, and the recent delays, does the NRC Staff believe that moving forward on safety issues is not adversely impacting the staffs ability to complete its reviews in a timely manner?12 12 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d).
7  In light of the NRC Staff's most recent Status Report, the Board has become increasingly concerned that the Staff's review will not be finalized prior to the anticipated October hearing dates, a prospect that seemed unlikely until the latest timelines summarized above were revealed.
: 7) If 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17 require the Board to suspend proceedings at this point, in light of the fact that this proceeding began in 2007 and that we are now on the critical path to the evidentiary hearing, by when will the NRC Staff definitively finalize its environmental and safety reviews?
Section 2.332(d) states that "[h]earings on safety issues may be commenced before a publication of the NRC staff's safety evaluation upon a finding by the presiding officer that commencing the hearings at that time would expedite the proceeding."
NRC Staff responses to the above questions are due, in the form of a brief, by June 18, 2012. Responses to or comments on any NRC Staff answer may be submitted to the Board by any party on or before June 28, 2012.
8  However, "hearings on 4  Id. at 2, n.5 (emphasis added).
It is so ORDERED.
5  Letter from Sherwin E. Turk, Counsel for the NRC Staff, to the ASLB Licensing Board (May 17, 2012).
FOR THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD
6  June 1, 2012 Staff Update at 2-3.
                                                        /RA/
7  Id. at 3. 8 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d). environmental issues addressed in the EIS may not commence before the issuance of the final EIS."9 The Commission confirmed the lack of options licensing boards have to alter this regulation in CLI-07-17, emphasizing that a "Board lacks discretion to proceed to hearing on an accelerated basis on environmental issues because . . . [the Staff's] work on environmental issues requires compliance with the public participation and public comment processes of NEPA and associated regulations."
___________________________
10 Separately, the Commission has found that the Staff Supplements (i.e., the Supplemental FEIS and the Supplemental SER) prevented the documents from being viewed as "finalized" and prevented the licensing board proceeding to evidentiary hearing on environmental issues.
Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE Rockville, Maryland June 7, 2012
11 In light of the foregoing, the Board directs the NRC Staff to respond to the following questions: 1)  Why does the NRC Staff intend to publish the Draft Supplemental FEIS and make the document available for public comment in July 2012, when consultations with NMFS will not be completed until August 14, 2012 and a Biological Opinion will not be released until September 28, 2012? 2) How confident is the NRC Staff that it "expects" the Draft Supplemental FEIS will not impact contentions other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that there will be no impacts on other admitted contentions? Specifically explain any uncertainties regarding the scope of the Draft Supplemental FEIS and the process for the resolution of those uncertainties.
9 Id. 10 S. Nuclear Operating Co. (Early Site Permit for Vogtle ESP Site), CLI-07-17, 65 NRC 392, 395 (2007).
11 Duke Energy Corp. (McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2), CLI-01-20, 54 NRC 211, 214 (2001).
: 3) In light of the fact that Entergy RAI answers are not expected until June 14, 2012, by when will the NRC Staff review those answers and determine whether the SER Supplement will be issued in August 2012?   4) How confident is the NRC Staff that the SER Supplement "should not affect" any other contention except the known portions of NYS-38/RK-TC-5 and NYS-25? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that no other contentions will be impacted? 5) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17, is the Board obligated to suspend current proceedings on environmental issues until the NRC Staff has completed its environmental review and i ssued the FEIS Supplement or, in the NRC Staff's view, may we proceed to hearing at this time on all environmental contentions except Riverkeeper EC-8 and why? 6) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d) and CLI-07-17, and the recent delays, does the NRC Staff believe that moving forward on safety issues is "not adversely impacting the staff's ability to complete its reviews in a timely manner?"
12 12 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d).
: 7) If 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17 require the Board to suspend proceedings at this point, in light of the fact that this proceeding began in 2007 and that we are now on the critical path to the evidentiary hearing, by when will the NRC Staff definitively finalize its environmental and safety reviews?  
 
NRC Staff responses to the above questions are due, in the form of a brief, by June 18, 2012. Responses to or comments on any NRC Staff answer may be submitted to the Board by any party on or before June 28, 2012. It is so ORDERED. FOR THE ATOMIC SAFETY   AND LICENSING BOARD  
 
___________________________  
 
Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE Rockville, Maryland June 7, 2012  
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of  )  )
ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.  ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR 
  )  and 50-286-LR (Indian Point Nuclear Generating,  )
Units 2 and 3)  )
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
 
I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange.
 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication
 
Mail Stop O-7H4M Washington, DC  20555-0001 E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the Secretary of the Commission
 
Mail Stop O-16C1 Washington, DC  20555-0001 Hearing Docket
 
E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov
 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop T-3F23 Washington, DC  20555-0001
 
Lawrence G. McDade, Chair
 
Administrative Judge E-mail: lawrence.mcdade@nrc.gov
 
Richard E. Wardwell
 
Administrative Judge
 
E-mail: richard.wardwell@nrc.gov Kaye D. Lathrop Administrative Judge
 
190 Cedar Lane E.
 
Ridgway, CO  81432
 
E-mail: kaye.lathrop@nrc.gov Anne Siarnacki, Law Clerk
 
E-mail: anne.siarnacki@nrc.gov Shelbie Lewman, Law Clerk
 
E-mail:  shelbie.lewman@nrc.gov Sherwin E. Turk, Esq.
Edward L. Williamson, Esq.
Beth N. Mizuno, Esq. David E. Roth, Esq.


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of                                  )
                                                  )
ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.                  )              Docket Nos. 50-247-LR
                                                  )              and 50-286-LR (Indian Point Nuclear Generating,                  )
Units 2 and 3)                            )
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication            Office of the Secretary of the Commission Mail Stop O-7H4M                                      Mail Stop O-16C1 Washington, DC 20555-0001                              Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov                              Hearing Docket E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission                    Sherwin E. Turk, Esq.
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel                Edward L. Williamson, Esq.
Mail Stop T-3F23                                      Beth N. Mizuno, Esq.
Washington, DC 20555-0001                              David E. Roth, Esq.
Brian Harris, Esq.
Brian Harris, Esq.
Mary B. Spencer, Esq.  
Lawrence G. McDade, Chair                              Mary B. Spencer, Esq.
 
Administrative Judge                                  Anita Ghosh, Esq.
Anita Ghosh, Esq.
E-mail: lawrence.mcdade@nrc.gov                        Karl Farrar, Esq.
Karl Farrar, Esq.
Brian Newell, Paralegal Richard E. Wardwell                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Administrative Judge                                  Office of the General Counsel E-mail: richard.wardwell@nrc.gov                      Mail Stop O-15D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Kaye D. Lathrop                                        E-mail:
Brian Newell, Paralegal U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the General Counsel  
Administrative Judge                                  sherwin.turk@nrc.gov 190 Cedar Lane E.                                      edward.williamson@nrc.gov Ridgway, CO 81432                                      beth.mizuno@nrc.gov E-mail: kaye.lathrop@nrc.gov                          brian.harris.@nrc.gov david.roth@nrc.gov Anne Siarnacki, Law Clerk                              mary.spencer@nrc.gov E-mail: anne.siarnacki@nrc.gov                         anita.ghosh@nrc.gov Shelbie Lewman, Law Clerk                              karl.farrar@nrc.gov E-mail: shelbie.lewman@nrc.gov                         brian.newell@nrc.gov OGC Mail Center OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov
 
Mail Stop O-15D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: sherwin.turk@nrc.gov edward.williamson@nrc.gov beth.mizuno@nrc.gov brian.harris.@nrc.gov david.roth@nrc.gov mary.spencer@nrc.gov anita.ghosh@nrc.gov karl.farrar@nrc.gov brian.newell@nrc.gov OGC Mail Center OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov
 
Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) 2  William C. Dennis, Esq. Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY  10601 Email: wdennis@entergy.com Thomas F. Wood, Esq.
Daniel Riesel, Esq.
 
Victoria Shiah Treanor, Esq.
 
Adam Stolorow, Esq.
Jwala Gandhi, Paralegal Peng Deng, Paralegal Counsel for Town of Cortlandt Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.
 
460 Park Avenue New York, NY  10022 E-mail: driesel@sprlaw.com vtreanor@sprlaw.com astolorow@sprlaw.com jgandhi@sprlaw.com pdeng@sprlaw.com Elise N. Zoli, Esq.
Goodwin Proctor, LLP Exchange Place 53 State Street  Boston, MA  02109
 
E-mail: ezoli@goodwinprocter.com Phillip Musegaas, Esq.
Deborah Brancato, Esq.
Ramona Cearley, Secretary Riverkeeper, Inc.
20 Secor Road
 
Ossining, NY  10562
 
E-mail: phillip@riverkeeper.org dbrancato@riverkeeper.org rcearley@riverkeeper.org Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq.
Paul M. Bessette, Esq.
Martin J. O'Neill, Esq.
 
Raphael Kuyler, Esq.
Jonathan M. Rund, Esq. Lena Michelle Long, Esq.
 
Laura Swett, Esq.
Lance Escher, Esq.
Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary Antoinette Walker, Legal Secretary Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
 
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC  20004
 
E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com pbessette@morganlewis.com martin.o'neill@morganlewis.com rkuyler@morganlewis.com jrund@morganlewis.com llong@morganlewis.com lswett@morganlewis.com Melissa-Jean Rotini, Esq. Assistant County Attorney
 
Office of Robert F. Meehan, Westchester County Attorney 148 Martine Avenue, 6 th Floor White Plains, NY  10601
 
E-mail: MJR1@westchestergov.com
 
Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Director Steven C. Filler Karla Raimundi
 
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.
724 Wolcott Ave.
 
Beacon, NY  12508
 
E-mail: mannajo@clearwater.org stephenfiller@gmail.com karla@clearwater.org
 
Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) 3  lescher@morganlewis.com mfreeze@morganlewis.com awalker@morganlewis.com Michael J. Delaney, Esq.
Director, Energy Regulatory Affairs NYC Department of Environmental Protection
 
59-17 Junction Boulevard Flushing, NY  11373 E-mail:  mdelaney@dep.nyc.gov
 
John Louis Parker, Esq. Office of General Counsel, Region 3 New York State Department 
 
of Environmental Conservation
 
21 South Putt Corners Road
 
New Paltz, NY  12561-1620 E-mail: jlparker@gw.dec.state.ny.us Robert D. Snook, Esq. Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General State of Connecticut 55 Elm Street P.O. Box 120 Hartford, CT  06141-0120 E-mail: robert.snook@po.state.ct.us John J. Sipos, Esq.
Charles Donaldson, Esq.
Assistant Attorneys General Office of the Attorney General    of the State of New York Elyse Houle, Legal Support
 
The Capitol
 
State Street Albany, New York  12224 E-mail: John.Sipos@ag.ny.gov charlie.donaldson@ag.ny.gov elyse.houle@ag.ny.gov Sean Murray, Mayor Kevin Hay, Village Administrator Village of Buchanan Municipal Building 236 Tate Avenue
 
Buchanan, NY  10511-1298
 
E-mail: SMurray@villageofbuchanan.com Administrator@villageofbuchanan.com Janice A. Dean, Esq. Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Liberatore, Esq. Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York


120 Broadway, 26 th Floor New York, New York  10271 E-mail: janice.dean@ag.ny.gov kathryn.liberatore@ag.ny.gov
Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)
William C. Dennis, Esq.                        Thomas F. Wood, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel                      Daniel Riesel, Esq.
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.                Victoria Shiah Treanor, Esq.
440 Hamilton Avenue                            Adam Stolorow, Esq.
White Plains, NY 10601                          Jwala Gandhi, Paralegal Email: wdennis@entergy.com                      Peng Deng, Paralegal Counsel for Town of Cortlandt Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.
460 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 E-mail: driesel@sprlaw.com vtreanor@sprlaw.com astolorow@sprlaw.com jgandhi@sprlaw.com pdeng@sprlaw.com Elise N. Zoli, Esq.                            Phillip Musegaas, Esq.
Goodwin Proctor, LLP                            Deborah Brancato, Esq.
Exchange Place                                  Ramona Cearley, Secretary 53 State Street                                Riverkeeper, Inc.
Boston, MA 02109                                20 Secor Road E-mail: ezoli@goodwinprocter.com                Ossining, NY 10562 E-mail: phillip@riverkeeper.org dbrancato@riverkeeper.org rcearley@riverkeeper.org Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq.                        Melissa-Jean Rotini, Esq.
Paul M. Bessette, Esq.                          Assistant County Attorney Martin J. ONeill, Esq.                        Office of Robert F. Meehan, Raphael Kuyler, Esq.                            Westchester County Attorney Jonathan M. Rund, Esq.                          148 Martine Avenue, 6th Floor Lena Michelle Long, Esq.                        White Plains, NY 10601 Laura Swett, Esq.                              E-mail: MJR1@westchestergov.com Lance Escher, Esq.
Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary                    Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Director Antoinette Walker, Legal Secretary              Steven C. Filler Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP                    Karla Raimundi 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW                    Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.
Washington, DC 20004                            724 Wolcott Ave.
E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com                Beacon, NY 12508 pbessette@morganlewis.com                      E-mail: mannajo@clearwater.org martin.oneill@morganlewis.com                  stephenfiller@gmail.com rkuyler@morganlewis.com                        karla@clearwater.org jrund@morganlewis.com llong@morganlewis.com lswett@morganlewis.com 2


[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]                                   Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 7th day of June 2012}}
Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) lescher@morganlewis.com                        Michael J. Delaney, Esq.
mfreeze@morganlewis.com                        Director, Energy Regulatory Affairs awalker@morganlewis.com                        NYC Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Boulevard Flushing, NY 11373 E-mail: mdelaney@dep.nyc.gov John Louis Parker, Esq.                        Robert D. Snook, Esq.
Office of General Counsel, Region 3            Assistant Attorney General New York State Department                      Office of the Attorney General of Environmental Conservation                State of Connecticut 21 South Putt Corners Road                      55 Elm Street New Paltz, NY 12561-1620                        P.O. Box 120 E-mail: jlparker@gw.dec.state.ny.us            Hartford, CT 06141-0120 E-mail: robert.snook@po.state.ct.us John J. Sipos, Esq.
Charles Donaldson, Esq.                        Sean Murray, Mayor Assistant Attorneys General                    Kevin Hay, Village Administrator Office of the Attorney General                  Village of Buchanan of the State of New York                      Municipal Building Elyse Houle, Legal Support                      236 Tate Avenue The Capitol                                    Buchanan, NY 10511-1298 State Street                                    E-mail: SMurray@villageofbuchanan.com Albany, New York 12224                          Administrator@villageofbuchanan.com E-mail: John.Sipos@ag.ny.gov charlie.donaldson@ag.ny.gov elyse.houle@ag.ny.gov Janice A. Dean, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Liberatore, Esq.
Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York 120 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, New York 10271 E-mail: janice.dean@ag.ny.gov kathryn.liberatore@ag.ny.gov
[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]
Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 7th day of June 2012 3}}

Revision as of 02:39, 12 November 2019

Order (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)
ML12159A273
Person / Time
Site: Indian Point  Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 06/07/2012
From: Lawrence Mcdade
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
To:
NRC/OGC
SECY RAS
References
RAS 22565, 50-247-LR, 50-286-LR, ASLBP 07-858-03-LR-BD01
Download: ML12159A273 (8)
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD Before Administrative Judges:

Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman Dr. Michael F. Kennedy Dr. Richard E. Wardwell In the Matter of Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ASLBP No. 07-858-03-LR-BD01 (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3) June 7, 2012 ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)

On June 1, 2012, the NRC Staff filed its Fourth Status Report (the Report) which, inter alia, updated the Board on its ongoing safety and environmental reviews.1 Regarding the NRC Staffs safety review, the Report stated that [t]he Staff had previously estimated that it will issue a Supplement to the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) to address the Applicants Reactor Vessel Internals Aging Management Program and Inspection Plan in August 2012. The NRC Staff notes that the estimated date for issuance of the SER Supplement could change, depending upon the substance and completeness of the Applicants answers to the Staffs RAIs.2 Although this ongoing review impacts Contention NYS-25 and the related portion of NYS-38/RK-TC-5, currently being held in abeyance,3 the NRC Staff also noted that this review 1

NRC Staffs Fourth Status Report in Response to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards Order of February 16, 2012 (June 1, 2012) [hereinafter June 1, 2012 Staff Update].

2 Id. at 2.

3 Id.

should not affect the litigation of any other portion of Contention NYS-38/RK-TC-5 or any other admitted contention.4 The Report also addressed the NRC Staffs ongoing NEPA review. On May 17, 2012, the NRC Staff contacted the Board stating that, though they were reinitiating consultations with National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), they did not expect this development to affect the issuance of the Draft Supplement to the Staffs Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement [FEIS]5 forecasted for May 31, 2012. Just two weeks later, the NRC Staff informed the Board that, though it missed the May 31 deadline, it now expects to publish the Draft FEIS Supplement on or before July 6, 2012, even though the NRC Staff does not expect to conclude consultations with NMFS until August 14, 2012, and does not expect to receive NMFSs Biological Opinion until September 28, 2012.6 The NRC Staff stated that it does not expect that its issuance of the Draft FEIS Supplement will affect the litigation of any admitted contention in this proceeding, other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8 (Endangered Species).7 In light of the NRC Staffs most recent Status Report, the Board has become increasingly concerned that the Staffs review will not be finalized prior to the anticipated October hearing dates, a prospect that seemed unlikely until the latest timelines summarized above were revealed.

Section 2.332(d) states that [h]earings on safety issues may be commenced before a publication of the NRC staffs safety evaluation upon a finding by the presiding officer that commencing the hearings at that time would expedite the proceeding.8 However, hearings on 4

Id. at 2, n.5 (emphasis added).

5 Letter from Sherwin E. Turk, Counsel for the NRC Staff, to the ASLB Licensing Board (May 17, 2012).

6 June 1, 2012 Staff Update at 2-3.

7 Id. at 3.

8 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d).

environmental issues addressed in the EIS may not commence before the issuance of the final EIS.9 The Commission confirmed the lack of options licensing boards have to alter this regulation in CLI-07-17, emphasizing that a Board lacks discretion to proceed to hearing on an accelerated basis on environmental issues because . . . [the Staffs] work on environmental issues requires compliance with the public participation and public comment processes of NEPA and associated regulations.10 Separately, the Commission has found that the Staff Supplements (i.e., the Supplemental FEIS and the Supplemental SER) prevented the documents from being viewed as finalized and prevented the licensing board proceeding to evidentiary hearing on environmental issues.11 In light of the foregoing, the Board directs the NRC Staff to respond to the following questions:

1) Why does the NRC Staff intend to publish the Draft Supplemental FEIS and make the document available for public comment in July 2012, when consultations with NMFS will not be completed until August 14, 2012 and a Biological Opinion will not be released until September 28, 2012?
2) How confident is the NRC Staff that it expects the Draft Supplemental FEIS will not impact contentions other than Riverkeeper Contention EC-8? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that there will be no impacts on other admitted contentions? Specifically explain any uncertainties regarding the scope of the Draft Supplemental FEIS and the process for the resolution of those uncertainties.

9 Id.

10 S. Nuclear Operating Co. (Early Site Permit for Vogtle ESP Site), CLI-07-17, 65 NRC 392, 395 (2007).

11 Duke Energy Corp. (McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2), CLI-01-20, 54 NRC 211, 214 (2001).

3) In light of the fact that Entergy RAI answers are not expected until June 14, 2012, by when will the NRC Staff review those answers and determine whether the SER Supplement will be issued in August 2012?
4) How confident is the NRC Staff that the SER Supplement should not affect any other contention except the known portions of NYS-38/RK-TC-5 and NYS-25? At what point will the NRC Staff be able to answer with certainty that no other contentions will be impacted?
5) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17, is the Board obligated to suspend current proceedings on environmental issues until the NRC Staff has completed its environmental review and issued the FEIS Supplement or, in the NRC Staffs view, may we proceed to hearing at this time on all environmental contentions except Riverkeeper EC-8 and why?
6) In light of 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d) and CLI-07-17, and the recent delays, does the NRC Staff believe that moving forward on safety issues is not adversely impacting the staffs ability to complete its reviews in a timely manner?12 12 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d).
7) If 10 C.F.R. § 2.332(d), CLI-01-20, and CLI-07-17 require the Board to suspend proceedings at this point, in light of the fact that this proceeding began in 2007 and that we are now on the critical path to the evidentiary hearing, by when will the NRC Staff definitively finalize its environmental and safety reviews?

NRC Staff responses to the above questions are due, in the form of a brief, by June 18, 2012. Responses to or comments on any NRC Staff answer may be submitted to the Board by any party on or before June 28, 2012.

It is so ORDERED.

FOR THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD

/RA/

___________________________

Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE Rockville, Maryland June 7, 2012

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ) Docket Nos. 50-247-LR

) and 50-286-LR (Indian Point Nuclear Generating, )

Units 2 and 3) )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) have been served upon the following persons by Electronic Information Exchange.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Office of the Secretary of the Commission Mail Stop O-7H4M Mail Stop O-16C1 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov Hearing Docket E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Sherwin E. Turk, Esq.

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Edward L. Williamson, Esq.

Mail Stop T-3F23 Beth N. Mizuno, Esq.

Washington, DC 20555-0001 David E. Roth, Esq.

Brian Harris, Esq.

Lawrence G. McDade, Chair Mary B. Spencer, Esq.

Administrative Judge Anita Ghosh, Esq.

E-mail: lawrence.mcdade@nrc.gov Karl Farrar, Esq.

Brian Newell, Paralegal Richard E. Wardwell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Administrative Judge Office of the General Counsel E-mail: richard.wardwell@nrc.gov Mail Stop O-15D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Kaye D. Lathrop E-mail:

Administrative Judge sherwin.turk@nrc.gov 190 Cedar Lane E. edward.williamson@nrc.gov Ridgway, CO 81432 beth.mizuno@nrc.gov E-mail: kaye.lathrop@nrc.gov brian.harris.@nrc.gov david.roth@nrc.gov Anne Siarnacki, Law Clerk mary.spencer@nrc.gov E-mail: anne.siarnacki@nrc.gov anita.ghosh@nrc.gov Shelbie Lewman, Law Clerk karl.farrar@nrc.gov E-mail: shelbie.lewman@nrc.gov brian.newell@nrc.gov OGC Mail Center OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov

Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions)

William C. Dennis, Esq. Thomas F. Wood, Esq.

Assistant General Counsel Daniel Riesel, Esq.

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Victoria Shiah Treanor, Esq.

440 Hamilton Avenue Adam Stolorow, Esq.

White Plains, NY 10601 Jwala Gandhi, Paralegal Email: wdennis@entergy.com Peng Deng, Paralegal Counsel for Town of Cortlandt Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.

460 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 E-mail: driesel@sprlaw.com vtreanor@sprlaw.com astolorow@sprlaw.com jgandhi@sprlaw.com pdeng@sprlaw.com Elise N. Zoli, Esq. Phillip Musegaas, Esq.

Goodwin Proctor, LLP Deborah Brancato, Esq.

Exchange Place Ramona Cearley, Secretary 53 State Street Riverkeeper, Inc.

Boston, MA 02109 20 Secor Road E-mail: ezoli@goodwinprocter.com Ossining, NY 10562 E-mail: phillip@riverkeeper.org dbrancato@riverkeeper.org rcearley@riverkeeper.org Kathryn M. Sutton, Esq. Melissa-Jean Rotini, Esq.

Paul M. Bessette, Esq. Assistant County Attorney Martin J. ONeill, Esq. Office of Robert F. Meehan, Raphael Kuyler, Esq. Westchester County Attorney Jonathan M. Rund, Esq. 148 Martine Avenue, 6th Floor Lena Michelle Long, Esq. White Plains, NY 10601 Laura Swett, Esq. E-mail: MJR1@westchestergov.com Lance Escher, Esq.

Mary Freeze, Legal Secretary Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Director Antoinette Walker, Legal Secretary Steven C. Filler Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP Karla Raimundi 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.

Washington, DC 20004 724 Wolcott Ave.

E-mail: ksutton@morganlewis.com Beacon, NY 12508 pbessette@morganlewis.com E-mail: mannajo@clearwater.org martin.oneill@morganlewis.com stephenfiller@gmail.com rkuyler@morganlewis.com karla@clearwater.org jrund@morganlewis.com llong@morganlewis.com lswett@morganlewis.com 2

Docket Nos. 50-247-LR and 50-286-LR ORDER (Ordering the NRC Staff to Address Board Questions) lescher@morganlewis.com Michael J. Delaney, Esq.

mfreeze@morganlewis.com Director, Energy Regulatory Affairs awalker@morganlewis.com NYC Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Boulevard Flushing, NY 11373 E-mail: mdelaney@dep.nyc.gov John Louis Parker, Esq. Robert D. Snook, Esq.

Office of General Counsel, Region 3 Assistant Attorney General New York State Department Office of the Attorney General of Environmental Conservation State of Connecticut 21 South Putt Corners Road 55 Elm Street New Paltz, NY 12561-1620 P.O. Box 120 E-mail: jlparker@gw.dec.state.ny.us Hartford, CT 06141-0120 E-mail: robert.snook@po.state.ct.us John J. Sipos, Esq.

Charles Donaldson, Esq. Sean Murray, Mayor Assistant Attorneys General Kevin Hay, Village Administrator Office of the Attorney General Village of Buchanan of the State of New York Municipal Building Elyse Houle, Legal Support 236 Tate Avenue The Capitol Buchanan, NY 10511-1298 State Street E-mail: SMurray@villageofbuchanan.com Albany, New York 12224 Administrator@villageofbuchanan.com E-mail: John.Sipos@ag.ny.gov charlie.donaldson@ag.ny.gov elyse.houle@ag.ny.gov Janice A. Dean, Esq.

Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Liberatore, Esq.

Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York 120 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, New York 10271 E-mail: janice.dean@ag.ny.gov kathryn.liberatore@ag.ny.gov

[Original signed by Christine M. Pierpoint]

Office of the Secretary of the Commission Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 7th day of June 2012 3

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