Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; In the Matter of Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Early Site Permit for Clinton ESP Site); Notice of Hearing (Application for Early Site Permit)

Before Administrative Judges:

Dr. Paul B. Abramson, Chairman

Dr. Anthony J. Baratta

Dr. David L. Hetrick

This proceeding concerns the September 25, 2003 application of Exelon Generation Company, LLC (EGC) for a 10 CFR Part 52 early site permit (ESP). The ESP application seeks approval of the site of the existing Clinton nuclear power facility in DeWitt County, Illinois, for the possible construction of one or more new nuclear reactors. In response to a December 8, 2003 notice of hearing and opportunity to petition for leave to intervene regarding the EGC ESP application (68 FR 69,426 (Dec. 12, 2003)), on January 12, 2004, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, the Nuclear Energy Information Service, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Public Citizen (collectively Clinton Intervenors) filed a request for hearing and petition to intervene contesting the EGC ESP application. Their petition was referred by the Commission to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel to conduct any subsequent adjudication. (See CLI-04-08, 59 NRC 113, 118-19 (2004).) On March 22, 2004, a three-member Atomic Safety and Licensing Board was established to adjudicate this ESP proceeding. (See 69 FR 15,910 (Mar. 26, 2004).)

On June 21-22, 2004, the Board conducted a two-day initial prehearing conference at the NRC's Rockville, Maryland headquarters facility during which it heard oral presentations regarding the standing of the ESP petitioners and the admissibility of their six proffered contentions. Thereafter, in an August 6, 2004 issuance the Board noted that the petitioners have established the requisite standing to intervene in this proceeding and ruled that they have submitted one admissible contention concerning the EGC ESP application so that they can be admitted as parties to this proceeding. (Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Early Site Permit for Clinton ESP Site), LBP-04-17, 60 NRC_(Aug. 6, 2004).)

1. Hearing(s) Will Be Conducted. In light of the foregoing, please take notice that a hearing will be conducted in this contested proceeding. This hearing will be governed by the hearing procedures set forth in 10 CFR Part 2, Subparts C and L (10 CFR 2.300-.390, 2.1200-.1213).

2. Matters To Be Considered. In its August 6, 2004 Order (referred to above), the Board set forth the specific admitted contention which will be litigated in this contested hearing. In addition, as was indicated in the December 2003 notice regarding the EGC ESP application (68 FR at 69,426) and the applicable regulations in 10 CFR 52.21, the Licensing Board is to: (a) Consider whether issuance of an ESP will be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public (Safety Issue 1); (b) determine whether, taking into consideration the site criteria contained in 10 CFR Part 100, a reactor or reactors having characteristics that fall within the parameters for the site, can be constructed and operated without undue risk to the public health and safety (Safety Issue 2); and (c) consider whether in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, the ESP should be issued as proposed. Additionally, in accord with the December 2003 notice, the Board is to: (d) Determine whether the requirements of sections 102(2)(A), (C), and (E) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, have been complied with in the proceeding; (e) independently consider the final balance among conflicting factors contained in the record of proceeding with a view to determining the appropriate action to be taken; and (f) determine, after considering reasonable alternatives, whether a license should be issued, denied, or appropriately conditioned to protect environmental values.

3. Hearing Procedures; Public Attendance. During the course of the proceeding, the Board may conduct an oral argument, as provided in 10 CFR 2.331, may hold additional prehearing conferences pursuant to 10 CFR 2.329, and may conduct evidentiary hearings in accordance with 10 CFR 2.327-.328, 2.1206-.1208. The public is invited to attend any oral argument, prehearing conference, or evidentiary hearing. Notices of those sessions will be published in the Federal Register and/or made available to the public at the NRC Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, and through the NRC Web site, www.nrc.gov .

4. Limited Appearances. As provided in 10 CFR 2.315(a), any person not a party to the proceeding may submit a written limited appearance statement. Limited appearance statements, which are placed in the docket for the hearing, provide members of the public with an opportunity to make the Board and/or the participants aware of their concerns about matters at issue in the proceeding. A written limited appearance statement can be submitted at any time and should be sent to the Office of the Secretary using one of the methods prescribed below:

Mail to: Office of the Secretary, Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

Fax to: (301) 415-1101 (verification (301) 415-1966).

E-mail to: hearingdocket@nrc.gov.

In addition, a copy of the limited appearance statement should be sent to the Licensing Board Chairman using the same method at the address below:

Mail to: Administrative Judge Paul B. Abramson, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail Stop T-3F23, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

Fax to: (301) 415-5599 (verification (301) 415-7550).

E-mail to: gpb@nrc.gov.

At a later date, the Board may entertain oral limited appearance statements at a location or locations in the vicinity of the proposed EGC ESP. Notice of any oral limited appearance sessions will be published in the Federal Register and/or made available to the public at the NRC PDR and on the NRC Web site, www.nrc.gov .

5. Document Availability. Documents relating to this proceeding are available for public inspection at the Commission's PDR or electronically from the publicly available records component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room). Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

It is so ordered.