No. I-07-050 

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 

 Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 

September 26, 2007

ORAL COMMENTS TO BE ACCEPTED IN BRATTLEBORO, VT., ON OCT. 11 

REGARDING PROCEEDING ON VERMONT YANKEE RENEWAL APPLICATION

 

 Interested citizens will have an opportunity on Thursday, Oct. 11, to comment on issues 

pending in an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) proceeding regarding the license 

renewal application for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, located in Vernon, Vt. The 

remarks, which will be transcribed, will be heard by the three administrative judges handling the 

Vermont Yankee adjudicatory proceeding. 

 Known as “limited appearance statements,” the comments will be accepted during two 

sessions to be held at the Latchis Theatre, at 50 Main St. in Brattleboro. (Directions are available 

on the theatre’s web site at: http://www.latchis.com/location.html.) The first session is scheduled 

for 1 to 4 p.m. and the second from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. 

 The Board, in an order scheduling the sessions, stated that the purpose of seeking the 

limited appearance statements is to allow members of the public to alert it and the parties 

involved to areas relating to admitted contentions on the plant’s license renewal application in 

which evidence may need to be acquired, “and to assist the Board in its consideration of these 

issues.” 

 Persons wishing to make an oral statement are encouraged to submit a written request to 

the Board as soon as possible. Individuals who have submitted a timely request and who are 

present when their names are called will be given priority over those who have not filed such a 

request. To be considered timely, a written request to make an oral statement must be mailed, 

faxed or sent by e-mail so as to be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. The request must 

specify the requestor’s name and the session (afternoon or evening) during which he or she 

wishes to make an oral statement. Written requests should be mailed to: Office of the Secretary, 

Rulemakings and Adjudication Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 

20555-0001; faxed to: (301) 415-1101; or e-mailed to: hearingdocket@nrc.gov. Copies of 

requests should be mailed to: Alex Karlin, Chairman, c/o: Marcia Carpentier, Esq., Law Clerk, 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region I 

475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 

E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail Stop T-3 E2C, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001; faxed to: 301-415-5599; or e-mailed to: 

mxc7@nrc.gov and ksv@nrc.gov. 

 In January 2006, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., which owns and operates Vermont 

Yankee, applied to the NRC for a 20-year license extension for the plant. The current operating 

license for the plant is due to expire on March 21, 2012. Subsequently, four requests for a 

hearing on the application were submitted to the NRC. The requests were filed by the Vermont 

Department of Public Service (DPS), the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts, the Town of Marlboro, Vt., and the New England Coalition (NEC). In an order 

issued on Sept. 22, 2006, the Board admitted contentions submitted by the DPS and NEC, 

thereby making both a party to the proceeding. The ASLB panel also granted those 

organizations’ requests to adopt one another’s contentions. On Nov. 17, 2006, the Board granted 

a request by the State of Hampshire to participate in the proceeding as an interested state. The 

sole DPS contention admitted has now been settled, but DPS remains a party to the proceeding 

since it adopted NEC’s contentions. 

 Currently, NEC has three contentions still under consideration. Interested members of 

the public are asked to focus their Oct. 11th limited appearance statements on the three 

contentions, which are the only matters currently within the Board’s jurisdiction. The 

contentions are as follows: 

NEC Contention 2: Entergy’s license renewal application does not include an adequate plan to 

monitor and manage the effects of aging (due to metal fatigue) on key reactor components that 

are subject to an aging management review, pursuant to 10CFR.54.21(a), and an evaluation of 

time-limited aging analysis, pursuant to 10CFR.54.21(c). 

NEC Contention 3: Entergy’s license renewal application does not include an adequate plan to 

monitor and manage aging of the steam dryer during the period of extended operation. 

NEC Contention 4: Entergy’s license renewal application does not include an adequate plan to 

monitor and manage aging of plant piping due to flow-accelerated corrosion during the period of 

extended operation. 

 Additional information about the Vermont Yankee application review is available at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/vermont-yankee.html. 

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