Environmental groups again take aim at restart for Palisades Nuclear Plant
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Environmental groups again take aim at restart for Palisades Nuclear Plant
Plant owner Holtec International is looking to restart Palisades, which ceased power operations in May 2022. The plan is pending approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Holtec submitted a License Amendment Request to allow a steam generator tube repair method called “sleeving” to be used at the plant. The same five groups have filed previous intervening petitions, but a three-judge panel ruled their claims weren’t admissible and denied the request. The coalitions wrote they will continue seeking ways to intervene and, once they’ve “exhausted all administrative remedies at the NRC,” plan to appeal to the federal courts. The event will run 5-7 p.m. in Benton Harbor, 330 W. Main St.
Plant owner Holtec International is looking to restart Palisades, which ceased power operations in May 2022. The plan is pending approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
As part of its efforts, Holtec submitted a License Amendment Request to allow a steam generator tube repair method called “sleeving” to be used at the plant. Currently, the plant’s license allows only for “plugging,” which takes tubes out of operation entirely.
A coalition of five environmental groups — Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, Michigan Safe Energy Future, Nuclear Energy Information Service of Chicago, and Three Mile Island Alert of Pennsylvania — filed a petition to intervene on the sleeving plans, requesting a hearing.
The same five groups have filed previous intervening petitions. In late March, a three-judge panel ruled their claims weren’t admissible and denied the request.
Representatives from Holtec explained the sleeving process during a pre-submittal meeting in January.
There are two steam generators at Palisades, each with 8,219 tubes, according to a report from the NRC. Steam generators run hot, radioactive water through tubes to prevent it from boiling. The process heats non-radioactive water outside the tubes to create steam, which turns a turbine to generate electricity.
The steam is then condensed back into water for another trip through the generator.
An inspection report from the NRC, released in the fall, said 701 tubes in one steam generator and 248 in the other are candidates for repairs or plugging.
Sleeving is a repair method in which a sleeve, essentially a new tube, is inserted inside the existing tube to address cracks on the exterior.
The license for Palisades doesn’t permit sleeving as a repair method. It only allows tubes to be plugged, which takes them out of operation entirely.
Several members of the public, including representatives of the five environmental groups, raised concerns about sleeving in January. NRC officials said the plan will have to meet the commission’s standards.
“We’re going to hold Holtec to the same standard as every other (pressurized water reactor) in the United States,” said Paul Kline of the NRC. “They must demonstrate they’re able to maintain tube integrity during the operating cycle. … If they can’t convince us … they won’t be starting up.”
In a release, the coalitions wrote they will continue seeking ways to intervene and, once they’ve “exhausted all administrative remedies at the NRC,” plan to appeal to the federal courts.
‘We will go first’: Holtec touts small modular nuclear reactors as future of clean energy
Open meeting set for June 24
Holtec will hold a public open house on restart efforts June 24. The event will run 5-7 p.m. at the Palisades Joint Information Center, 330 W. Main St. in Benton Harbor.
Members of the public will be able to speak with “plant experts,” learn about employment opportunities and hear more about the ongoing attempt to resume power operations.
Learn more about regulatory actions and upcoming meetings at nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/pali.html.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
Environmental groups again take aim at restart for Palisades Nuclear Plant
Plant owner Holtec International is looking to restart Palisades, which ceased power operations in May 2022. Holtec submitted a License Amendment Request to allow a steam generator tube repair method called “sleeving” A coalition of five environmental groups filed a petition to intervene on the sleeving plans, requesting a hearing. In late March, a three-judge panel ruled their claims weren’t admissible and denied the request. The coalitions wrote they will continue seeking ways to intervene and, once they’ve “exhausted all administrative remedies at the NRC,” plan to appeal to the federal courts. A public open house on restart efforts June 24 will run 5-7 p.m. at the Palisade Joint Information Center, 330 W. Main St. in Benton Harbor. The plan is pending approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Plant owner Holtec International is looking to restart Palisades, which ceased power operations in May 2022. The plan is pending approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
As part of its efforts, Holtec submitted a License Amendment Request to allow a steam generator tube repair method called “sleeving” to be used at the plant. Currently, the plant’s license allows only for “plugging,” which takes tubes out of operation entirely.
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More: To sleeve or not to sleeve? Advocates worried about Holtec’s plan to repair tubes
A coalition of five environmental groups — Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, Michigan Safe Energy Future, Nuclear Energy Information Service of Chicago, and Three Mile Island Alert of Pennsylvania — filed a petition to intervene on the sleeving plans, requesting a hearing.
The same five groups have filed previous intervening petitions. In late March, a three-judge panel ruled their claims weren’t admissible and denied the request.
Representatives from Holtec explained the sleeving process during a pre-submittal meeting in January.
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More: ‘Cobbled together’: Environmental groups, residents hope for hearing on Palisades restart
There are two steam generators at Palisades, each with 8,219 tubes, according to a report from the NRC. Steam generators run hot, radioactive water through tubes to prevent it from boiling. The process heats non-radioactive water outside the tubes to create steam, which turns a turbine to generate electricity.
The steam is then condensed back into water for another trip through the generator.
An inspection report from the NRC, released in the fall, said 701 tubes in one steam generator and 248 in the other are candidates for repairs or plugging.
A group of five environmental groups filed a petition to intervene in Holtec’s plans for steam generator tube repair at Palisades Nuclear Power Plant.
Sleeving is a repair method in which a sleeve, essentially a new tube, is inserted inside the existing tube to address cracks on the exterior.
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The license for Palisades doesn’t permit sleeving as a repair method. It only allows tubes to be plugged, which takes them out of operation entirely.
Several members of the public, including representatives of the five environmental groups, raised concerns about sleeving in January. NRC officials said the plan will have to meet the commission’s standards.
“We’re going to hold Holtec to the same standard as every other (pressurized water reactor) in the United States,” said Paul Kline of the NRC. “They must demonstrate they’re able to maintain tube integrity during the operating cycle. … If they can’t convince us … they won’t be starting up.”
In a release, the coalitions wrote they will continue seeking ways to intervene and, once they’ve “exhausted all administrative remedies at the NRC,” plan to appeal to the federal courts.
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
‘We will go first’: Holtec touts small modular nuclear reactors as future of clean energy
Open meeting set for June 24
Holtec will hold a public open house on restart efforts June 24. The event will run 5-7 p.m. at the Palisades Joint Information Center, 330 W. Main St. in Benton Harbor.
Members of the public will be able to speak with “plant experts,” learn about employment opportunities and hear more about the ongoing attempt to resume power operations.
Learn more about regulatory actions and upcoming meetings at nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/pali.html.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Environmental coalition again takes aim at Palisades Nuclear Plant