NRC TO MEET WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS TUESDAY IN SIOUX FALLS
TO DISCUSS FINAL CLEANUP OF FORMER NUCLEAR REACTOR SITE
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NRC officials will meet with local residents Tuesday in Sioux Falls, S.D., to discuss plans for the final cleanup of the former Pathfinder nuclear reactor site and potential release of the site for unrestricted use. Xcel Energy will provide an overview of its proposed decommissioning activities and schedule for Pathfinder, and NRC will discuss how it will review those plans and oversee the cleanup, and answer questions from the public.

“NRC takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the health and safety of those who live near or work at nuclear facilities,” said Chad J. Glenn, NRC Project Manager. “This is the final stage in our process of overseeing Pathfinder, and we will make sure the site meets our decommissioning criteria and is safe before we terminate the license.”

The meeting will be held at the County Commission Meeting Room, 2nd floor of the County Administration Building, 415 N. Dakota Avenue, from 7 to 9 p.m. NRC staff, as well as representatives of Xcel Energy, will be available to discuss the project and answer questions.

Northern States Power (now Xcel Energy), obtained an operating license from the Atomic Energy Commission (predecessor to the NRC) for the 66 megawatt facility in 1964. It conducted low-power testing from March 1964 to September 1967, after which the company shut it down for economic and other reasons. The nuclear fuel was transferred offsite, and the operating license was terminated. The plant then went into long-term storage, and a license for possession of nuclear material, which is still in effect, was issued in August 1972. In 1992, the license was amended to allow for decommissioning of the reactor building and fuel handling building. Xcel Energy now plans to complete decommissioning of the site so that, if NRC approves, it can be released for unrestricted use.

NRC actions to ensure protection of the public will include inspections and confirmatory radiation surveys to provide confidence that the site meets NRC’s strict decommissioning criteria.

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Tuesday, December 09, 2008