[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 60583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16997]



[[Page 60583]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[ Docket No. 52-009-ESP; ASLBP No. 04-823-03-ESP]


Atomic Safety and Licensing Board; Before Administrative Judges: 
Lawrence G. McDade, Chairman, Nicholas G. Trikouros, Dr. Richard E. 
Wardwell; In the Matter of System Energy Resources, Inc.; Early Site 
Permit for Grand Gulf Site; Notice of Hearing

 October 6, 2006.
    This Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hereby gives notice that it 
will convene an evidentiary session to receive testimony and exhibits 
in the ``mandatory hearing'' portion of this proceeding regarding the 
October 16, 2003, application of System Energy Resources, Inc. (SERI) 
for a 10 CFR part 52 early site permit (ESP), seeking approval of the 
site of the existing Grand Gulf Nuclear Station (GGNS) near Port Gibson 
in Claiborne County, Mississippi, for the possible future construction 
of a new nuclear power generation facility.\1\ This mandatory hearing 
will concern safety and environmental matters relating to the proposed 
issuance of the requested ESP, as more fully described below.
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    \1\ See 69 FR 2636 (Jan. 16, 2004).
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A. Matters To Be Considered

    As set forth by the Commission in the January 2004 ``Notice of 
Hearing and Opportunity To Petition for Leave To Intervene Early Site 
Permit for the Grand Gulf ESP Site'' (69 FR at 2636) and the applicable 
regulations in 10 CFR 52.21, the matters at issue in this proceeding 
are whether the application and the record of this proceeding contain 
sufficient information, and the NRC Staff's review of the application 
has been adequate to support a finding that: (a) The issuance of this 
ESP will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the 
health and safety of the public (Safety Issue 1); (b) 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) in accordance with 
the requirements of 10 CFR part 51, Subpart A, the ESP should be issued 
as proposed. Additionally, in accord with the Commission's January 2004 
notice, also at issue in this proceeding are: (d) 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 this proceeding; (e) whether the final balance 
among conflicting factors contained in the record of this proceeding 
indicate that granting the ESP is the appropriate action to be taken; 
and (f) whether, after considering reasonable alternatives, the ESP 
should be issued, denied, or appropriately conditioned to protect 
environmental values.

B. Date, Time, and Location of Mandatory Hearing

    The Board will conduct this mandatory hearing at the specified 
location and time:
    1. Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006.
    Time: Beginning at 9 a.m. EST.
    Location: ASLBP Hearing Room, Two White Flint North, Third Floor, 
11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738.

    The hearing on these issues will continue day-to-day thereafter 
until concluded.
    Any members of the public who plan to attend the mandatory hearing 
are advised that security measures will be employed at the entrance to 
the hearing facility, including searches of hand-carried items such as 
briefcases or backpacks. The public is further advised that, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, portions of the hearing sessions may be 
closed to the public because the matters at issue may involve the 
discussion of protected information.

C. Availability of Documentary Information Regarding the Proceeding

    Documents relating to this proceeding are available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room (PDR), located at 
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland, or electronically from the publicly available records 
component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from 
the NRC Web site at http://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 (800) 
397-4209 or (301) 415-4737, or by e-mail to [email protected].

D. Scheduling Information Updates

    Any updated/revised scheduling information regarding the 
evidentiary hearing can be found on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm or 
by calling (800) 368-5642, extension 5036, or (301) 415-5036.
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    \2\ Copies of this Notice were sent this date by Internet e-mail 
transmission to: (1) Counsel for the NRC Staff and (2) Counsel for 
SERI.
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    It is so ordered.

    Dated: October 6, 2006 at Rockville, Maryland.

    For the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.\2\
Lawrence G. McDade,
Chairman, Administrative Judge.
[FR Doc. E6-16997 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P