Decision delayed in Seabrook's concrete case

With a national emergency declaration in effect, the regulatory process is facing another slow-down.

On Wednesday March 25, the three-judge panel overseeing the proceeding on a challenge to NextEra Energy’s 2016 license amendment request relating to the impacts of alkali-silica reaction on concrete structures at the Seabrook Station issued a notice extending the timetable for issuing a decision. The amendment is being challenged by the C-10 Research and Education Foundation.

The NRC's  Atomic Safety and Licensing Board said it had planned to issue an initial decision by April 9, and now it anticipates that it will make a ruling by July 10. Originally the Board expected to issue a decision within 90 days of the conclusion of the hearing (September 27, 2019). This is the second extension.

"Given the unprecedented times we are all experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is somewhat understandable that this ruling has been delayed, but we were certainly looking forward to a resolution in this case," said Natalie Hildt Treat, C-10's Executive Director.

It's a tenuous time, with many people, including the NRC's resident inspectors at Seabrook Station, working remotely with a reduced onsite presence," said Treat.  

Seabrook's NRC Resident Inspector Paul Cataldo explained to C-10 that he and his colleague Travis Daun have access to the plant's computer logs, corrective action program, and all site programs, and are attending meetings remotely. "We are also visiting the plant twice a week to ensure an onsite presence is maintained," said Cataldo in an email.

"We at C-10 will rest a little easier when this public health crisis has passed, when staffing at Seabrook and the NRC are back to normal, and when the Board issues its ruling on Seabrook's handling of the degraded concrete meant to protect the public from radiation exposure," said Treat.

More on the impact of COVID-19 on Seabrook is in this March 23 story in the Daily News of Newburyport. 

For insights on how the pandemic is affecting how the NRC does its job, see our recent blog, Is a pandemic the time to relax nuclear regulations?

More information on the concrete case from C-10's perspective is on this blog and this overview page.