NRC approves changes to Palisades’ emergency planning requirements

The agency’s staff evaluated and confirmed analyses in Holtec’s request and considered comments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Based on the NRC staff’s evaluation and recommendation, the Commission approved the exemptions on December 7. The exemptions and associated license amendments reflecting the changes will be issued in the near future.

Holtec has publicly announced its intention to restart operations at the facility. If the NRC reauthorizes power operations at Palisades, a condition in the agency’s approval requires the plant to revert to the emergency preparedness requirements for an operating reactor.

Be prepared: The approved exemptions were needed for Holtec to establish and maintain an adequate level of radiological emergency preparedness during decommissioning. These exemptions are consistent with NRC actions at other decommissioning plants, according to the agency.

The EPZ: Once Holtec implements the changes, state and local governments may rely on a comprehensive emergency management plan approach (“all hazards,” the NRC noted) for off-site emergency response, should an event occur at the Palisades site. A 10-mile emergency planning zone will no longer be required. Holtec must continue to maintain an on-site emergency plan and response capabilities at Palisades, including the continued notification of state government officials in the event of an emergency declaration.

Lowered risk: After a nuclear power plant has permanently ceased operations and fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel, the risk of an off-site radiological release is significantly lower—and the types of possible accidents significantly fewer—than at an operating reactor, according to the NRC.

A bit of history: Palisades was a pressurized water reactor that began operations in 1971 and shut down in May 2022. Holtec has applied for a separate exemption from NRC regulations that, if approved, would allow it to continue to pursue plans for a restart. Several other regulatory actions would be required for the facility to resume operations.