The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission last week began its full review of a license transfer application that would return control of the nearly decommissioned La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor in Wisconsin to its owner.
The nuclear power plant has been closed since 1987, and Dairyland Power Cooperative in March 2016 received NRC authorization to transfer the operating license to LaCrosseSolutions for decommissioning.
LaCrosseSolutions, an offshoot of Salt Lake City-based nuclear services company EnergySolutions, began work in June of that year. “The site is in the final stages of radiological decommissioning, environmental remediation of the LABWR facility and site restoration,” according to the license transfer application filed in June. “It is anticipated that site restoration will be complete no later than the end of the second quarter of 2019.”
That would effectively leave standing only the plant’s independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). Dairyland would then be responsible for management of the spent fuel storage pad and eventual disposal of the radioactive material. It would also ultimately be charged with requesting termination of the license.
The storage facility holds 333 used fuel elements, according to the application.
“The staff completed its acceptance review last week, and the goal for completing the full review is April 2019,” NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said by email Tuesday. “The transfer would not go into effect until LaCrosse Solutions completes the decommissioning and license termination activities. The staff anticipates a straightforward review given that Dairyland is the previous licensee and is a public utility.”
Stakeholders have until Nov. 13 to submit comments on the license transfer application. Comments can be submitted at regulations.gov, Docket ID NRC-2018-0217; by email to hearing.docket@nrc.gov; by fax to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 301-415-1101; by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; or in person to 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md.