Help Protect the Great Lakes Against Radioactive Risks! Please make environmental scoping comments, Wed., Feb. 17, 1-3pm Central (2-4pm Eastern), at NRC's mtg. re: 80 years of proposed operations at the dangerously embrittled Pt. Beach nuclear power plant on Lake Michigan's WI shore
February 17, 2021 
NRC file photo of Point Beach nuclear power plant Units 1 & 2, located on the Lake Michigan shore in Two Rivers, WI, near Manitowoc.Dear Friends and Colleagues in Wisconsin, and beyond,
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Meeting for Point Beach Nuclear Reactors
Wednesday, February 17 from 1-3pm CT and 2-4pm ET
Informational FAQ on the EIS process here.
WEBINAR ACCESS
*Please log into both the Teams meeting and Bridgeline audio. Visuals will be through Microsoft Teams and audio will be through Bridgeline.
Bridgeline Number: 800-369-1750 -> Passcode: 4187785 then #
PHONE ACCESS
Bridge Number: (800) 369-1750
Passcode: 4187785
How to be involved:
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SHOW UP!
One of the most important actions for February 17th is to simply join the meeting! You do not need to speak or write anything in advance if you do not wish to. By attending, you are sending a message that the public is involved and cares about what is happening at Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. If the webinar link is not functioning correctly, try joining by phone.
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Speak
If you want to, we encourage you prepare a 2-3 minute statement about concerns and questions you have about the impact of a license extension on the environment as well as the socio-economic impacts. Here are some starter ideas and topics.
If you wish to speak, follow these instructions to be on the queue:
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Please press *1 to get in queue to speak
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State and spell your name and affiliation
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Press # to return to the meeting
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The operator will introduce you when it's your turn to speak
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Write
You can submit written comments online by March 3rd. Here are some tips for writing comments.
NRC provided slides for February 17th presentation here.
ABOUT
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a scoping process to gather information necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement to evaluate the environmental impacts for the subsequent license renewal of the operating licenses for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Point Beach). The NRC is seeking public input on this action.
The application is available on the NRC’s website here and in the NRC’s publicly available Agency-wide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS). The ADAMS Accession Number is ML20329A292.
Point Beach Nuclear Reactors - Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
You can attend and speak at the public scoping meeting on February 17th from 2 - 4 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST), 1- 3 pm Central Standard Time (CST). Click here for more information and the link to join the meeting.
You can also submit comments by March 3, 2021 at 10:59pm CT. You can submit online here or mail to Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.
What is an EIS?
The environmental impact statement (EIS) is a government document that outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment. In the United States, these statements are mandated by federal law for certain projects. Environmental impact statements are meant to inform the work and decisions of policymakers and community leaders. (source)
What is the connection with an EIS and the Point Beach license renewal application?
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.95(c), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must prepare an environmental impact statement with the renewal of an operation.
What is the purpose of public scoping in the EIS process?
The goal of scoping is to identify specific elements of the environment that might be affected if the renewal of the reactor licenses is carried out. The scoping process is a critical time to identify issues, determine points of contact, determine project schedules and provide recommendations to the agency. The overall goal is to define the scope of issues to be addressed in depth in the analyses that will be included in the EIS.
How do I get involved with the EIS process?
You can attend and speak at the public scoping meeting on February 17th from 2 - 4 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST), 1- 3 pm Central Standard Time (CST). Click here for more information and the link to join the meeting.
You can also submit comments by March 3, 2021 at 10:59pm CT. You can submit online here or mail to Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.
What should I focus on during the public scoping meeting on February 17th from 2-4pm ET / 1-3pm CT and in the public scoping comments due March 3rd?
Download a PDF of tips for writing comments here >>
View our topic ideas and starter points for Point Beach EIS scoping comments here >>
Who writes and creates the EIS?
An EIS might have one or more authors. Federal agencies (this would include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) typically outsource the writing of an EIS to third party contractors (including lawyers, scientists, engineers) with expertise in their preparation and in relation to the proposed project. As a result, the EIS varies in appearance, as well as length and number of supplemental attachments. (source)
Will there be another chance to get involved with this process?
Yes! Following the scoping process, the EIS will be drafted and then the draft will be released to the public. After the release, there will be a meeting and comment period in regards to the draft EIS during a 45-day period. The NRC predicts this will be in fall 2021, but be prepared for it to be delayed.
What is included in an EIS?
According to the American Bar Association, a typical federal EIS includes the following four sections:
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Section 1—Introduces the Proposed Action and its Purpose and Need
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Section 2—Describes the Affected Environment, provides a baseline for understanding the current environmental situation in relation to the Proposed Action.
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Section 3—Presents a Range of Alternatives to the Proposed Action—this is considered the “heart” of the EIS. There is always a No Action Alternative presented. Understanding how the environment would respond if no action were taken helps to evaluate the Proposed Action and Alternatives.
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Section 4—Analyzes the environmental impact of each of the Proposed Actions and Range of Alternatives. The analysis include:
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Impacts to threatened or endangered species
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Air and water quality impacts
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Impacts to historical and cultural sites, particularly sites of significance for indigenous peoples
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Social and economical impacts to local communities, including housing stock, businesses, property values, and considerations of aesthetics and noise expected
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Cost and schedule analysis for all of the actions and alternatives presented
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The EIS may include additional topics not required for every project, including financial plans, environmental mitigation plans, and plans for complying with any additional required federal, state, or local permits.
What is the proposed action with the Point Beach Nuclear Reactors?
The proposed action is the subsequent license renewal of the operating licenses for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.
What does no action alternative mean?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires agencies to always describe and analyze a “no action” alternative in an EIS. In simple terms, a no action alternative for an existing or ongoing federal project considers what would happen if the federal agency continued to operate and maintain the authorized project with no changes.
Agencies are obligated to evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives in enough detail so that a reader can compare and contrast the environmental effects of the various alternatives to the proposed action. The no action alternative analysis provides a benchmark to allow decision makers and the public to compare the levels of environmental effects of the alternatives. (source)
From: Michael J Keegan <mkeeganj@comcast.net>
Date: Mon, Feb 15, 2021 at 1:27 PM
Subject: Point Beach 2/17/2021 Scoping Mtg Slides
| Document Title: | Point Beach Scoping and Process Meeting - February 17, 2021 |
| Document Type: | Meeting Briefing Package/Handouts Slides and Viewgraphs |
| Document Date: | 02/17/2021 |
| Document Title: | 02/17/2021 Environmental Scoping Meeting Related to the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Point Beach), Subsequent License Renewal Application |
| Document Type: | Meeting Notice Meeting Agenda |
| Document Date: | 02/03/2021 |