Regulatory approvals pave way for Palisades restart
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a series of licensing and regulatory actions that will allow fuel loading at Holtec's plant.
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Palisades, a single-unit pressurised water reactor in Covert, Michigan, ceased operations in May 2022 and was defuelled the following month, although it was licensed to operate until March 2031. The unit's licence was transferred from previous operator Entergy Nuclear Operations to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC and Holtec Palisades, LLC, for decommissioning, but in late 2023, Holtec began the process of obtaining the licensing approvals needed to return the plant to operational status for the remainder of its licensing term.
Following the completion of technical reviews, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has now approved the transfer of operating authority for the plant and its independent spent fuel storage facility from Holtec Decommissioning International LLC to Palisades Energy LLC. It has also approved the reinstatement of various documents and programmes that were in place prior to the shutdown, including the technical specifications, emergency plan, emergency action levels, and physical security plan, as well as programmes for quality assurance, maintenance, and in-service inspections.
"The NRC staff is issuing its approval of these actions concurrently with its approval of this exemption to reauthorise power operations at PNP. The effectiveness of this exemption will occur on August 25, 2025, Holtec's planned date to transition to the power operations licensing basis," the NRC told Holtec Vice President, Licensing, Regulatory Affairs Jean Fleming in a letter dated 24 July.
There are still several licensing actions under NRC review and additional requirements that need to be met before the plant can start up.
The approval means that Palisades is authorised to receive new fuel and formally transition licensed reactor operators to on-shift status, Holtec said.
"The NRC's approval to transition Palisades back to an operating licence represents an unprecedented milestone in US nuclear energy," Holtec International President Kelly Trice said. "Our mission remains clear: to restart Palisades safely, securely, reliably, and in support of America's energy future - while supporting local jobs and economic growth for decades to come."
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