Site Identification
| License Status: |
Transitioning to SAFSTOR |
| Permanantly Shutdown: |
05/20/2022 |
| Fuel Removed: |
06/10/2022 |
| Estimated Closure: |
2041 |
| Project Manager: |
Marlayna Doell |
Site Status Summary & Spent Fuel Status
Palisades is a single unit pressurized water reactor located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Covert Township, approximately four and one-half miles south of South Haven, Michigan, and consists of the pressurized water reactor, other associated plant equipment, and related site facilities. Palisades is also the site of the generally licensed Palisades ISFSI.
By letter dated June 13, 2022, Entergy Nuclear Palisades (ENP) certified that all fuel had been removed from the reactor. On June 28, 2022, the operating license for Palisades was transferred from Entergy to Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI) for the purpose of decommissioning Palisades. HDI submitted the Palisades Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) to the NRC on December 23, 2020, and official review of the HDI PSDAR commenced after completion of the license transfer. A PSDAR public meeting will be scheduled in the vicinity of the Palisades plant by the end of 2022. In the PSDAR, HDI stated its intention to move all of the spent nuclear fuel into dry cask storage and fully decommission the facility by 2041.
Significant Decommissioning Licensing Documents
The following decommissioning transition licensing actions have been completed:
Certification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations – ML17004A062, ML17271A233, and ML17292A032
Certification of Permanent Removal of Fuel from the Reactor Vessel – ML22164A067
Duane Arnold Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) and Site-Specific Decommissioning Cost Estimate (DCE) – ML20358A232
Approval of the Certified Fuel Handler (CFH) Training Program – ML17151A350
Amendment to the Administrative Controls Section of Technical Specifications – ML18114A410
Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 73, Sections 73.55(p)(1)(i) and (p)(1)(ii) Related to the Suspension of Security Measures in an Emergency or During Severe Weather – ML17216A802
Amendment to Revise Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Staffing Requirements – ML18170A219
Exemption from Certain Record Retention Requirements – ML21195A368
Exemption for the Decommissioning Trust Fund – ML21286A581
Amendment ‑ Proposed Defueled TS and Revised License Conditions for Permanently Defueled Condition – By letter dated May 13, 2022 (ML22039A198), the NRC staff issued Amendment No. 272 for Palisades. The amendment revised the renewed facility operating license and the associated technical specifications to permanently defueled technical specifications consistent with the permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel.
Major Technical or Regulatory Issues
The following decommissioning transition licensing actions are ongoing or anticipated:
License Amendment for Permanently Defueled Emergency Plan (PDEP) – ML22193A090
Exemption from Portions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.47 – ML22192A134
Exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(w)(1) – On-Site Property Damage Insurance – Projected Submission Date: 4Q 2022
Exemption from 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) – Off-site Liability Insurance Requirements – Projected Submission Date: 4Q 2022
Defueled Security Plan Amendment Request – Projected Submission Date: 4Q 2022
Cyber Security Amendment Request – Projected Submission Date: 4Q 2022
Estimated Date for Closure
2041