16/11 nrc adams update, page-7

Thanks Krypto for posting those updates. And thanks also to Agent for articulating accurately the essence of where we are up to with the PTM. As Agent, said, only a couple of issues to clear up. We could have a 'technically complete'application by the end of November - and then the 7-8 week advertising/public comment period.

There have also been a few updates on the other important permit (the SML) on Adams over the last two nights.

Basically, the contending parties (Strata and NRC on the one side and the Natural Resources Defence council (NRDC) and the Powder River Basin Resources Council (PRBRC)) have agreed to a suitable date - 20 December - for a possible pre-hearing conference to be presided over by the newly formed Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

This is a HIGHLY critical time for the SML.

The story so far:

1. July 13, 2011 - NRC published a Notice of Materials License Application, Opportunity to Request a Hearing and to Petition for Leave to Intervene, and Commission
Order Imposing Procedures for Document Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation,” in the Federal Register

2. Aug 10 - NRDC and PRBRC requested a 45 day extension (to 27 October) to respond adequately to Strata's application

3. The NRDC and PRBRC succeeded in their request for a 45 day extension

4. The NRDC and PRBRC submitted a “Petition to Intervene and Request for Hearing on the last possible day (27 October) - calling for a hearing and providing 5 arguments as to why Strata's application is inadequate and should be rejected.

5. Strata has until 5 December to mount a response to NRDC and PRBRC's Petition to Intervene

6. NRDC and PRBRC then have until 15 December to respond to Strata's response

7. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board then decide - whether or not - based on Strata's and NRDC/PRBRC's submissions - to hold a pre-hearing conference on 20 December. The purpose would be to discuss and issue a ruling on two matters of law - the legal standing of NRDC and PRBRC and the admiisibility of their 5 contentions

8. If the pre-hearing conference is not held, there will be a formal hearing sometime early next year to consider the same issues. If the pre-hearing conference is held, the outcomes will determine whether or not the full hearing is held

All in all, a critical time for both permits and I imagine the Strata team and their consultants are working flat out on both of them at this point of time.