Palisades Nuclear Plant

Plant Information	NRC Employee Contacts
Reactor Status Report (Daily) Reactor Event Notification Safety Performance Summary Inspection Reports US Plant Inspections following Japan Event Severe Accident Inspections FEMA After Action Reports (Emergency Exercises) Enforcement Actions	Sr. Public Affairs Officer:        Viktoria Mitlyng - 630-829-9662 Public Affairs Officer:        Prema Chandrathil - 630-829-9663 Sr. Resident Inspector, Resident Inspector, Project Manager
Key Documents	Related Information
License Renewal Plant Operating License Plant Environmental Report Plant-Specific Actions in Response to the Japan Nuclear Accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi	Reactor Quick Links Reactor Oversight Process NRC Emergency Preparedness and Response FEMA's State Offices and Agencies of Emergency Management Other Reactors in Michigan ADAMS - for additional documents Subscribe to E-mail Notices for Reactor Correspondence

All decommissioning transition licensing actions are complete and the plant has moved into full decommissioning status.

1.0 Site Identification

License Status:	SAFSTOR
Permanantly Shutdown:	05/20/2022
Fuel Removed:	06/10/2022
Docket No.:	50-255
Project Manager:	Tanya Hood

2.0 Site Status Summary

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 (ML22173A179), 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 was held in the vicinity of the Palisades plant on September 22, 2022 (ML22292A261).

Significant Decommissioning Licensing Documents:

• Certification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations – ML17004A062, ML17271A233, and ML17292A032
• Certification of Permanent Removal of Fuel from the Reactor Vessel – ML22164A067
• Palisades Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) and Site-Specific Decommissioning Cost Estimate (DCE) – ML20358A232
• NRC Staff Review of the Palisades PSDAR and DCE – ML23087A035
• 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 use of the Decommissioning Trust Fund – ML21286A581
• Amendment to Revise the Palisades License and Technical Specifications to Reflect the Permanently Defuled Condition – ML22039A198
• Amendment to Approve the Permanently Defueled Emergency Plan (PDEP) – ML23236A004
• Exemption from Portions of 10 CFR 50.47 Related to Emergency Preparedness Requirements – ML23263A977
• Exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(w)(1) to Reduce On-Site Property Damage Insurance – ML23191A522
• Exemption from 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) to Reduce Off-Site Liability Insurance Requirements – ML23192A077

Several of these licensing actions may be amended or reversed by the ongoing activities related to the potential for Palisades to resume operations.

3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues

None

4.0 Estimated Date for Closure

Calendar year 2041

NRC Preparing to Oversee First of a Kind Effort to Restart a Shuttered Plant

The Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP) permanently ceased operations on May 20, 2022, after more than 40 years of commercial operation. In early 2023, Holtec, the licensee for PNP expressed an interest in returning the plant to an operational status.

This effort will involve Holtec explaining how it will (1) return plant components to a status that supports safe operation; (2) restore the licensing basis of the plant to an operational status, and (3) make any upgrades necessary to meet current NRC requirements.

NRC staff will carefully review the regulatory and licensing documents for the plant, inspect new and restored components necessary to operate safely, and continue ongoing oversight to ensure sufficiency of all plant systems and programs.

To provide oversight of this effort, the NRC has established the Palisades Nuclear Plant Restart Panel, which will guide the staff efforts to review, inspect, and confirm that PNP is ready to be returned to an operating facility. The Restart Panel will help coordinate licensing, inspection, and oversight activities across the agency to ensure that all aspects of the PNP restart project are meeting the NRC’s safety, security, and environmental requirements.

Licensing Actions Under Review

The licensee for the Palisades Nuclear Plant, Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI), is pursuing several licensing actions to restore the operational licensing basis for the plant.

Regulatory Path to Reauthorize Power Operations
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Submittal	ML23032A399	02/01/2023
Updated Submittal	ML23072A404	03/13/2023
Kickoff Meeting	ML23107A121	03/20/2023
Follow-Up Meeting	ML23171B122	05/24/2023
Request for Exemption from Certain Termination of License Requirements of 10 CFR 50.82
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting	ML23263A001	08/29/2023
Submittal	ML23271A140	09/28/2023
Acceptance Review	ML23291A440	11/03/2023
RAI Letter			Requests for additional information (RAIs) will be issued as needed for this action.
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion	Tuesday, December 31, 2024		Date as included in acceptance review
Application for Order Consenting to Transfer of Control of License and Conforming License Amendments
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting	ML23303A213	10/03/2023
Submittal	ML23340A161	12/06/2023
Acceptance Review	ML24012A242	01/16/2024
RAI Letter			RAIs will be issued as needed for this action
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion	Tuesday, December 31, 2024		Date as included in acceptance review
Request to Revise Operating License and Technical Specifications to Support Resumption of Power Operations
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting	ML24016A005	12/05/2023
Submittal	ML23348A148	12/14/2023
Acceptance Review	ML24022A117	01/23/2024
RAI Letter			RAIs will be issued as needed for this action
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion	Friday, January 31, 2025		Date as included in acceptance review
Request to Revise the Administrative Technical Specifications to Support Resumption of Power Operations
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting	ML24051A094	02/06/2024
Submittal	ML24040A089	02/09/2024
Acceptance Review	ML24060A221	03/18/2024
RAI Letter			RAIs will be issued as needed for this action
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion	March 15, 2025		Date as included in acceptance review
Request to Reinstate the Palisades Emergency Plan to Support Resumption of Power Operations
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting	ML24089A246	03/18/2024
Submittal			Submittal expected in April 2024
Acceptance Review
RAI Letter			RAIs will be issued as needed for this action
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion			Date as included in acceptance review
Request to Update the Palisades Quality Assurance Plan to Support Resumption of Power Operations
	ADAMS Accession No.	Document Date	Other Information
Pre-Submittal Meeting
Submittal			Submittal expected in May 2024
Acceptance Review
RAI Letter			RAIs will be issued as needed for this action
RAI Response
Final Documentation
Estimated Completion			Date as included in acceptance review

Inspection Activities

Numerous NRC inspections and other oversight activities are planned to assess Holtec’s readiness to restart the Palisades plant. Publicly available inspection reports from the activities completed to date are listed below:

March 20, 2024 – Palisades Plant Reference Simulator Inspection Report

Upcoming Meetings

The NRC has engaged in several pre-submittal interactions with the Palisades staff on various topics related to the potential for restart, and will continue to host public meetings related to the potential for Palisades to resume power operations throughout the project.

TENTATIVE April 29, 2024 – Pre-Submittal Meeting to Discuss Restoration of the Quality Assurance Plan for Power Operations.

In addition, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, the Palisades Restart Panel is hosting a public meeting in the vicinity of the Palisades site to discuss the NRC’s efforts related to regulation and oversight of the potential restart activities.

The meeting will take place from 6:00 – 8:15 PM in the Grand Upton Hall at Lake Michigan College. Additional information on the upcoming public meeting is available on the NRC Public Meeting Page.

To sign up to receive NRC correspondence related to Palisades decommissioning, potential restart, and inspection activities join the Palisades listserv distribution by filling out the Operating Reactor Correspondence form with your email information.

Continue to check the NRC Public Meeting Page for information on any additional meetings on the Palisades Restart Project and Associated Actions.

For Additional Questions Contact the NRC’s Office of Public Affairs.