Nukes Dig Deep Before Full License: NRC Says Okay
Published Date: 8/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for an exemption requested by SMR, LLC on behalf of Palisades SMR, LLC (Palisades SMR), associated with certain excavation support activities for the proposed dual-unit SMR-300 plant, Pioneer Units 1 and 2, at the Palisades Energy Center in Covert, Michigan. Specifically, Palisades SMR is requesting an exemption, pursuant to NRC regulations, to allow for construction of support of excavation (SOE) walls during SMR-300 excavation and prior to issuance of a Limited Work Authorization (LWA), if approved. Based on the analyses presented in the EA, the NRC staff determined that there would be no significant environmental impacts associated with granting the requested exemption.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Exemption Allows Early Excavation Work
The NRC issued an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact that supports an exemption allowing Palisades SMR to install support-of-excavation (SOE) walls for the SMR-300 plant in Covert, Michigan prior to issuance of a Limited Work Authorization (LWA). Granting the exemption would let those excavation-support activities proceed earlier and could avoid delays and extra costs that might otherwise postpone adding 680 megawatts of lower-cost, reliable energy for the State of Michigan.
Excavation Walls Intended to Protect Workers
The exemption would allow installation of permanent SOE walls (diaphragm walls, soldier pile soil mixed walls, and perimeter cutoff walls) before an LWA to provide excavation support and improve construction worker safety during SMR-300 excavation for Pioneer Units 1 and 2. Palisades SMR says these SOE walls are needed for worker safety and are not part of the containment structural components.
NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts
As part of its review, the NRC prepared an Environmental Assessment and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on August 24, 2026, concluding the proposed exemption would not result in significant impacts to land use, terrestrial and aquatic resources, threatened and endangered species, air quality, surface or groundwater, historic and cultural resources, radiological human health, or radiological waste management. The NRC also completed Section 106 consultation and determined "No Historic Properties Affected."
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