Item 5. Other Information

Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry

Following is an update to the “Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry” section of Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K.

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning

In March 2022 filings with the NRC were made reporting on decommissioning funding for Palisades and the Big Rock Point dry fuel storage facility. Those reports showed that decommissioning funding for those facilities met the NRC’s financial assurance requirements.

Environmental Regulation

Following are updates to the “Environmental Regulation” section of Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by the EPA in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Following are updates to that discussion.

Hazardous Air Pollutants

The EPA released the final Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) rule in December 2011, which had a compliance date, with a widely granted one-year extension, of April 2016. The required controls have been installed and are operational at all affected Entergy units. In May 2020 the EPA finalized a rule that finds that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants from electric steam generating units under the provisions of section 112(n) of the Clean Air Act. This is a reversal of the EPA’s previous finding requiring such regulation. The final appropriate and necessary finding does not revise the underlying MATS rule. Several lawsuits have been filed challenging the appropriate and necessary finding. In February 2021 the D.C. Circuit granted the EPA’s motion to hold the litigation in abeyance pending the agency’s review of the appropriate and necessary rule. In February 2022 the EPA issued a proposed rule revoking the 2020 rule and determining, again, that it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants. The EPA is seeking additional information, which it could use to further tighten the standard. Entergy will continue to monitor this situation.

Cross-State Air Pollution

As discussed in the Form 10-K, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) has been remanded to and modified by the EPA on multiple occasions. In April 2022 the EPA published a rule to address interstate transport for the 2015 ozone NAAQS and which will increase the stringency of the CSAPR program in all four of the states where the Utility operating companies operate. If finalized as proposed, the rule will significantly reduce emission allowances and would likely require the installation of post-combustion nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions controls on any coal or large legacy gas units that will operate beyond 2026 and are not currently equipped with such controls, including certain of Entergy’s plants. Additionally the EPA is proposing controls on certain non-electric generating NOx sources. Since releasing the proposed rule, the price for Group 3 allowances has increased to $8,500 per allowance. Comments on the proposed rule are due in June 2022, and Entergy is currently evaluating the publication.

Regional Haze

As discussed in the Form 10-K, the second planning period (2018-2028) for the regional haze program required states to examine sources for impacts on visibility and to prepare State Implementation Plans (SIPs) by July 31, 2021 which the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) did not meet. The ADEQ released a draft proposed SIP in February 2022. The ADEQ reviewed Entergy’s Independence plant, but determined that additional air emission controls would not be cost-effective considering the facility’s commitment to cease coal-fired combustion by December 31, 2030. The ADEQ is expected to finalize this SIP and submit to the EPA for review by the end of 2022.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has completed its second-planning period SIP and submitted it to the EPA for review. There were no Entergy sources selected for additional emission controls. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality continues to develop its SIP, but there are no Entergy sources that are expected to be impacted.