ML033430381
| ML033430381 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 11/24/2003 |
| From: | Alford B Troy State Univ Dothan |
| To: | Kuo P Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML033430381 (2) | |
Text
{IV TROY STATE UNIVERSITY DOTHAN Office of the President P.O. Box 8368 Dothan, Alabama 36304-0368 (334) 983-6556 November 24, 2003 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint Washington, DC 20553 Attn: P.T. Kuo
Dear Members of the Commission:
This letter is written in enthusiastic support of the renewal application filed by Southern Nuclear Operating Company on behalf of Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Alabama.
Undoubtedly, the Commission will receive many letters attesting to the critical impact that Plant Farley has on the overall economy and quality of life in our region. Thanks to Southern Nuclear, 900 area citizens are employed in well-paying, prestigious jobs that elevate the business profile of our county and have a tremendous effect on the upward mobility of families. Our community, specifically Houston County and Houston County Schools, benefits greatly from the $7 million in tax revenue that makes possible everything from infrastructure improvements to enhanced classroom learning for children. Farley employees also are actively involved in countless community activities such as fundraisers for the March of Dimes, the United Way, the American Heart Association, and others. They are vital supporters of Chamber of Commerce projects and visible by the hundreds in service projects like the Houston County Spirit of Service Day, the National Peanut Festival and the many arts and music programs that serve our citizens.
As interim president of Troy State University Dothan (TSUD) allow me to offer a perspective from this institution. The leadership of Plant Farley has been instrumental in the growth and development of this university and in our ability to fulfill our educational mission. Farley professionals have been and continue to be primary participants on the advisory boards and task forces that guide the institution, including the design of our strategic plans. In addition, Farley has been a key player in the development and delivery of science institutes for teachers within a tri-state region, dramatically impacting the K-12 science curricula and student achievements.
THE TROY STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Troy Dothan Montgomery
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Most remarkably, the leaders at Farley were the central players in the initiation of a first-of-its-kind university partnership between TSUD and the University of Alabama College of Engineering. Several years ago, Farley, along with several other key industries, expressed the need for accessible and affordable engineering programs for valuable employees who did not possess the bachelor's degree. In addition, talented local high school graduates who desired an engineering degree but did not have the personal resources to attend a high-cost, residential university were being disenfranchised. Where engineering was concerned, the educational and professional needs of individuals and industries in the southeast quadrant of our state were not being met. Despite the need, engineering programs are costly to initiate and are zealously guarded by the universities that already have them established. There was absolutely no chance that.a.new engineering program.was going to be-authorized and fundedin this ___
part of the state. However, with the leadership at Farley, TSUD and the UA College of Engineering created a BS in Mechanical Engineering collaborative program here in Houston County that will serve the needs of citizens for many years, without duplicating high-cost programs already in existence. This kind of partnership, envisioned by industry and supported by local and state government, was a direct result of the commitment Plant Farley continuously has shown to TSUD and to the citizens of southeast Alabama.
I strongly encourage the Commission's renewal of the application for Farley Nuclear Plant. This facility and its employees have become an integral part of our lives in Houston County, and we look forward to a brighter future with them in the picture.
Sincerely,
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Barbara Alford, Ed.D.
Interim President