Press Release-07-103, NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Application for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant August 21
| ML072280386 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 08/16/2007 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-07-103 | |
| Download: ML072280386 (1) | |
Text
No.07-103 August 16, 2007 NRC TO DISCUSS PROCESS FOR REVIEW OF LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR VOGTLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AUGUST 21 Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 21, to discuss the agencys review process for the license renewal application for the Vogtle nuclear power plant. The application, submitted June 29, seeks an additional 20 years of service for the Waynesboro, Ga., plant, which has two operating reactors.
The meeting will take place at the Waynesboro Auditorium of the Augusta Technical College, Waynesboro/Burke Campus, 216 Highway 24 South, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. NRC staff will conduct an informal open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to meet with members of the public.
The formal meeting will begin with NRC staff presentations on how the overall license renewal review process works. Following the presentations, attendees will be able to ask questions and offer their comments.
This meeting will give interested citizens the chance to learn how we review license renewal applications, said Pao-Tsin Kuo, director of the NRCs Division of License Renewal. We should also note that this is just the first of what will be multiple opportunities for the public to engage the NRC with regard to the Vogtle application.
Under NRC regulations, the original operating license for a nuclear power plant has a term of 40 years.
The license may be renewed for up to 20 additional years if NRC requirements are met. The license renewal process proceeds along two tracks, one for safety issues and one for environmental issues. An applicant must provide NRC an evaluation that addresses the technical aspects of plant aging and describes the ways those effects will be managed. It must also prepare an evaluation of the potential impact on the environment if the plant operates for an additional 20 years. The NRC reviews the application and verifies the safety evaluations through inspections.
Public meetings are held by the NRC during the review of the renewal application, and NRC evaluations, findings and recommendations are published when completed.
The current operating license for the Vogtle Unit 1 reactor is due to expire Jan. 16, 2027, and Vogtle Unit 2's on Feb. 9, 2020. Both units are owned and operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
A copy of the Vogtle license renewal application is available via the NRCs Web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/vogtle.html. In addition, copies of the application are available at the Burke County Library, 130 Highway 24 South, in Waynesboro.
News releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov