Press Release-07-107, NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on Application to Renew Operating Licenses for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-07-107: NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on Application to Renew Operating Licenses for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant

ML072340067
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	08/22/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
References
Press Release-07-107
Download: ML072340067 (1)

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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 No.07-107 August 22, 2007 NRC ANNOUNCES OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST HEARING ON APPLICATION TO RENEW OPERATING LICENSES FOR VOGTLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today announced the opportunity to request a hearing on an application to renew the operating licenses for the Vogtle nuclear power plant, Units 1 and 2, for an additional 20 years.

The Vogtle plant has two pressurized water reactors located about 26 miles southeast of Augusta, Ga. The plant owner, Southern Nuclear Operating Co., submitted the renewal application June 29. The current operating licenses for Vogtle expire Jan. 16, 2027, for Unit 1 and Feb. 9, 2029, for Unit 2.

The NRC staff has determined that the application contains sufficient information for the agency to formally docket, or file, the application and begin its technical review. Docketing the application does not preclude requesting additional information as the review proceeds; nor does it indicate whether the Commission will renew the licenses.

The Vogtle application for license renewal is posted on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/vogtle.html.

An NRC review schedule for Vogtle will also be posted soon. License renewal reviews typically take 22 months with no hearing, or 30 months with a hearing.

A notice of opportunity to request a hearing was published yesterday in the Federal Register.

The deadline for requesting a hearing is 60 days after publication of the notice. Petitions may be filed by anyone whose interest may be affected by the license renewal and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding. Background information regarding the hearing process was provided by NRC staff to members of the public during a public information session conducted yesterday near Vogtle.

A request for hearing and a petition for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, Attention:

Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Requests may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 415-1101 or e-mail to HEARINGDOCKET@nrc.gov. A copy should also be submitted to the NRC Office of General Counsel, by facsimile to (301) 415-3725 or e-mail to OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov.

Information about the license renewal process can be found on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html.

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.