Press Release-11-115, Licensing Board to Hear Oral Argument July 7 in Rockville, Md., on Calvert Cliffs New Nuclear Reactor Application

Press Release-11-115: Licensing Board to Hear Oral Argument July 7 in Rockville, Md., on Calvert Cliffs New Nuclear Reactor Application

ML11178A309
Person / Time
Site:	Calvert Cliffs
Issue date:	06/27/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
References
Press Release-11-115
Download: ML11178A309 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No.11-115 June 27, 2011 LICENSING BOARD TO HEAR ORAL ARGUMENT JULY 7 IN ROCKVILLE, MD., ON CALVERT CLIFFS NEW NUCLEAR REACTOR APPLICATION An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel will hear oral argument regarding a hearing in the Calvert Cliffs Combined License (COL) proceeding on July 7 at NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md. The ASLB is the independent body within the NRC that presides over hearings where the public can challenge proposed licensing and enforcement actions.

Oral arguments will begin at 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 7, in the ASLB Hearing Room on the third floor of Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The ASLB expects the session to conclude by noon. The session is open for public observation, but participation will be limited to the parties admitted to the proceeding (several public interest groups, the state of Maryland, the applicant - Unistar Nuclear Operating Services - and NRC staff involved in the proceeding). Early arrival is suggested to allow for security screening for all members of the public interested in attending. NRC policy prohibits signs, banners, posters or displays in the hearing room.

Unistar submitted a COL application March 14, 2008, seeking permission to construct and operate a new nuclear reactor at the Calvert Cliffs site near Lusby, Md. The ASLB granted intervenor status in the proceeding to the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Beyond Nuclear, Public Citizen Energy Program and Southern Maryland Citizens Alliance for Renewable Energy Solutions.

One of the intervenors contentions, or arguments, against the COL application is that Unistar fails to meet NRC requirements regarding foreign ownership. Following a staff determination earlier this year that Unistar fails to meet those requirements, the ASLB is now considering whether to rule in favor of the intervenors on the foreign ownership contention, withhold legal approval to issue the license, and conclude the hearing. The ASLB will hear oral argument on those points, as well as whether it should continue the hearing on another contention (which concerns an environmental issue) if it issues a decision on the foreign ownership issue but does not terminate the proceeding at this time.

Documents related to the Calvert Cliffs COL application are available on the NRC website. Documents pertaining to the ASLB proceeding are available in the agencys Electronic Hearing Docket. More information about the ASLB can be found on the NRC website.

NOTE: Anyone wishing to take photos or use a camera to record any portion of a NRC meeting should contact the Office of Public Affairs beforehand.

News releases are available through a free listserv 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 NRCs website.