Press Release-12-063, NRC Renews Operating License for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant for an Additional 20 Years

Press Release-12-063: NRC Renews Operating License for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant for an Additional 20 Years

ML12150A331
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Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/29/2012
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-12-063
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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.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No.12-063 May 29, 2012 NRC RENEWS OPERATING LICENSE FOR PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating license for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Mass., for an additional 20 years. The new license will expire June 8, 2032.

The decision to renew the license comes after thorough safety and environmental reviews of the application submitted by the plants operator, Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., on Jan. 27, 2006. Pilgrim is a boiling-water reactor.

Motions to reopen the adjudicatory hearing contesting the license renewal application are pending before the NRCs Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and the Commission. Under NRC policy, a decision to issue a renewed license before a hearings completion requires the approval of the Commission. That approval was granted in a Staff Requirements Memorandum issued May 25.

Without the license renewal, Entergy could continue to operate the Pilgrim reactor after its license expires on June 8 under timely renewal provisions in NRC regulations, which would keep the current license in effect while the adjudication continues. Renewal of the license means new license conditions take effect, requiring Entergy to implement age-management policies and programs designed to ensure safety during the period of extended operations.

During the review of Entergys license renewal application, the NRC held several public meetings near the plant to explain the environmental and safety reviews. The NRC staff published a final Safety Evaluation Report in June 2007, plus supplements in September 2007 and July 2011. The final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was issued in July 2007.

After reviewing the plants safety systems and specifications, the staff concluded that there were no safety concerns that would preclude license renewal and that the applicant had effectively demonstrated the capability to manage the effects of plant aging. The review processes included several inspections and audits at the plant conducted by NRC staff to verify information provided in the application.

The safety and environmental review reports, as well as other documents relating to the Pilgrim license renewal application, are available on the NRC website.

Pilgrim is the 73rd reactor license renewed by the NRC. A complete listing of renewal applications may be found on the NRC website.

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