Press Release-10-160, ASLB to Hold Sept. 17 Prehearing Conference in Rockville, Md., on Vogtle New Reactor Application

Press Release-10-160: ASLB to Hold Sept. 17 Prehearing Conference in Rockville, Md., on Vogtle New Reactor Application

ML102510701
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	09/08/2010
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
References
Press Release-10-160
Download: ML102510701 (2)

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: http://www.nrc.gov No.10-160 September 8, 2010 ASLB TO HOLD SEPT. 17 PREHEARING CONFERENCE IN ROCKVILLE, MD., ON VOGTLE NEW REACTOR APPLICATION A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) will hold a prehearing conference Sept. 17 in Rockville, Md., regarding a revived challenge to Southern Nuclear Operating Companys Combined License (COL) application for two new reactors at the Vogtle site in Georgia.

The Board will conduct an oral argument with the petitioners challenging the application (the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Center for a Sustainable Coast, and Georgia Women's Action for New Directions for Clean Energy), Southern Nuclear, and the NRC staff.

An ASLB decision had previously ended the contested portion of the proceeding on the Vogtle COL application, but the petitioners are attempting to raise a new objection regarding the reactor design envisioned for the site. The issues to be argued will include whether the petitioners have standing to participate, whether the record of the proceedings contested portion should be reopened, and whether the new objection can appropriately be introduced at this point in the NRCs licensing process and meets the standards for admitting objections into an adjudicatory hearing.

The prehearing conference will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 17 in the NRCs ASLB hearing room, T-3B45, at the agencys headquarters at 11545 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The conference may also be viewed via teleconference from the NRCs Region II office, 245 Peachtree Center Ave., Suite 1200, in Atlanta. Members of the public are welcome to observe the conference at either location, but are reminded to allow sufficient time for security screening and to bring a government-issued photo ID (e.g., drivers license).

Members of the public may also file written limited appearance statements regarding the contested portion of the Vogtle COL licensing proceeding. These statements are not testimony, but provide an opportunity to make the Board and/or the participants aware of the publics concerns about the matters at issue in the contested proceeding. Statements should be mailed to Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

20555-0001; faxed to 301-415-1101 (call 301-415-1966 to verify receipt); or e-mailed to hearingdocket@nrc.gov. In addition, a copy of the limited appearance statement should be

mailed to Administrative Judge G. Paul Bollwerk, III, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail Stop T-3F23, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001; faxed to 301-415-5599 (call 301-415-7550 to verify receipt); or e-mailed to paul.bollwerk@nrc.gov.

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 NRC's Web site.