Press Release-06-097, NRC Completes Staff Review of Clinton Early Site Permit Application

Press Release-06-097: NRC Completes Staff Review of Clinton Early Site Permit Application

ML062050290
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Issue date:	07/24/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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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. 06-097July 24, 2006NRC COMPLETES STAFF REVIEW OFCLINTON EARLY SITE PERMIT APPLICATIONThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has issued its final environmental impact statement(EIS) on the proposed Early Site Permit (ESP) for the Clinton site, about six miles east of Clinton, Ill.

The report contains the NRC's finding that there are no environmental impacts that would prevent issuing the ESP. Combined with the recent issuance of a final Safety Evaluation Report on the application, this marks the end of the staff's technical review on the Clinton ESP, although additional steps must be completed before the NRC reaches a final decision on the matter.The ESP process allows an applicant to address site-related issues, such as environmentalimpacts, for possible future construction and operation of a nuclear power plant at the site. The Clinton application was filed Sept. 25, 2003, by Exelon Generation Company, LLC. If approved, the permit would give Exelon up to 20 years to decide whether to build a new nuclear unit on the site and to file an application with the NRC for approval to begin construction.The NRC staff's conclusion is based on its independent review of a report submitted by Exelon,taking into account consultations with federal, state, tribal and local organizations, and consideration of comments received during the public scoping process. The staff's conclusions include a finding that there are no obviously superior alternative sites, and that any adverse environmental impacts from possible site preparation and preliminary construction activities at Clinton could be redressed.

The final EIS and related documents are available electronically for public inspection in theNRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. They are also available on theNRC's Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1815/ . In addition,the Vespasian Warner Public Library, located at 310 North Quincy Street in Clinton, will have a copyof the EIS available for public inspection. With the technical review complete, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel mustconduct a mandatory hearing on the matter before the Commission can reach a final decision on issuing the permit. The NRC expects to finish this process for the Clinton ESP by mid-2007.