NRC ACCEPTS APPLICATION FOR NEW REACTOR AT GRAND GULF
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed, or accepted for review, a combined license (COL) application for a new reactor at the Grand Gulf site near Port Gibson, Miss. Entergy’s application, submitted Feb. 27, is the seventh COL request the agency has accepted for review.

“The NRC staff has concluded Entergy’s submittal meets our requirements for a full review, and we have started their environmental and safety analyses,” said Bill Borchardt, Director of the NRC’s Office of New Reactors. “We expect this work, as well as a hearing on the application, to continue through mid-2011.”

The application, minus proprietary or security-related details, is available on the NRC Web site here: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/col/grand-gulf.html. Entergy seeks approval to build and operate an Economic and Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) at the site, approximately 25 miles south of Vicksburg.

The NRC currently is reviewing the ESBWR design for possible certification. The staff will consider any findings concerning the design during the review of the Grand Gulf application, which is the second to reference the 1,500 MWe ESBWR. Information on the ESBWR application is available on the NRC Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/design-cert/esbwr.html.

Docketing the Grand Gulf application does not indicate whether the Commission will approve or reject the request. The docket number established for this application is 52-024. The NRC will shortly issue in the Federal Register a notice of opportunity to participate, or “intervene,” in a hearing on the application. Petitions to intervene in a hearing may be filed within 60 days of the notice, by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposed license and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding.
                                                             
The NRC is currently reviewing COL applications for reactors at six other locations:

• the Lee site in South Carolina;
• the South Texas Project site in Texas;
• the Bellefonte site in Alabama;
• the North Anna site in Virginia;
• the Calvert Cliffs site in Maryland, and;
• the Shearon Harris site in North Carolina.

The agency is also conducting an acceptance review on an application for the Vogtle site in Georgia. The agency will in the near future conduct a review on an application for the Summer site in South Carolina. The NRC expects 10 more applications in 2008. Information about the new reactor licensing process is available on the NRC Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactor-licensing.html . 

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Monday, April 21, 2008