NRC: News Release - 2008-144 - NRC Meeting Aug. 20 in Monroe, Mich., to Discuss Review Process for Expected New Reactor Application

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 08-144

August 5, 2008

NRC MEETING AUG. 20 IN MONROE, MICH., TO DISCUSS
REVIEW PROCESS FOR EXPECTED NEW REACTOR APPLICATION
Printable Version

Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will conduct a public meeting in Monroe, Mich., on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to discuss how the agency will review an expected Combined License (COL) application for a new reactor at the Fermi site, about 5 miles northeast of Monroe. The prospective applicant, Detroit Edison, has told the NRC it intends to apply later this year for a license to build and operate an Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) at the site.

“The Fermi application is among the dozen or so applications we’re planning to work on this year,” said David Matthews, Director of the Division of New Reactor Licensing in the NRC’s Office of New Reactors. “We’re going to work with residents in and around Monroe to help them understand the process and the valuable information they can give us.”

The NRC will hold the meeting in the Monroe County Community College’s La-Z-Boy Center, 1555 S. Raisinville Road in Monroe, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. NRC staff presentations will describe the overall COL review process, which includes safety and environmental assessments, as well as how the public can participate in the process. The NRC will host an open house for an hour prior to the meeting so members of the public have the opportunity to talk informally with agency staff.

A COL, if issued, provides NRC authorization to construct and, with conditions, operate a nuclear power plant at a specific site in accordance with laws and regulations. More information on the NRC’s new reactor licensing process is available on the agency’s Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactor-licensing.html.

The ESBWR is a 1,500 MWe design currently under NRC review for possible certification; more information is available on the NRC Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/design-cert/esbwr.html.

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