NRC: News Release - 2005-067 - NRC Approves Extended Power Uprate for Waterford Nuclear Power Plant

				Search Options
Index \| Site Map \| FAQ \| Facility Info \| Reading Rm \| New \| Help \| Glossary \| Contact Us

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. 05-067

April 15, 2005

NRC APPROVES EXTENDED POWER UPRATE FOR
WATERFORD NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a request by Entergy Nuclear South to increase the generating capacity of the Waterford nuclear power plant by approximately 8 percent. The NRC staff’s review determined that Entergy can safely increase the reactor’s power output after upgrading several plant components and complying with a license condition. Entergy must submit an amendment for NRC review and approval to account for instrument uncertainty.

NRC staff also reviewed Entergy’s evaluations that showed the plant’s design can handle the increased power level. The NRC's safety evaluation focused on several areas, including nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, operations, and other technical specification changes.

Extended power uprates involve significant modifications to plant equipment such as the high pressure turbines, main generators, and/or transformers. The power uprate at the plant, located 20 miles west of New Orleans, La., will increase the plant’s generating capacity from approximately 1075 to 1143 megawatts electric. The licensee intends to implement the uprate following its spring refueling outage.

NRC previously published a notice about the power uprate application in the Federal Register, providing the public an opportunity to comment or request a hearing. No comments or hearing requests were received by the NRC. The agency’s evaluation of the Waterford uprate will be available through the NRC’s ADAMS electronic document database by entering ML051030082 on this Web page: http://adamswebsearch.nrc.gov/dologin.htm.