* Of the 103 commercial nuclear power plants in the country, 48 reactors at 27 sites have received license renewals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That's up from 23 reactors at 10 sites in February 2004. The renewal process at that time was considered to take an average of 33 months. Brunswick renewals took 20 months from application-to-extension. [Source: Maryann Spoto (Star-Ledger Staff), "Oyster Creek seeks to run 20 more years; Aging nuclear plant's license expires in 2009 and the state has concerns about its safety", Newark Star Ledger (NJ), February 20, 2004]
* A complete listing of completed renewal applications, as well as those currently under review, can be found on the NRC's web site: here
* The 40-year term for U.S. nuclear plant operating licenses originally reflected the amortization period generally used by electric utility companies for large capital investments and did not represent safety, technical or environmental limits. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 permits nuclear power plants to renew their 40-year operating licenses. [Source: AmerGen Energy Co. press release, "AmerGen to Pursue Oyster Creek License Extension", February 19, 2004]
* License renewal is a big deal. The deal for RG&E to sell Ginna is contingent upon RG&E's success in renewing the license. [Ref: RG&E press release, "RG&E to sell Ginna nuclear generating station to Constellation Generation Group LLC", November 25, 2003]
March 15, 2008
* Vermont Yankee - state legislature and license renewal
March 11, 2008
February 26, 2008
This is top story on the front page of today's The Burlington Free Press, of Vermont.
See full text of this story, and public comments, via the web version of this article.
October 30, 2007
EPA urges NRC to broaden scope of n-plant license renewal evaluation, to include terrorism, spent fuel pool leaks
In a letter to NRC issued Oct. 10 and made public Monday, the EPA requested that eight issues, including "an analysis of the impacts of intentional destructive acts (e.g. terrorism)", "be discussed in the environmental impact statement for these [nuclear power plant] license renewals." NRC has turned away prior demands from public and politicians that terrorism be considered, saying that is beyond the scope of relicensing. "The security of the plant needs to be dealt with on an ongoing basis" rather than as part of the relicensing process, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said Monday. EPA also requested that license renewal include an evaluation of radioactive leaks from the spent-fuel pools at the plants, which the NRC says is also outside the relicensing parameters.
[Source: The Associated Press, "EPA urges nuclear licensing authority to consider terrorism in decision on NY power plants", International Herald Tribune (France), October 30, 2007]
February 27, 2007
Massachusetts Attorney General is confused if it thinks it might still be a party to Pilgrim or VY license renewal case, sez NRC staff
In January 2006, the Massachusetts Attorney General (MassAG) filed petitions to intervene in license renewal proceedings for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee. MassAG contended at the time that alleged new information about spent fuel pool fires should be considered in the proceedings. Both ASLBs rejected MassAG's contention, and NRC affirmed those decisions. MassAG wants NRC to reconsider and clarify that affirmation. NRC staff urges the Commission to make it clear to MassAG that the decision to affirm the ASLBs was final and will not be reconsidered. The NRC staff legal brief, dated February 16, 2007, is available as ADAMS ACN ML070510132.
June 26, 2006
Brunswick 1 and 2 were granted 20-year renewals. U-2 is now licensed to operate until December 27, 2034. U-1 until September 8, 2036.
November 23, 2005
Excelon's dismissive comments on Scarpelli petition (see June 20, 2005 info below) points out that "The NRC does not wait to see whether a plant will apply to renew its license before fulfilling its safety and common defense responsibilities. Rather, the dockets of the Commission are rife with examples of the Commission acting to satisfy its legislative mandate to protect the public health and safety and assure the common defense whenever necessary. In this context, the proposed amendments are unnecessary, and, in fact, are counterproductive in that they would divert substantial resources from Commission-determined priorities necessary to protect the public over the lifetime of nuclear power plants."
Ref: see Exelon's lawyer's letter to NRC, released Dec 1, 2005 via ADAMS as ACN ML053330036
July 22, 2005
* AmerGen Energy, a subsidiary of Exelon and the licensed operator of Oyster Creek Generating Station, filed an application to renew Oyster Creek's license for an additional twenty years
June 20, 2005
Joseph Scarpelli, Mayor of the Township of Brick, New Jersey, submitted petition to NRC which, in essence, would require NRC to conduct a de novo review for license renewal using present-day standards for initial licenses.
The Petitioner requests that 10 C.F.R. Part 54, "Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses of Nuclear Power Plants," be amended to provide that "a renewed license will be issued only if the plant operator demonstrates that the plant meets all criteria and requirements that would be applicable if the plant were being proposed de novo for initial construction." In particular, the petition requests that 10 C.F.R. ¤ 54.29 should be amended to provide that a renewed license may be issued by the Commission only if the Commission finds that, upon a de novo review, the plant would be entitled to initial operating licenses as set out in the Commissions regulations. The petition seeks corresponding amendments to sections 54.4, 54.19, 54.21 and 54.23, and also calls for the rescission of section 54.30. Finally, the Petition suggests that the criteria to be examined as part of a renewal application "should include such factors as demographics, siting, emergency evacuation, site security, etc." The petitioner believes that "[t]his analysis should be performed in a manner that focuses the NRC's attention on the critical plant-specific factors and conditions that have the greatest potential to affect public safety."
The Petitioner alleges that there have been numerous incidents since Oyster Creek first received its operating license that have raised concerns about using nuclear power to generate energy, particularly in heavily populated areas. The Petitioner generally cites Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Yucca Mountain, and September 1th as examples of incidents which raise concerns about the safety and security of nuclear power plants. The Petitioner also states that the evacuation of the communities around Oyster Creek is of particular concern since traffic congestion has increased as the result of the failure to improve the infrastructure.
The Petitioner asserts that the process and criteria currently in Part 54 are "seriously flawed" since they are based on the theory that if the plant was licensed originally at the site, it is satisfactory to renew the license, barring any significant issues having to do with passive systems, structures and components. Instead, the Petitioner argues that the regulations should be "broadened and sufficiently comprehensive to cover all facets (including consideration of a worst-case scenario) that were considered for initial construction." As an alternative to expanding the scope of the renewal evaluation, the Petitioner suggests that the license renewal evaluation should "examine all issues related to the plant and its original license, and then concentrate on any issues that are new to that plant or have changed since the original license was issued or that deviate from the original licensing basis."
Lastly, the Petitioner mentions several factors that, it believes, affect nuclear plant licensing. In particular, the Petitioner notes that many of those factors evolve over time as public awareness increases, technology improves, and plant economic values change. As a result, the Petitioner states that roads and infrastructure may not improve as population density increases, inspection methods may not be adopted or may be used inappropriately, and regulations may alter the plant designs after operation has begun. The Petitioner asserts that these factors must be considered and weighed as part of the formal Part 54 relicensing process.
[Source: the above description is from Exelon's lawyer's letter to NRC, released Dec 1, 2005 via ADAMS as ACN ML053330036]
April 19, 2005
Beaver Valley told NRC that it intends to thoroughly improve the license renewal application. The initial application, which failed the NRC acceptance review, was apparently a "turnkey" product by a contractor. Root cause evaluation of "the organizational issues and process factors that contributed to this failure" has been initiated. Submittal schedule is expected to be available in late May 2005, after scoping the work required. See full text of letter here.
October 22, 2004
* Browns Ferry - pipes carrying > 200ˇF fluids will be 316 SS NG material, not susceptible to IGSCC
September 3, 2004
* Palisades will apply for license renewal
June 3, 2004
* Cook - metal fatigue section of license renewal application - draft RAI teleconference summary
* Browns Ferry 1, 2 & 3 - license renewal meeting (June 11)
* Nine Mile Point 1&2 license renewal meeting (June 16)
March 27, 2004
* Ginna license renewal application to be discussed by ACRS at April 15-17 meeting
March 13, 2004
* License renewal - NRC will only support 12 reviews at a time
March 12, 2004
* Millstone-2&3 license renewal - petitions for hearing due by May 11
Feb 20, 2004
February 19, 2004
Oyster Creek renewal application to be filed mid-2005
Amergen decided late last year, and the decision was publicly announced today. This is the first of the Amergen plants to announce for renewal. If British Energy hadn't sold its interest, renewal might not have been sought. As Oyster Creek is the oldest operating commercial plant, nuclear.com expects the anti-nuclear groups to lavish particular enthusiasm and imagination in opposing this application.
February 5, 2004
December 9, 2003
* McGuire/Catawba license renewal - BREDL petition denied
* BREDL petition seen as impermissible "discovery" effort re: PRA
* BREDL scolded by NRC for bordering on the frivilous
December 5, 2003
* McGuire and Catawba get 20-year renewals. Duke submitted application to the NRC on June 14, 2001. With the renewal, the license for Catawba 1 is extended from December 6, 2024, to December 5, 2043, and the license for unit 2 is extended from February 24, 2026, to December 5, 2043.
The license for McGuire Unit 1 is extended from June 12, 2021, to June 12, 2041, and the license for McGuire Unit 2 is extended from March 3, 2023, to March 3, 2043.
November 4, 2003
* Ft. Calhoun gets 20-year renewal. Omaha Public Power District submitted application to the NRC on January 11, 2002. With the renewal, the license for Ft. Calhoun is extended from August 9, 2013, to August 9, 2033.
October 3, 2003
* St. Lucie gets 20-year renewal. FPL submitted application to the NRC on November 29, 2001. With the renewal, the license for St. Lucie 1 is extended from March 1, 2016, to March 1, 2036, and the license for unit 2 is extended from April 6, 2023, to April 6, 2043.
October 1, 2003
Robinson and Ft. Calhoun license renewal SERs presented to ACRS
On September 30 and October 1, NRC staff presented the results of its evaluations of the H. B. Robinson Unit 2 and Fort Calhoun Unit 1 license renewal applications, respectively, to the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). The staff issued the safety evaluation report (SER) with open items for Robinson on August 25, 2003, and the final SER for Ft. Calhoun on September 5, 2003. The staff presented an overview of the SERs, the subsequent resolution of the open items, and the findings of the associated onsite audit and inspections. The ACRS members commented that the license renewal applications and the staffŐs SERs were of good quality. The final SER for Robinson is due to be completed by January 21, 2004. If approved, the staff plans to issue the renewed license for Ft. Calhoun by November 21, 2003.
[Source: NRC Office of EDO, Weekly Information Report, October 3, 2003]
* License Renewal Activities - Plant-by-plant status - Sept 30, 2003
September 29, 2003
Browns Ferry uprates, license renewals, and U-1 restart
TVA and NRR have had pre-application discussions regarding planned submittal of license renewal application for Browns Ferry Units 1, 2, and 3. The application is scheduled to be submitted in late December 2003. In the meantime, Unit 1 is expected to be undergoing restart. Extended power uprates will also be requested for all three units. Detailed discussions in the September 29 meeting centered on how TVA will identify temporary differences for Unit 1 until restart is completed and how Unit 1 will be identical to Units 2 and 3. TVA will also address in its application the effects of more than 17 years of lay up on the Unit 1 structures and components that are not being replaced during restart activities.
[Ref: NRC Office of EDO, Weekly Information Report, October 3, 2003]
September 4, 2003
* N-plant license renewals - 16 done, 14 pending, 21 more expected within 6 years
August 6, 2003
* Cook - license renewal application expected to be ready in November, new heads planned
August 5, 2003
* new from NRC: NUREG-1437 Supplement 12, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants - Fort Calhoun Station Unit 1
June 20, 2003
* License renewal depends mainly on two reviews: plant safety & environmental impacts
* License renewal process - overview
* License renewal - overview of safety review required by NRC
* License renewal - overview of environmental review required by NRC
* License renewal process - 22-30 months, depending on whether adjudicatory hearing required
* License renewal - local taxes are part of environmental impact statement scope
* License renewal applications are 1,000-page summaries of 100X more info at Quad-Cities and Dresden
* Nuclear Power - Safe, Clean, Economical - Fred (Exelon) Polaski's Simple And Heartfelt Conclusion
* Nuclear power is neither clean nor cheap. We can do without the risks and ramifications.
June 4, 2003
* NRC/NEI Meeting Summary - TLAA Aging Analysis for license renewals
May 16, 2003
* License Renewals - finite staff & budget prompts staff to recommend max of 8 concurrent reviews
* License Renewals - NRC asks industry to detail projected costs of NRC cap on concurrent reviews
* License renewal - only one has been contested
* License renewals - NRC expects 14 more applications through June 2005
May 7, 2003 - NRC approved Peach Bottom's application to extend operating licenses for additional twenty years -- to the years 2033 and 2034. The application was submitted in July 2001. Reuters' article on this story reported that "To date, the NRC has approved license renewals at eight stations, with another nine applications still under review and at least 16 applications expected to be submitted over the next few years, according to data from the NRC and the Nuclear Energy Institute."
April 30, 2003
Robinson, Brunswick license renewal projects prompt look to dry cask storage
Dry cask storage RFP for Brunswick and Robinson plants was announced today by Progress Energy. The utility expects to choose one vendor to supply casks for both sites. Both plants have been transporting spent fuel to the utility's Harris plant for wet storage. "We plan to operate our plants for many years and evaluating all options for interim spent fuel storage makes the most sense for our plants and our customers," said C.S. "Scotty" Hinnant, Progress' senior vice president and chief nuclear officer.Ę "License renewal is under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for Robinson and plans are underway to file for a Brunswick license renewal in 2004.Ę In addition, the rail containers currently used to ship spent fuel by the company will need to be relicensed or replaced after 2005.Ę Given these factors, the decision has been made to evaluate all options." [Source: Progress Energy press release, "Progress Energy exploring dry nuclear fuel storage facilities at Robinson, Brunswick nuclear plants", April 30, 2003]
Status of License Renewal Activities: [from NRC's June 20 letter to Congress, containing status report for period of April 1-30]
McGuire, Units 1 and 2, and Catawba, Units 1 and 2, Combined Renewal Applications
NRC staff issued the final supplemental environmental impact statements (SEIS) for McGuire and Catawba in December 2002. The safety evaluation report resolving the open items was issued in January 2003. The staff is supporting completion of the hearing process. A decision on the renewal of the licenses is expected by December 2003. In January 2002, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) admitted contentions filed by two petitioners in the Catawba and McGuire license renewal proceeding. The staff and Duke appealed the ASLB decision and the contentions were subsequently dismissed. However, in December 2002, the Commission reinstated late-filed contentions that had been submitted in May 2002. In April 2003, the petitioners requested that one of the dismissed contentions be reinstated. These late-filed contentions and the request for reinstatement are currently being reviewed by the ASLB for admissibility.
St. Lucie, Units 1 and 2, Renewal Application
NRC staff issued the draft SEIS for public comment in November 2002, and the comment period ended in January 2003. The staff is addressing the comments received and is preparing the final SEIS, which is scheduled to be issued by June 2003. The staff issued the safety evaluation report identifying open items in February 2003, and the applicant provided responses to the open items in March 2003. The staff is reviewing the applicantŐs responses and preparing to issue the safety evaluation report by July 2003.
Fort Calhoun Renewal Application
NRC staff issued the draft SEIS for public comment in January 2003, and the public comment period ended in April 2003. The staff is addressing the comments received and is preparing the final SEIS, which is scheduled to be issued by August 2003. The safety requests for additional information were issued in October 2002, and the applicantŐs responses were received in December 2002. The staff issued the safety evaluation report identifying the remaining open items in April 2003.
Robinson Unit 2 Renewal Application
Environmental requests for additional information were issued by NRC in October 2002, and the responses were received in January 2003. The staff is reviewing the responses and is preparing the draft SEIS, which is scheduled to be issued by May 2003. The safety requests for additional information were issued in February 2003, and the applicantŐs responses were received in April 2003. The staff is reviewing the applicantŐs responses and preparing to issue the safety evaluation report by August 2003, which will identify any remaining open items.
Ginna Renewal Application
Environmental requests for additional information were issued by NRC in January 2003, and the applicantŐs responses were received in March 2003. The staff is reviewing the responses and is preparing the draft SEIS, which is scheduled to be issued by June 2003. The safety requests for additional information were issued in March 2003, and the applicantŐs responses are scheduled to be submitted by June 2003.
Summer Renewal Application
Environmental requests for additional information were issued by NRC in January 2003 and the responses were received in March 2003. The staff is reviewing the responses and is preparing the draft SEIS, which is scheduled to be issued by July 2003. The safety requests for additional information were issued in March 2003, and the applicantŐs responses are scheduled to be submitted by June 2003.
Dresden, Units 2 and 3, and Quad Cities, Units 1 and 2, Combined Renewal Applications
The application is currently under review, and NRC staff is preparing requests for additional information. All environmental requests for additional information are scheduled to be issued by May 2003. The safety requests for additional information will be issued by August 2003. No requests for hearing were received, and the schedule was revised to complete the review in 22 months, with a license decision now scheduled for November 2004.
April 21, 2003 - NEI reorganized recently. Fred Emerson will replace Alan Nelson as their license renewal contact. They informed NRC of this at a March 27, 2003 meeting. A copy of NEI's presentation slides, guidance change matrix, and recommendations for NRC changes was released via ADAMS ACN ML031040033. [Source: NRC memo, "Summary of meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) on the proposed NEI 95-10 revision and suggested changes to Generic Aging Lessons Learned (GALL) report for license renewal", April 10, 2003. ML031010447]
April 15, 2003: A letter to the editor of Richmond Times Dispatch took eloquent exception to the anti-nuclear focus of the newspaper's story announcing license extension approvals. The letter writer concluded with "The fact that the North Anna and Surry power stations may operate for an additional 20 years means Virginia's citizens will pay less for electricity and suffer less environmental insult. That is good news!" The editors' reply seems a bit off the mark to nuclear.com: "News editors respond: Because of electric deregulation, Dominion Virginia Power is not obligated to pass along any of the cost savings that are associated with extending the life of the nuclear power plants to Virginia consumers."
[Source: W. Reed Johnson (Lancaster), "Nuclear Plants Will Aid State's Economy", letter to editor, and editors' response, Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia), April 15, 2003, p. A-12]