Apr 13 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Rob Pavey The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.



The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will face new challenges as it scrambles to meet demands brought forth by a surge in nuclear power plant construction, according to a senior agency official.

"At this time, the NRC has a total of 18 accepted license applications for new power plants in the U.S.," said Dave Matthews, director of the NRC's Division of New Reactor Licensing, who spoke today to regulators and nuclear industry officials during a meeting at Plant Vogtle.

Although five of those applications are on hold or being withdrawn, the remaining 13-including the one for Vogtle's two new reactors-will require significant resources as both industry and government navigate the commission's new "combined operating license" program.

The process simultaneously authorizes construction and operation of new reactors-and replaces a system used decades ago in which utility companies worked for years to obtain a license, then would become mired in changing regulations in their quest for a second license to operate a plant.

 Plant Vogtle, which hosted the meeting between NRC's Office of New Reactors and the nuclear industry's New Plant Working Group, is already poised to become the first new nuclear project to go online in the U.S. in decades. Consequently, Matthews said, it will be closely watched.

In addition to reviewing combined operating license applications, the NRC also faces the additional challenge of reviewing and certifying changes in designs for new reactors.

Any design changes for new reactors must be resolved before a combined operating license can he issued, he said, adding that the order in which such issues are resolved could create problems with construction schedules.

The Vogtle site already has two existing reactors and site preparation is under way in anticipation of adding two new units that would go online in 2016 and 2017.

Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com

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