NRC to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility License Renewal
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 20-030 June 5, 2020
CONTACT: David McIntyre, 301-415-0532
NRC to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility License Renewal
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement regarding the Westinghouse application to renew its NRC license for its Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina. The plant produces nuclear fuel assemblies for use in commercial nuclear power reactors.
On Oct. 28, 2019, the NRC published for public comment a draft Environmental Assessment related to Westinghouse’s request to renew the facility’s operating license for an additional 40 years. This type of assessment can result in a finding of no significant impact or a determination to prepare an EIS. In March 2020, the NRC received new data collected by Westinghouse during ongoing site investigations. Based on the NRC’s independent evaluation of the new data as part of the EA process, the NRC decided it could no longer conclude that renewal of the license would result in a finding of no significant impact. As a result, the NRC will proceed with an EIS.
The NRC will initiate the EIS process by publishing in the Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare an EIS.
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