August 26, 2009

By MATTHEW L. WALD

WASHINGTON — Many of the hundreds of workers at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in New Hill, N.C., are busy with high-tech tasks like calibrating equipment, monitoring radiation fields or controlling the reactor. But around the clock, there are three on duty who might have come out of another century.

They sniff for smoke.

                                 GLOSSARY

The following list of terms and acronyms may facilitate your reading of the events that have taken place at nuclear power plants on the Susquehanna River and elsewhere.

 Notice of Availability of the Draft Revision to Generic 

Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 

Revision 1, NUREG-1437 and Public Meetings (see complete info from the Federal Register at bottom.) 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend 

·        its environmental protection regulations by updating the Commission's 

·        1996 findings on the environmental impacts related to the renewal of a 

·        nuclear power plant's operating license. The Commission stated that it 

·        intends to review the assessment of impacts and update it on a 10-year 

·        cycle, if necessary. The proposed rule redefines the number and scope 

·        of the environmental impact issues which must be addressed by the 

·        Commission in conjunction with the review of applications for license 

·        renewal.

 July 24, 2009

Decision will influence future of industry

By PETER BEHR of ClimateWire

The Obama administration is close to a decision on filling two vacancies on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to industry and congressional sources. The appointments would come at a pivotal time for the industry's hopes of a revival, as NRC weighs operating license applications for a handful of new reactors and a review of its waste fuel policy.

The administration is believed to have settled on former Energy Department official William Magwood and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor George Apostolakis as the nominees. Both would be welcomed by the industry, officials said.

 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance 

of an order under Title 10 of the CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (10 CFR), Section 50.80 

approving the indirect transfer of the Facility Operating License DPR-12 for Peach Bottom 

Eric Epstein, Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, contends PPL's application for a license to construct a nuclear reactor at Bell Bend near Berwick, Pa. leaves at least four serious matters in need of attention. 

Epstein contends that the federally required funds to decommission (close down) a plant are inadequate. 

He also told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that PPL's has no solid plan for how to dispose of low-level radioactive waste. 

JUNE 16, 2009 MEETING WITH EXELON NUCLEAR TO DISCUSS 

MANAGEMENT OF BORAFLEX DEGRADATION AT PEACH BOTTOM 

ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3, AND THE ASSOCIATED 

LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST UNDER REVIEW TO REVISE THE 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SPENT FUEL POOL K 

INFINITY VALUE. 

FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE MEETING AND HOW TO ATTEND, READ MORE.