NRC: News Release - 2002-004 - NRC Renews License for Hatch Nuclear Power Plant


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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. 02-004

January 11, 2002

NRC RENEWS LICENSE FOR HATCH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating license of the Edwin I. Hatch nuclear power plant, Units 1 and 2, near Baxley, Georgia, for an additional 20 years. The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company.

The Commission approved the license extension following a review of staff recommendations.

Southern Nuclear Operating Co. submitted an application to the NRC on February 29, 2000, to renew the licenses for Hatch Unit 1, which expires on August 6, 2014, and Unit 2, which expires on June 13, 2018. The NRC conducted extensive environmental and safety reviews of the license renewal application in accordance with Parts 51 and 54 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, respectively.

The NRC's environmental review, under Part 51, is described in a site-specific supplement to the NRC's "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants," (NUREG-1437, Supplement 4). In the Final Environmental Impact Statement, issued on May 31, the staff concluded that there were no impacts that would preclude renewal of the license for environmental reasons.

In its "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal Application of Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plants, Units 1 and 2, " (NUREG-1803) issued on October 5, the staff concluded that there were no safety concerns that would preclude license renewal, because the licensee had demonstrated the capability to manage the effects of plant aging.

In addition, the NRC conducted inspections of the plant to verify information submitted by
the licensee.

On November 16, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards -- an independent body of technical experts which advises the Commission -- issued its recommendation that the operating license
for Hatch Units 1 and 2, be renewed. That recommendation is contained in the "Report on the Safety Aspects of the License Renewal Application for Edwin I. Hatch Units 1 and 2."

Copies of these documents and others relating to the license renewal will be available at:
the NRC Public Document Room at the agency's One White Flint North Building, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland; telephone 1-800-397-4209 or (301) 415-4737.

NRC renewed the operating licenses for both units of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant near Lusby, Md., for an additional 20 years on March 23, 2000; for the three units of the Oconee Nuclear Station near Seneca, S.C., for an additional 20 years on May 23, 2000; and for Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1, near Russellville, Ar., for an additional 20 years on June 20, 2001. The agency is currently reviewing license renewal applications for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, near Florida City, Fl.; Surry Units 1 and 2, near Surry, Va.; North Anna Units 1 and 2, near Mineral, Va.; McGuire Units 1 and 2, near Cornelius, N.C., Catawba Units 1 and 2, near Clover, S.C. and St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 near Ft. Pierce, Fl., and Peach Bottom Units 1 and 2 near Delta, Pa.