NRC COMPLETES STAFF REVIEW OF
CLINTON EARLY SITE PERMIT APPLICATION
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has issued its final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed Early Site Permit (ESP) for the Clinton site, about six miles east of Clinton, Ill. The report contains the NRC’s finding that there are no environmental impacts that would prevent issuing the ESP. Combined with the recent issuance of a final Safety Evaluation Report on the application, this marks the end of the staff’s technical review on the Clinton ESP, although additional steps must be completed before the NRC reaches a final decision on the matter.

The ESP process allows an applicant to address site-related issues, such as environmental impacts, for possible future construction and operation of a nuclear power plant at the site. The Clinton application was filed Sept. 25, 2003, by Exelon Generation Company, LLC. If approved, the permit would give Exelon up to 20 years to decide whether to build a new nuclear unit on the site and to file an application with the NRC for approval to begin construction.

The NRC staff’s conclusion is based on its independent review of a report submitted by Exelon, taking into account consultations with federal, state, tribal and local organizations, and consideration of comments received during the public scoping process. The staff’s conclusions include a finding that there are no obviously superior alternative sites, and that any adverse environmental impacts from possible site preparation and preliminary construction activities at Clinton could be redressed.

The final EIS and related documents are available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. They are also available on the NRC’s Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1815/. In addition, the Vespasian Warner Public Library, located at 310 North Quincy Street in Clinton, will have a copy of the EIS available for public inspection.

With the technical review complete, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel must conduct a mandatory hearing on the matter before the Commission can reach a final decision on issuing the permit. The NRC expects to finish this process for the Clinton ESP by mid-2007.

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Friday, November 28, 2008