Final Environmental Impact Statement for Combined Licenses (COLs) for Levy Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2: Chapter 1 through 5 (NUREG-1941, Volume 1)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: March 2012
Date Published: April 2012

Division of New Reactor Licensing
Office of New Reactors
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Regulatory Division
Jacksonville District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019

Availability Notice

Abstract

This environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared in response to an application submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by Progress Energy Florida, Inc. (PEF) for combined construction permits and operating licenses (combined licenses or COLs). The proposed actions related to the PEF application are (1) NRC issuance of COLs for two new power reactor units at the Levy Nuclear Plant (LNP) site in Levy County, Florida, and (2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issuance of a permit to perform certain construction activities on the site. The USACE is participating in preparing this EIS as a cooperating agency and participates collaboratively on the review team (which comprises NRC staff, contractor staff, and USACE staff).

This EIS includes the review team's analysis that considers and weighs the environmental impacts of constructing and operating two new nuclear units at the LNP site and at alternative sites, and mitigation measures available for reducing or avoiding adverse impacts.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) requires that the USACE apply the criteria set forth in the 404(b)(1) Guidelines in evaluating projects that propose to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The USACE must also determine through its Public Interest Review (PIR) whether the proposed project is contrary to the public interest. The USACE permit decision, including its evaluation under the 404 Guidelines and the PIR, will be documented in the USACE Record of Decision, which will be issued following the issuance of this EIS.

After considering the environmental aspects of the proposed action, the NRC staff's recommendation to the Commission is that the COLs be issued as proposed. This recommendation is based on (1) the application, including the Environmental Report (ER), submitted by PEF; (2) consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies; (3) the review team's independent review; (4) the consideration of public scoping and draft EIS comments; and (5) the assessments summarized in this EIS, including the potential mitigation measures identified in the ER and this EIS.

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