Calvert Cliffs gets first nuke license renewal

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Thursday March 23, 8:32 pm Eastern Time

Calvert Cliffs gets first nuke license renewal  

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission on Thursday gave new life to the future of the nuclear 
power industry, approving a first of its kind application by 
Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG - news) to extend the life of its 
Maryland reactors past their original 40-year life.   

NRC approved 20-year license renewals for Constellation's Calvert 
Cliffs commercial reactors, clearing the path for other nuclear 
utilities to operate past initial expectations.   

In a statement, the NRC said the five member commission unanimously 
approved the renewals for the twin 850-megawatt each reactors along 
Maryland's eastern shore, agreeing with staff recommendations that 
``there were no safety concerns'' precluding a renewal even as the 
plants aged.   

``The commission unanimously approved the extension of the licenses 
following a March 3 briefing by the NRC technical staff,'' the NRC 
statement said.  

The nuclear industry has stated often the need to move quickly on 
relicensing, saying owners of the nation's 103 operating plants need 
to know if they can utilize their nuclear units well into the 
century, or seek other fuel alternatives.  

Nuclear meets 20 percent of U.S. electricity needs.  

``This is a significant milestone that helps to ensure a reliable, 
efficient and diversified fuel mix that further strengthens 
Constellation's domestic merchant energy strategy and its competitive 
focus,'' said Christian Poindexter, Constellation chairman, president 
and chief executive officer.  

Opponents of the NRC approval said the commission never made the case 
that the plants were safe to operate for 60 years, the length of time 
resulting by adding the original license and the renewal time 
periods.  

``The failure of the NRC to grant a public hearing on safety issues 
directly related to the proposed 20-year extension, and the refusal 
of the NRC to await the outcome of the center's court case 
challenging the denial of the hearing violates basis due process,'' 
said Stephen Kohn, attorney for the National Whistleblower Center.  

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has yet to decide on the 
case brought by the protest group, which charged the NRC with neglect 
in processing the Calvert Cliffs renewal.  

The nuclear industry applauded the commission, calling it a 
``historic and exciting day'' and a breakthrough decision.  

``It demonstrates both the excellence of the Calvert Cliffs nuclear 
power plant and the strength and vitality of the commercial nuclear 
energy industry overall,'' said Angelina Howard, senior vice 
president for the Nuclear Energy Institute.  

The nuclear trade group said some 28 further license renewal 
applications are expected in the next five years.  

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., a unit of the recently renamed 
Constellation, submitted its application to the NRC in April 1998, to 
renew the licenses for Calvert Cliffs Units 1 and 2 in Lusby, Md. 
Current licenses expire on July 31, 2014, for Unit 1 and Aug. 31, 
2016, for Unit 2.  

Poindexter said the plant is in excellent condition, noting the 
reactors generated 13.3 million MW hours in 1999.  

NRC said it was now reviewing applications for six other operating 
nuclear power plants: Oconee 1, 2 and 3, operated by Duke Power Co. 
(NYSE:DUK - news) in South Carolina; Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1, 
operated by Entergy Operations, Inc. (NYSE:ETR - news), near 
Russellville, Ark.; and Hatch 1 and 2, operated by Southern Nuclear 
Operating Co. (NYSE:SO - news), near Baxley, Ga.

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
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