Westinghouse nuke-reactor design approved by NRC

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

Wednesday September 9, 7:21 pm Eastern Time

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Westinghouse Electric Co.'s 
design for a new nuclear reactor has been approved by the staff of 
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The reactor would be smaller, cheaper and less complicated than 
existing plants, according to the Nuclear Industry Institute, a trade 
group.

The company's AP600 nuclear power reactor, capable of producing 
600 megawatts of electricity, is designed to have a 60-year 
operating life.

Westinghouse, which got the NRC staff's blessing on Friday, is the 
nuclear power arm of CBS Corp. (NYSE:CBS - news)

The final hurdle for the reactor design is certification by the entire 
NRC, after a period of public comment.

Westinghouse's application has been pending at the NRC since 
1992.

The Westinghouse reactor's design relies on natural forces such as 
convection and gravity flow of emergency cooling water. This 
reduces reliance on pumps, valves and emergency generators that 
ensure the safety of today's plants.

Because of its simplicity, the mid-size reactor could be built faster 
than existing plants, usually within three to four years.

``Use of standardized designs will enhance safety and create a 
more stable and predictable regulatory environment,'' the NRC
said in a statement released last Friday.

Once certified by the NRC, a utility could apply simultaneously for 
a construction permit and operating license to use the 
Westinghouse reactor design, instead of going through the 
traditional two-step process, where each is approved separately.

Earlier this year, a joint venture between Morrison Knudsen Corp. 
(NYSE:MK - news) and state-owned British Nuclear Fuels Ltd 
agreed to acquire the Westinghouse nuclear-power business from 
CBS for $1.2 billion. When finalized later this year, Morrison 
Knudsen will own 60 percent of the joint venture and British Nuclear 
Fuels Ltd the rest. The transaction will result in a new holding 
company, which also will be called Westinghouse Electric Co.

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
        
ICN Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -

The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely those of the author, and NOT my employer

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html