NRC ANNOUNCES HEARING OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC MEETING ONCALLAWAY

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NRC ANNOUNCES HEARING OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC MEETING ONCALLAWAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced the opportunity to request a hearingon an application to renew the operating license for the Callaway Plant, Unit 1, and has also called for public comment on the scope of its environmental review of the application.The announcements were contained in two notices published today in the FederalRegister. Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is part of the NRC’s two-pronged review of the application (along with a technical safety review). An adjudicatory hearing beforethe NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is a separate process in which members of the public may file contentions challenging aspects of the application.The Callaway plant is a pressurized-water reactor located near Fulton, Mo. Union Electric Co. submitted the renewal application Dec. 19. The current operating license forCallaway expires Oct. 18, 2024.The NRC staff has determined that the application contains sufficient information for theagency to formally "docket," or file, the application and begin its technical review. Docketing theapplication does not preclude requesting additional information as the review proceeds; nor doesit indicate whether the Commission will grant the application.The March 14 public meetings on the environmental review will be held at Fulton CityHall, 18 East 4thSt., in Fulton, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. At both sessions, NRC staff willpresent an overview of the environmental review process and seek input from the public aboutthe potential scope of the review. NRC staff will be available for an hour prior to each meetingfor informal discussions with the public. Written comments on the scope of the environmentalreview will be accepted through April 24 and may be filed through the federal government’srulemaking website at www.regulations.gov, using Docket ID NRC-2012-0001. They may also be mailed to Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directive Branch, Office ofAdministration, Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington D.C., 20555-0001, or faxed to 301-492-3446.NRC NEWSU.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOffice of Public AffairsTelephone: 301/415-8200Washington, D.C. 20555-0001E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.govBlog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.govNo. 12-018February 24, 2012
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The deadline for requesting an adjudicatory hearing is April 24. By that date, petitionsmust be filed by anyone whose interest may be affected by the license renewal and who wishesto participate as a party in the proceeding. The notice includes detailed instructions forrequesting a hearing through the NRC’s E-filing system’s electronic submittal page. For specific guidance and instructions on public involvement in hearings visit the NRC website.Information about the license renewal process and the Callaway renewal application canbe found online at the NRC website.###