UniStar, NRC to focus on foreign ownership Rules ban non-U.S. control over nuclear plant safety

UniStar officials plan to meet Wednesday with federal regulators to hash out what could be a stumbling block for the company's plans to build a third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant: foreign ownership.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules "prohibit foreign individuals or entities from controlling safety-related activities at a U.S. nuclear power plant," NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said. "In other words, a U.S. company, or companies, must retain control over safety-related decisions at U.S. nuclear power plants."
Specifically, the regulation states that "any person who is a citizen, national, or agent of a foreign country, or any corporation, or other entity which the commission knows or has reason to believe is owned, controlled, or dominated by an alien, a foreign corporation or a foreign government, shall be ineligible to apply for and obtain a license," Sheehan cited.
To comply, Eléctricité de France, which acquired Constellation Energy's share of the reactor project this fall, would need to organize UniStar, its U.S. nuclear venture, so that it allows a U.S. company to maintain control of safety-related activities. More at:

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