EIS Issued For New Progress Reactors in Fla.

EIS Issued For New Progress Reactors in Fla.

by Nuclear Street News Team

Two AP1000 reactors proposed in Levy County, Fla., passed a critical environmental review Friday.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers announced they have issued a positive final environmental impact statement for the project near Progress Energy’s existing Crystal River plant. The Corps will consider the EIS in issuing a permit under federal laws regulating water quality, while the NRC will include the document in its consideration of a combined license for the reactors.

Nuclear regulators were expected to issue a final safety evaluation report on the project soon, based on a projected schedule by the NRC. The agency’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is in the process of considering a challenge to the NRC’s environmental review. After those steps are addressed, a mandatory hearing will be the final step before an NRC commission vote on the license.