Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

US NRC Blog Update Listen In On Our Watts Bar Unit 2 Meeting with TVA

Listen In On Our Watts Bar Unit 2 Meeting with TVA

Jeanne Dion
Project Manager
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

 
The NRC’s been closely observing the Tennessee Valley Authority’s work in completing Unit 2 at the wattsbarWatts Bar Nuclear Plant near Spring City, Tenn. Our meeting tonight will discuss where TVA stands in its effort to get an operating license for Unit 2.
If you can’t make it in person, we’re offering a teleconference and Web-based access to the meeting presentation. You can get the phone and webinar details from me or my NRC co-worker Christopher Even. For those who can attend, we’ll be available to answer questions and discuss issues with local residents and interested members of the public. 
During the meeting we’ll lay out the inspections and licensing activities the NRC must complete before we could decide whether Watts Bar 2 qualifies for an operating license. Some of our senior managers will explain how we’ve reached this point and what we need to see before we could conclude that the plant is safe to operate.
While we’re still reviewing a few issues, all the information we’ve seen so far indicates TVA is on track to meet the safety and security requirements for a reactor operating license.
If we issue Watts Bar Unit 2 an operating license, TVA would still have to load fuel and begin a series of tests during plant startup and a gradual increase in power output. The NRC would continue inspecting and overseeing the completion of these startup activities prior to Unit 2 generating full power and starting commercial operation. If licensed, Unit 2 would be the first plant to begin commercially operating in the U.S. since Watts Bar Unit 1 started in 1996. For more information please visit the NRC public webpage on Watts Bar Unit 2.

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