Press Mention Shoals Times Daily March 28, 2004
SACE Quoted
Commission seeking opinions on extending life of nuclear plant
In this mention
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding public meetings in Athens, Tennessee to gather comments on TVA's request to extend the operating licenses of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant's three reactors by 20 years. Sara Barczak of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy expressed opposition to both the restart of Unit 1 and the relicensing of the facility, while other local officials and utilities voiced support for the extension to meet future power needs.
We're not supportive of the restart of Unit 1, and we're certainly not supportive of the relicensing
Sara Barczak
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Commission seeking opinions on extending life of nuclear plant By Dennis Sherer Staff Writer
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to know residents' opinions about plans to extend the life of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.
The federal agency will conduct two meetings in Athens on Thursday to garner public comments about environmental issues related to the Tennessee Valley Authority's request to extend the operating license for the three reactors at Browns Ferry. The meetings are at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Athens State College student center cafeteria.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffers will be available one hour before each meeting to answer questions about the license renewal request.
TVA has asked the nuclear agency to extend by 20 years the original 40-year operating licenses for Browns Ferry reactors. The licenses for Units 1, 2 and 3 are scheduled to expire in 2013, 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Unit 1 has not operated since it was shut down in 1985 because of safety concerns. It is being refurbished for a 2007 restart. TVA is spending about $1.8 billion to restart the reactor. Units 2 and 3 were also shut down in 1985 but restarted in 1991 and 1995, respectively.
TVA officials have said the license extension will help the utility meet the future power needs of the Tennessee Valley.
At a series of meetings TVA conducted in 2002 to collect comments about its plans to request the license extension, there was much support for keeping the reactors running beyond their original
estimated life span.
Browns Ferry spokesman Craig Beasley said technology developed since the nuclear plant was built in the 1970s will allow utilities to safely operate reactors longer than originally expected.
Jack Hilliard, general manger of Florence Utilities, is among those who have spoken in support of extending the operating license for the Browns Ferry reactors. "We need the power," he said.
Some environmental groups and Valley residents, however, have expressed concern about operating the reactors beyond their original estimated life.
"We're not supportive of the restart of Unit 1, and we're certainly not supportive of the relicensing," said Sara Barczak, of the Knoxville, Tenn.-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Residents who want to speak during the Thursday meetings can call Michael Masnik of the NRC at (800) 368-5642 to register. People may also register to speak before the start of each meeting.
Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@-timesdaily.com.