Press Mention Nuclear Street February 26, 2012
SACE Referenced
Rejected by NRC, Vogtle Opponents Challenge COL in Court
In this mention
Environmental groups including the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy challenged the NRC's approval of a combined license for Southern Co. to build two new reactors at Georgia's Plant Vogtle. The groups sought a new environmental impact statement and plant upgrades to address safety concerns following the Fukushima Daiichi accident. Southern Co. petitioned to have the case dismissed, alleging procedural violations in the groups' court filing.
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Nuclear Street News Team
Mon, Feb 27 2012
Rejected by NRC, Vogtle Opponents Challenge COL in Court
Soon after it granted a combined license for Southern Co. to build two new reactors at Georgia's Plant Vogtle, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also dismissed a petition by environmental groups aimed at stopping the project.
They then turned to federal court, and on Friday the Augusta Chronicle reported Southern has petitioned to have the case thrown out. Lawyers for the utility alleged the groups' motion exceeded the number of allowable pages and asked the court to strike it or allow Southern an equal number of pages to respond.
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Center for a Sustainable Coast and Georgia Women's Action for New Directions are seeking a new environmental impact statement and plant upgrades that further safeguard against
natural disasters and plant blackouts in response to the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan, according to SACE.
The NRC has consistently disagreed with their contention, voting to approve a version of the Westinghouse AP 1000 reactors under construction at the site and endorsing their redundant, passive safety systems as adequate even in light of potential regulatory changes related to Fukushima.