Nuclear agency asks for more information on Dominion power's North Anna reactor plan.

Date published: 8/5/2005

By RUSTY DENNEN

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has asked Dominion power to provide more information about the environmental impact of a plan for new reactors at North Anna Power Station.

In a letter to Dominion dated July 20, Jack Cushing, senior project manager in the NRC's environmental section, said the staff "has identified the need for additional information regarding the status of compliance with other requirements associated with the proposed action."

The letter cites certifications required under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act and by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The coastal zone act helps regulate construction in designated coastal areas. The DEQ certification governs compliance with state water-quality standards.

The subject came up because Dominion has taken the position that those approvals are not needed to support its early site-permit application pending before the NRC.

Dominion wants the option to build up to two more nuclear reactors at the Louisa County plant on Lake Anna. The permit would allow Dominion to resolve site and environmental issues prior to submitting a construction plan, and to "bank" a site for 20 years.

"Our view is that the NRC is not dependent on other agencies to take the licensing action," Richard Zuercher, spokesman for the company's nuclear operations, said Tuesday.

But he added that because Spotsylvania County borders Lake Anna and is governed by the coastal zone act, "We agree that we should obtain certification for that."

As for the DEQ certification, Zuercher said, "We are evaluating whether that is necessary."

He said those issues would not delay the company's early site-permit application.

Opponents have challenged environmental and safety aspects of the plan.

The NRC this month is expected to issue a final environmental impact statement, along with a final safety evaluation report.

After that, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will weigh in on Dominion's application by February, and the NRC could make a decision by June.

Dominion is among a handful of utilities in the United States seeking early-site permits to locate new, advanced reactors. It is furthest along in the regulatory process.

If a permit is approved, Dominion would have to obtain a combined construction and operating permit before adding any reactors at the plant. The company has said it has no plans now to build them, that it just wants that option.

Any new reactors would be built next to Units 1 and 2, which sit under thick concrete containment domes overlooking the 13,000-acre lake. Those began operation in 1979 and 1980.

To reach RUSTY DENNEN: 540/374-5431rdennen@freelancestar.com

Date published: 8/5/2005