NRC gives environmental approval for two nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, Florida
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved its environmental review of the proposed development of two reactors next to the existing Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Florida, but a safety evaluation and a legal challenge remain.
Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) submitted an application to the NRC in 2009 for licenses to construct and operate two new AP1000 nuclear units on the Turkey Point site near Homestead, Florida, in order to provide additional electricity in its service territory.
The NRC concluded there is no environmental impact to preclude issuing combined licenses for FPL to move forward with the project. The commission’s environmental review was undertaken jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The overall licensing review for the Turkey Point project also includes a final safety evaluation report, which is still being worked on by the NRC. That review will include input from the NRC’s independent Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
Additionally, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is conducting a legal hearing on a challenge to the application. The NRC’s commissioners also must conduct a separate hearing regarding the application and the staff’s review prior to making a final decision on the Turkey Point application.
The Turkey Point nuclear power plant currently provides enough electricity to meet the annual power needs of about 450,000 residential customers, FPL said.
