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The NRC has issued Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) to U.S. nuclear power plants to ensure proper implementation of three Orders the agency issued in March, in response to lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident. The ISGs represent acceptable approaches to meeting the Orders’...

The NRC denied a license Thursday to UniStar Nuclear Energy, a French-controlled company that proposed a third nuclear reactor at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Southern Maryland. UniStar will have 60 days to provide proof of progress toward a partnership with a U.S. company that meets the...

Exelon is halting efforts to gain initial federal regulatory approvals for new nuclear construction in Victoria County, Texas, the company announced yesterday. The company has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it will withdraw its Early Site Permit application for an 11,500-acre tract...

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on June 8 ruled against NRC's updated waste confidence rule, stating the agency is required to conduct an environmental assessment (Environmental Impact Statement) of the rule and had failed to properly examine consequences of never building...

STATEMENT OF NRC CHAIRMAN GREGORY B. JACKZO After nearly eight years on the Commission, I am announcing my resignation as Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effective upon the confirmation of my successor. My responsibility and commitment to safety will continue to be my paramount...

The Point Beach nuclear power plant declared an Alert at 9:06 pm CT on April 25 due to high levels of carbon monoxide in an area adjacent to the diesel generator, according to an NRC release. Normal atmosphere was restored within 15 minutes and the plant terminated the Alert at 11:14 pm CT. The two...

The Canada Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (KSSC) Tuesday in order to strengthen safety standards through technical cooperation and information exchange in nuclear regulatory matters...

Southern California Edison has completed additional inspections on its Unit 2 steam generators at San Onofre, according to a SCE release Friday. On April 11, SCE identified wear in two of the 19,454 tubes in the Unit 2 generators that was similar to the type of wear that was previously seen in Unit...

NextEra Energy conducted a graded tsunami drill Tuesday at Seabrook Nucelar Power Plant in order to identify strengths and weaknesses of the plant in case of such a disaster. With representatives from FEMA and the NRC in attendance, NextEra officials ran drills from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. that...

Public Service Enterprise Group is pushing ahead with its plans to potentially build new reactors at its plant in Salem County, the Star Ledger reports. The company originally applied for the early-site permit in 2010 , but the NRC pushed back its review. The NRC is now expected to decide on the issue...

According to an NRC report, a fire broke out Wednesday evening in the main condenser of the Entergy-owned Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant. A fire brigade was dispatched and the area was quickly evacuated. The flames were put out in 40 minutes. The unit has been planning a refueling outage since...

Plagued with problems, Fort Calhoun's restart still looks to be several months away, according to the NRC. Troy Pruett, an NRC official who met with members of the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) Wednesday, said inspections will most likely continue through the summer. "I've got a...

The Nuclear Regular Commission has approved the combined operating license authorizing construction of two new AP1000 reactors for Virgil C. Summer nuclear plant. The decision is the second issued license in the U.S. since 1974, following the COL issued to Southern Nuclear's Vogtle nuclear plant...

The NRC has issued a Confirmatory Action Letter (attached below) documenting actions that Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) officials have agreed to take related to unusual wear on steam generator tubes prior to restarting both units of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). “This...

The outage at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) looks as though it will continue into the summer, which will affect the electricity outlook for local areas in Southern California, according to recent reports. Investigators are still trying to determine why tubes carrying hot, pressurized...

Exelon Energy has completed upgrades at Byron Generating Station and resumed operations late Sunday night, according to a release. “Our team did a fantastic job of safely making robust upgrades to our facility that will ensure the safe and reliable operation of both units through the summer...

Areva has announced an alliance with risk-consulting company Etranco as a way to assist utilities deal with the new orders issued by the NRC as part of their post-Fukushima review. Released earlier this week , the orders require specified plants to implement various safety upgrades by 2016. The agreement...

On March 9th the NRC issued three Orders, effective immediately, to U.S. reactor plants to expedite attempts to implement lessons learned from the accident at Fukushima. The first Order to Modify Licenses With Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events...

A massive solar storm hit Earth today, bombarding the planet’s magnetic field with charged particles. While the storm is not among the extreme variety, it still carries with it the potential to knock out utility grids and disrupt communications systems. Some fear that a larger storm could significantly...

Utah state engineer Kent Jones announced Tuesday that he is sticking by his original decision to grant developers a water right for what would be Utah's first nuclear power plant. Jones had reconsidered his decision after environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Healthy Environment Alliance...

WMG announced today at the Waste Management 2012 Conference that it will license and build a new Type B Shipping cask. With delivery anticipated for late 2013, the WMG-150B responds directly to a critical industry need. WMG began designing the new line of Type B Casks in early 2010. The cask will be...

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the combined license for two new AP1000 reactors at Georgia's Vogtle nuclear plant Thursday afternoon -- the first time since 1978 a new nuclear plant has been licensed in the U.S. Southern Company has made substantial progress since obtaining an early...

Two firms in the nuclear industry, Engineering Planning and Management (EPM) and Nuclear Safety Associates (NSA), are combining their expertise in nuclear safety analysis, risk assessment and regulatory compliance to offer advanced services and solutions for nuclear plant licensees addressing seismic...

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has voted to approve a rule certifying an amended version of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design for use in the United States. The amended certification, which will be incorporated into the NRC’s regulations, will be valid for 15 years. “The Commission...

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after careful analysis of inspection findings and related information, has concluded Dominion Generation’s North Anna Unit 1 and 2 reactors can be restarted. The North Anna reactors, in Louisa, Va., have been shut down since Aug. 23, when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake...