LICENSING BOARD TO HEAR ORAL ARGUMENT JULY 7 IN ROCKVILLE,

MD., ON CALVERT CLIFFS NEW NUCLEAR REACTOR APPLICATION

An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel will hear oral argument regarding 

a hearing in the Calvert Cliffs Combined License (COL) proceeding on July 7 at NRC 

headquarters in Rockville, Md. The ASLB is the independent body within the NRC that presides 

over hearings where the public can challenge proposed licensing and enforcement actions.

Oral arguments will begin at 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 7, in the ASLB Hearing 

Room on the third floor of Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The 

ASLB expects the session to conclude by noon. The session is open for public observation, but 

participation will be limited to the parties admitted to the proceeding (several public interest 

groups, the state of Maryland, the applicant – Unistar Nuclear Operating Services – and NRC 

staff involved in the proceeding). Early arrival is suggested to allow for security screening for all 

members of the public interested in attending. NRC policy prohibits signs, banners, posters or 

displays in the hearing room.

Unistar submitted a COL application March 14, 2008, seeking permission to construct 

and operate a new nuclear reactor at the Calvert Cliffs site near Lusby, Md. The ASLB granted 

intervenor status in the proceeding to the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Beyond 

Nuclear, Public Citizen Energy Program and Southern Maryland Citizens Alliance for 

Renewable Energy Solutions.

One of the intervenors’ contentions, or arguments, against the COL application is that 

Unistar fails to meet NRC requirements regarding foreign ownership. Following a staff 

determination earlier this year that Unistar fails to meet those requirements, the ASLB is now 

considering whether to rule in favor of the intervenors on the foreign ownership contention, 

withhold legal approval to issue the license, and conclude the hearing. The ASLB will hear oral 

argument on those points, as well as whether it should continue the hearing on another 

contention (which concerns an environmental issue) if it issues a decision on the foreign 

ownership issue but does not terminate the proceeding at this time.

Documents related to the Calvert Cliffs COL application are available on the NRC 

website. Documents pertaining to the ASLB proceeding are available in the agency’s Electronic 

Hearing Docket. More information about the ASLB can be found on the NRC website. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

No. 11-115 June 27, 2011
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