**CORRECTED** 

LICENSING BOARD TO CONDUCT HEARING AUG. 17 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, 

ON SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT NEW NUCLEAR REACTOR APPLICATION 

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

an evidentiary hearing, beginning Aug. 17 in Austin, Texas, in the South Texas Project Combined 

License (COL) proceeding. The ASLB is the independent body within the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) that presides over proceedings involving the licensing of civilian nuclear 

facilities, such as nuclear power plants. 

Oral argument will begin at 9:30 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Aug. 17, in Room 2210, 

Building F of the Campus of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 12100 Park 35 Circle 

in Austin. The session is open for public observation, but participation will be limited to the parties 

admitted to the proceeding (several public interest groups, the applicant – Nuclear Innovation North 

America (NINA) – and NRC staff). Early arrival each day 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 at any time during the proceeding. 

The South Texas Project COL application was submitted Sept. 20, 2007, seeking permission 

to construct and operate two new nuclear reactors at the site near Bay City, Texas. The ASLB 

granted intervenor status and an opportunity for a hearing to the Sustainable Energy and Economic 

Development Coalition, the South Texas Association for Responsible Energy, and Public Citizen. 

The groups have submitted objections, or contentions, challenging the COL application, 

most recently regarding the question of whether NINA meets NRC requirements prohibiting foreign 

ownership, control or domination of a nuclear power plant license. The ASLB panel will hear oral 

argument regarding this latest contention on Aug. 17; the panel’s decision on whether to admit the 

contention will come later this year. 

The evidentiary hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. CDT on Thursday, Aug. 18 in TCEQ 

Building E, Room 201S. This session is also open for public observation and participation remains 

limited to the parties admitted to the proceeding. The hearing will cover two existing contentions: 1) 

the estimation of replacement power costs when evaluating severe accident management guidelines, 

and 2) accounting for energy-efficient building code rules in assessing the need for power. 

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. 11-144 August 2, 2011
Individuals or groups not admitted to the proceeding can submit “written limited appearance 

statements” to the ASLB. Anyone wishing to submit a written statement may do so by email to 

hearingdocket@nrc.gov, by fax to (301) 415-1101, or by mail to: Office of the Secretary, Attn. 

Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 

20555-0001. In addition, copies of written statements should be sent to the 

Chairman of the Licensing Board by e-mail to Michael.Gibson@nrc.gov and 

Jonathan.Eser@nrc.gov; by fax to (301-415-5599), or by mail to: Administrative Judge Michael M. 

Gibson, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail Stop: T-3F23, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 

Documents related to the South Texas Project 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 at the NRC website. 

###

NOTE: Anyone wishing to take photos or use a camera to record any portion of a NRC meeting should contact 

the Office of Public Affairs beforehand. 

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address: 

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE 

link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC’s website.