What is Reactor License Renewal?

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The License Renewal Process

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The Safety Review

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The Environmental Review

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Opportunities for Public Involvement

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Which Reactors Are Up for Renewal?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
which include 48 nuclear power reactors. Over the next ten years, a largenumber of the United States’ remaining nuclear power facilities are expectedto apply for 20-year operating license extensions.This brochure provides information on the license renewal process including thetechnical issues that nuclear plant owners consider before submitting an application and the criteria the NRC uses to evaluate a renewal request. Thisbrochure will also introduce you to some of the NRC’s highly skilled anduniquely qualified license renewal staff.Additional information about the NRC can be found on NRC's website(www.nrc.gov). Paperwork Reduction Act StatementThis NUREG contains information collection requirements that aresubject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 etseq.) These information collections were approved by the Office ofManagement and Budget, approval numbers 3150-0155.Public Protection NotificationThe NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required torespond to, a request for information or an information collection requirement unless the requesting documents displays a currently validOMB control number.

cense as long as the nuclear powerfacility owner can demonstrate thatthe facility will continue to operatesafely for the extended period ofoperation.

other hand, ensures the plant cansafely operate, with acceptableenvironmental impacts, during theperiod of extended operation. 

Today nuclear energy provides about 20% of the electricity supply in the UnitedStates. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that total electricity demand will grow by 1.3% per year in the commercial sector and 2% inthe residential sector from 2005 to 2030. 
The flow chart (above) illustrates the safety and environmental review process and

the interrelationships among inspections, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Review, and the hearing process.
The environmental review and thesafety review are the two components of reactor license renewal.The process for both reviews, whichoccur at the same time, generallytakes between 22 and 30 months,depending on whether there is ahearing. Decisions to grant or denya license renewal application arebased on whether the applicant hasdemonstrated it can meet the NRC’s

evaluations. This independentlyappointed committee provides aforum where experts representingmany technical perspectives give independent advice that is factoredinto the Commission’s decisionmaking process. All license renewalACRS Meetings are open to thepublic and any member of the public may request an opportunity tomake an oral statement during thecommittee meeting. 

For more information on license renewal, including the status ofcurrent reviews, please visit the Reactor License Renewal Page http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html

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tored at the nuclear power facilityduring the period of extended operation.

evaluation report is prepared andmade available to the public.
tor’s operating license.Certain issues were evaluated for allplants. NUREG-1437, “GenericEnvironmental Impact Statementfor License Renewal of Plants”(GEIS), assessed the scope and impact of environmental effects thatwould be associated with license renewal at any nuclear power plantsite.

any environmental impacts thatwould affect license renewal.The NRC publishes the draft supplement to the GEIS for publiccomment and holds public meetings. After consideration of comments on the draft, the NRCprepares and publishes a final supplement to the GEIS.
license renewal processA meeting with the public to discuss the scope of the environmental review and receive commentsA meeting with the public to discuss the draft site-specificenvironmental impact statement and receive commentsMeetings with the Advisory Committee on ReactorSafeguards to discuss license renewal safety review

Notices are placed in the Federal Register and local newspapers about upcoming

public meetings. Meetings are also announced to the media via press releasesand are listed on the NRC website under public meetings and involvement.

The NRC staff also notifies people who have previously attended public meetings related to a specific nuclear power facility or to license renewal in general

about upcoming meetings that may be of interest. A request for a formal adjudicatory hearing, or legal challenge, can be madeby anyone if he or she would be adversely affected by a particular license renewal. Anyone interested in filing for a hearing must submit a written requestalong with the contentions and supporting information. If the request for thehearing has proposed at least one contention that meets the requirements ofthe regulations, a hearing may be granted.
For more information on the hearing process, please visit the Reactor

License Renewal Hearing Page (http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/introduction/hearing.html)For more information on the hearing process, documents availablefor comment and public meetings please visit the Public Involvementin Reactor License Renewal Page (http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/public-involvement.html)

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operation and minimal environmental impact during the period ofextended operation.About a third of the remaining 40-year reactor licenses will expire bythe end of 2020. The total generating capacity of these nuclear powerfacilities would meet the electricneeds of the entire population ofthe state of New York.A nuclear power plant licensee mayapply to the NRC to renew its licenseas early as 20 years before expiration

application at the end of the fiveyears, the plant can continue to operate until the NRC completes itsreview.The list of approved license renewalapplications, anticipated license renewal applications, as well as thestatus of pending applications canbe obtained from the NRC Officeof Public Affairs or on the NRCWeb site: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications.html 


sity of Southern California in systemsmanagement and was a former senior reactor operator in the industry.

“The process encourages participation. Many people are

skeptical about nuclear power, while others see nuclear energy asa solution. None of this affects our work; we do our work knowing that public safety is of utmost importance.” 
“The NRC’s overriding task is to protect both the safety

of the people and the environment. We have an amazing groupdynamic where we make it a priority to work well together andhelp each other out, ensuring that we can go about the businessof plant safety and protecting the environment.”
“The product we produce is our evaluation of a plant. It

is the culmination of the work of many people who have appliedtheir expertise in performing a technical review and reaching acommon conclusion. Successful completion of the review processensures that the plant can safely manage its aging for the next 20years of operation.”

“We have a wide range of environmental science experts who

perform a rigorous review to determine the environmental impactsof operating a plant for an additional 20 years. This includes looking at the impacts on air, water, plants and animals, as well aspeople. We perform this review in a very open manner, seekingpublic comments and consulting with other federal, state and localorganizations with environmental expertise. ”
structure seam or line of tension with safety in mind to ensurethat the plant will operate safely over the next 20 years.” 

Jim Medoff (left) and Kenneth Chang
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interests on issues of nuclear power. Now I realize I’m that person,and I take that responsibility very seriously. The NRC not onlyseeks out all points of view from the public on environmental issues, it also seeks all points of view from a diverse team of environmental professionals to ensure protection of the environmentfor the extended life of the plant.”

We do a considerable amount of public outreach, and it

is clear that many people have real concerns and want to beheard. Many are concerned with safety, and many are concernedabout the jobs the plants bring. My goal is to make sure the public understands the re-licensing process so they can participate.Public health and safety is our top priority.” 
“The bottom line is that we make sure everything in a

plant is safe and will remain safe.”
I was trained in health physics. We all understand there is noroom for bias in the rules and regulations of the NRC. We conduct our inspections with complete objectivity. It is an awesomeresponsibility. ” 
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about nuclear power. In truth, some of the smartest men andwomen work at the NRC. While they understand these reservations, they know the expert level of knowledge that has been applied in the review process and all are committed to ensuring thesafety of the community.”
“The ongoing health and safety of the public are paramount to the NRC, as is providing the public access to information about the license renewal process. We take very seriously our

responsibility to protect the public and the environment and arecommitted to providing opportunities for the public to participatein the license renewal process and have their questions and concerns addressed in a timely manner.” 
The NRC’s top

priority is ensuring

nuclear reactor

facilities operate

safely.

The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) conducts an independent safety review of license renewal applications and NRC staffevaluations. This independently appointed committee provides a forumwhere experts representing many technical perspectives provide independent advice that is factored into the Commission’s decision-making process.


Reactor License Renewal Introduction Page (http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/introduction/hearing.html)Public Involvement in Reactor License Renewal Page(http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/public-involvement.html)

Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555-0001

Telephone: (301) 415-8200

or (800) 368-5642

Fax: (301) 415-2234

Email: OPA@NRC.GOV

www.nrc.gov
NUREG/BR-0291, Rev. 1

August 2008