The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Thursday that the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant 13 miles south of Portsmouth, N.H., had been given a passing grade on its environment impact review needed to allow for a 20-year extension of its operating license.
“The supplemental environmental impact statement contains the NRC staff's conclusion that the impacts would not preclude renewing the plant's license for an additional 20 years,” the NRC said in a statement.
"Seabrook Station, a pressurized water reactor, is currently licensed to operate through March 15, 2030. The operator, NextEra Energy Seabrook LLC, submitted its renewal application May 25, 2010.
“The supplemental environmental impact statement is Supplement 46 to NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants. It is now available on the NRC’s website. The NRC published a draft version of the report in October 2011 and a supplement to the draft in May 2013 for public comment. The final report includes the staff’s responses to the comments,” the watchdog agency said.