The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday that it had accepted the application for a subsequent license renewal for the Surry Power Station reactors located near Surry, Virginia.
The subsequent license would cover 20 more years of plant operations. The application was submitted October 15 by Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Energy Virginia) for both Surry Units 1 and 2. Accepting the application means, that the NRC has the information it needs to begin the review of the plant regarding 20 more years of operations. In effect, the application is complete and the review of that application can begin.
The plant is located 17 miles northwest of Newport News, Virginia.
The NRC approved the initial license renewal in March 2003 with Unit 1 currently licensed to operate through May 25, 2032 and Unit 2 licensed through January 29, 2033.
"Accepting the application for review or 'docketing' the application, does not indicate whether the Commission will approve or reject the request," the NRC noted.
More information about subsequent license renewal is available on the NRC website. The NRC has also published in the Federal Register a notice of opportunity to intervene in an adjudicatory hearing. Petitions to intervene in a hearing must be filed by Feb. 5, 2019, by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposed license renewal and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding, the agency said.
The Surry units, both Westinghouse three loop pressurized water reactors, were first commissioned in May 1972 and January 1973, respectively.