United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Protecting People and the Environment
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Combined License Applications for New Reactors

By issuing a combined license (COL), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) authorizes the licensee to construct and (with specified conditions) operate a nuclear power plant at a specific site, in accordance with established laws and regulations. A COL is valid for 40 years from the date of the Commission finding, under Title 10, Section 52.103 (g), of the Code of Federal Regulations [10 CFR 52.103(g)], that the acceptance criteria in the combined license are met. A COL can be renewed for an additional 20 years. The NRC expects to receive applications for new LWR facilities in a variety of projected locations throughout the United States.

In a COL application, the NRC staff reviews the applicant's qualifications, design safety, environmental impacts, operational programs, site safety, and verification of construction with ITAAC. The staff conducts its review in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act, NRC regulations, and the National Environmental Policy Act. All stakeholders (including the public) are given notice as to how and when they may participate in the regulatory process, which may include participating in public meetings and opportunities to request a hearing on the issuance of a COL.

COL Applications Received

The links in the table below provide information on the COL applications that the NRC has received to date. The activities associated with reviewing these applications are reflected in the individual links for docketed COL applications.

Proposed New Reactor(s) Design Applicant Status
Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant U.S. EPR PPL Bell Bend, LLC Under Review
Bellefonte Nuclear Station, Units 3 and 4 AP1000 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Suspended
Callaway Plant, Unit 2 U.S. EPR AmerenUE Suspended
Calvert Cliffs, Unit 3 U.S. EPR Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC Under Review
Comanche Peak, Units 3 and 4 US-APWR Luminant Generation Company, LLC (Luminant) Under Review
Fermi, Unit 3 ESBWR Detroit Edison Company Under Review
Grand Gulf, Unit 3 ESBWR Entergy Operations, Inc. (EOI) Suspended
Levy County, Units 1 and 2 AP1000 Progress Energy Florida, Inc. (PEF) Under Review
Nine Mile Point, Unit 3 U.S. EPR Nine Mile Point 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC (UniStar) Suspended
North Anna, Unit 3 US-APWR Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion) Under Review
River Bend Station, Unit 3 ESBWR Entergy Operations, Inc. (EOI) Suspended
Shearon Harris, Units 2 and 3 AP1000 Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. (PEC) Under Review
South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4 ABWR South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) Under Review
Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7 AP1000 Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) Under Review
Victoria County Station, Units 1 and 2 ESBWR Exelon Nuclear Texas Holdings, LLC (Exelon) Suspended
Virgil C. Summer, Units 2 and 3 AP1000 South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) Issued
Vogtle, Units 3 and 4 AP1000 Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) Issued
William States Lee III, Units 1 and 2 AP1000 Duke Energy Under Review
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, February 06, 2013