The decision to renew the licenses comes after safety and environmental reviews of the application submitted in September 2006 by PPL Susquehanna, the plant’s operator. The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station units 1 and 2 are boiling-water nuclear reactors located five miles northeast of Berwick, Pennsylvania.
The NRC held public meetings near the plant on November 15, 2006, and May 28, 2008, to discuss Susquehanna’s environmental review. In March, NRC staff concluded there were no environmental impacts that would preclude renewal of the licenses for environmental reasons.
In August, after review of the plants’ safety systems and specifications, the staff concluded that there were no safety concerns that would preclude license renewal and that the applicant had demonstrated the capability to manage the effects of plant aging.
In addition, NRC conducted inspections of the plant to verify information submitted by the applicant. On October 23, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards – an independent body of technical experts that advises the commission – issued its recommendation that license renewal for Susquehanna should be approved.
