Indian Point To Become First Nuclear Plant To Operate With Expired License

[unhappycamper]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/13/indian-point-to-become-first-nuclear-plant-to-operate-with-expired-license/



Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, N.Y.

Indian Point To Become First Nuclear Plant To Operate With Expired License
May 13, 2013 5:49 PM

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — One of two reactors at the Indian Point nuclear plant north of New York City will soon be operating with an expired license.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials said Monday that the situation resulted in part from a complicated license-renewal process for nuclear reactors, the Journal News reported.

Indian Point 2?s 40-year license expires on Sept. 28. NRC regional administrator Bill Dean said that’s at least a year before any decision will be made on whether to extend it for another 20 years.

Dean said the reactor can keep operating because Entergy Nuclear, its owner, filed for renewal more than five years before the expiration date.

[Demeter]

1. And that makes it all right?

Why bother to have a licensing program at all?

[FBaggins]

2. Both industry and government regulators have responsibilities.

Regulators should be able to do their job in less than five years.

But it isn't that big of a deal. Licensing adds (in this case) 20 years to the approved reactor life... but that's different from the day-to-day oversight. A delay in giving a long-term answer (which could be overridden by short-term issues at any time), doesn't impact whether or not it's safe to operate today.

The only real impact that I can think of is the possible delay of long-term maintenance. A 20-year extension usually involves replacing some wear items at the plant (new steam generators for instance). I wouldn't expect them to do that without a clear understanding that they'll be open long enough to pay for the new parts.