The NRC has approved the licenses of two new reactors for Southern Nuclear Operating Co. at its Vogtle plant in Georgia on a 4-1 vote, with Chairman Gregory Jaczko dissenting over concerns regarding last year's Fukushima incident.
The NRC said it expects its staff to issue the licenses within 10 days. They are for two AP1000 reactors at the plant 26 miles southeast of Augusta, Ga. The company has nuclear generators there now.
The commission's statement Thursday said the licenses require inspection and testing of squib valves, "important components of the new reactors’ passive cooling system."
