The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a meeting for July 27 to discuss the results of the operational readiness team inspection of Unit 2 at the Watts Bar nuclear plant.
That inspection, which concluded in June, will be the main focus of the discussion, but the NRC staff will also cover the status of construction activities, including milestones and the path forward for the NRC decision on whether to issue an operating license for the unit.
The meeting is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. in the Comfort Inn at 2811 Decatur Pike in Athens, Tenn.
The meeting is open to the public and the NRC staff will be available to answer questions or provide additional information after the business portion of the meeting. A teleconference line will be available for people unable to attend. Anyone wishing to call into the meeting can contact the NRC’s Bob Haag at 404.997-4446 or Robert.haag@nrc.gov for that information.
The Watts Bar plant is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority and is located near Spring City, Tn., about 60 miles southwest of Knoxville.
TVA began work on the two units at the Watts Bar site in the 1970s. Watts Bar Unit 2 was suspended in 1985 with an active construction permit, and TVA restarted construction in 2007.
If Watts Bar Unit 2 does meet all NRC requirements and receives an operating license, it will be the first nuclear plant to go into commercial operation in this country since Watts Bar Unit 1 in 1996.