The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has put a freeze on issuing licenses for new plants and 20-year renewals for existing ones following a ruling by a federal Appeals Court.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled in June that the practice of allowing nuclear plants to store spent fuel rods on site doesn’t meet federal environmental standards. The decision in essence bars the awarding of any new licenses until the industry begins addressing the problem of storing nuclear waste.
Today’s decision delays action on 19 licenses, including a proposed license extension for Ameren Missouri’s Callaway One nuclear reactor. It does not, however, halt the review of license applications.
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