Nuclear Regulatory Commission extends nuclear power plant license

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating license of the Columbia Generating Station located in Washington, US by an additional 20 years following safety reviews.

The Columbia Generating Station located about 12 miles northwest of Richland in Benton County, is a boiling-water reactor which is operated by Energy Northwest.

Energy Northwest submitted all the safety and environmental applications to NRC for review.  The Commission, verified, reviewed and discussed the plant’s safety and environmental impacts after Energy Northwest effectively demonstrated the capability to manage the effects of plant aging.

NRC’s Safety Evaluation Report documented all the technical reviews before the final approval.  The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, an independent body of technical experts that advise the Commission, too recommended the license renewal of the nuclear plant.  The new license of the nuclear power plant will expire on 20 December 2043.