260 



When final design is completed, and plans for operation are ready, the appli- 

 cant submits the final safety analysis report in support of an application for an 

 operating license. The information includes plans for operation, procedures 

 for coping with emergency situations, and pertinent details on the final design 

 of the reactor itself — such as containment design, design of the nuclear core, 

 and waste handling systems. Once again the Division of Reactor Licensing makes 

 a detailed review of the information on the reactor and presents an evaluation 

 of it to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. The ACRS again makes 

 an independent evaluation and reports its opinion to the Ck)mmission. This is 

 made public. 



Applicants for operating licenses are required to submit an Environmental 

 Report discussing the same environmental considerations, to the extent that 

 they differ significantly from tJbose discussed in the Report submitted at the 

 construction permit stage. The same procedure is then followed as during the 

 construction stage review. 



A public hearing is not required by law on every application for an operating 

 license. Under the new practice of early noticing the 30-day notice to the public, 

 that the Commission is considering issuance of an operating license, will be 

 issued while the technical reviews by the AEC staff and the ACRS are in the 

 later stages. The regulatory staff's evaluation of the safety aspects is prepared 

 and made available to the public after technical reviews have been completed. 

 Normally the Commission will not direct that a hearing be held at this stage 

 unless there is a dilficult safety problem of unusual importance, or substantial 

 public interest which would warrant that course. In the event no hearing is 

 scheduled initially, the published notice states that in the absence of a timely 

 petition to intervene and a request for a hearing, the license will be issued. 



If a public hearing is held, the decision of the licensing board is subject to 

 Commission or appeal board re^dew. 



Each license for ojyeration of a nuclear reactor contains specific license con- 

 ditions called technical sipecifications which set forth the particular safety 

 characteristics of the facility and the conditions of its operation wliich are to 

 be met in order to assure protection of the health and safety of the public. 



Persons who operate the controls of a power reactor are required to be indi- 

 vidually licensed by the Commission. The AEC conducts examinations of indi- 

 viduals which include an operating test and a written examination on knowledge 

 of specific details of the facility and the procedures used in its operation. 



CONTINUING REVIEW 



AEC insi)ection and review of power reactors does not stop when the oi>erating 

 license is issued. The reactors are inspected periodically by representatives of 

 the Commission's Di\asion of Compliance to make certain operations are being 

 conducted in accordance with terms of the license. 



Thus, reactors are subjected to detailed review by technical exi)erts before 

 construction is permitted, before operation is permitted and during the entire 

 period of their operation. In the event an unsafe condition is discovered after 

 operation begins, the Commission has authority to order the licensee to shut down 

 the reactor and take any safety measures which may be necessary. It should be 

 emphasized, however, that the outstanding safety record of the atomic energy 

 industry has been achieved because persons who deal with atomic energy respect 

 the potential hazards and exercise great care in the handling and use of atomic 

 materials. 



Since April 1955, 85 applications have been filed requesting construction of 110 

 central station nuclear power plants. 



Constrtiction Permit or Site Approval Applieations Withdratvn, Denied or 



Suspended 



1. Ravenswood — Consolidated Edison Co. 



Application Filed— 12/10/62 

 Withdrawn— 1/17/64 



( Opposition from citizens of New York City due to high population density. Al- 

 leged availability of alternative cheaper sources of power from Canada and other 

 areas. Note AEC regulatory staff and ACRS wer asking a .series of penetrating 

 questions on siting of the plant. ) 



2. Bolsa Island — Department of Water & Power of the City of Los Angeles — 

 Southern California Edison Oo. — San Diego Gas & Electric Co. 



