NRC Accepts Application from Entergy for a New Reactor in Louisiana

December 10, 2008

NRC Office of Public Affairs
No. 08-221 December 10, 2008

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed, or accepted for
review, a combined license (COL) application from Entergy for a new reactor
at the River Bend site in Louisiana. Entergy's application, submitted Sept.
25, is the 14th COL request the agency has accepted for review.

The application, minus proprietary or security-related details, is available
on the NRC Web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/col/river-bend.html. Entergy seeks
approval to build and operate an Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor
(ESBWR) at the site, about 24 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, La.

The NRC currently is reviewing the ESBWR design for possible certification.
The staff will consider any findings concerning the design during the review
of the River Bend application. Information on the ESBWR application is
available on the NRC Web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/design-cert/esbwr.html.

Docketing the River Bend application does not indicate whether the
Commission will issue a license. The docket number established for this
application is 52-036. The NRC will shortly issue in the Federal Register a
notice of opportunity to participate, or "intervene," in a hearing on the
application. Petitions to intervene in a hearing may be filed within 60 days
of the notice, by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposed
license and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding. More
information on the hearing process is available on the NRC Web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing.html.

Information about the new reactor licensing process is available on the NRC
Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors.html.