Officials Seek Public Comments on Proposed Comanche Peak Expansion

January 5, 2009

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) - Government officials want to know what potential harm could result from a proposed expansion to the Comanche Peak nuclear power
facility near Glen Rose.

They will hold two meetings Tuesday to hear from the public what
issues they should consider in an upcoming review.

Luminant, which operates two nuclear reactors at Comanche Peak,
is seeking permission from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
build two more reactors there. The plant is in Somervell County, about 45 miles
southwest of Fort Worth.

"This meeting is essentially the start of our environmental
review for the application at Comanche Peak," said Scott Burnell, regulatory
commission spokesman. "This is the public's opportunity to let us know what
they think needs to be looked at in the environmental review."

Commission staff members are also looking at the reactor design
being proposed for Comanche Peak. It will likely be about three years
before the commission decides whether to allow the expansion, he said.

The proposal
In September, Luminant, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings
Corp., formerly TXU Corp., submitted an application to the regulatory
commission to build two reactors. The new 1,700-megawatt units would produce
enough energy to power about 1.8 million average Texas homes, according to the
company.

Luminant officials estimate that the expansion would have a $22
billion economic impact. Critics of the proposed expansion say nuclear power is too
expensive and dangerous. Karen Hadden, executive director of the Sustainable
Energy & Economic Development Coalition based in Austin, said energy
efficiency and renewable resources such as solar and wind power are better options.

Public input
Tuesday's meetings will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. at
the Glen Rose Expo Center, 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd. in Glen Rose. Each meeting
will be preceded by a one-hour "open house." If you have not already signed
up to speak at a meeting, you must show up early and register to speak at
least five minutes before the meeting starts.

Commission staff will also take written comments about the
scope of the environmental review through Feb. 17. E-mails can be sent to
[email protected]. Letters should be sent to Chief, Rules and
Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of
Administration, Mailstop TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001.

What's next?
Commission staffers will spend several months compiling a draft
environmental impact statement on the proposed expansion. The public
will then be given an opportunity to comment on it.

Online: www.nrc.gov
TRACI SHURLEY, 817-548-5494