License Renewal
In January 2008, Three Mile Island Unit 1 submitted an application to the United Sates Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend its operating license for another 20 years. TMI Unit 1's current license expires in 2014 and approval of license extension would allow TMI Unit 1 to operate until 2034. Forty-eight other commercial nuclear facilities have received license extension so far. To view TMI Unit 1's license renewal application follow the links below:
AmerGen submitted a license renewal application for TMI Unit 1 because we are committed to producing
clean, reliable energy for south central Pennsylvania residents for an additional 20 years and most importantly, we will do so safely.
TMI Unit 1's current license expires in 2014, at the end of a 40-year operating license. This license was based on the accounting amortization period generally used by electric utility companies for large capital investments. The term was not based on safety, technical or environmental issues. TMI Unit 1 continues to operate at the high standard set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is a valuable component of Pennsylvanias electricity supply. TMI Unit 1 has been continually upgraded and its equipment modernized to enhance safety, security and efficiency, which are all important aspects of operating safely and reliably for 20 more years.
To receive license renewal approval, a nuclear plant must pass a rigorous process. First, the plant must submit an application to the NRC for renewal. The application includes general, environmental and technical information in compliance with federal regulations. The application includes 1,200 pages and to complete it, TMI Unit 1 personnel evaluated 283 systems and structures at the plant, more than 50,000 components and 45 aging management programs. After the application is submitted, the public may submit a request for a hearing.
The license renewal process includes rigorous examinations by NRC of safety and environmental issues. The process also provides ample opportunities for the public to be involved. The NRC will hold meetings for the public to learn about the license renewal process, as well as to comment on aspects of the application.
The NRC staff reviews the application on two parallel tracks - a safety review and an environmental review. In the safety review process, there are a number of steps including a thorough review of the application's safety sections, an informal public meeting, an audit and inspections of the station's aging management programs. For the environmental review, a public meeting is held, site audits are conducted, and an environmental impact statement is prepared, commented on by the public, and then revised with the publics comments.
To learn about upcoming and past license renewal public meetings, click here. To see a timeline of TMI Unit 1s renewal process click here. Or, to see a more in depth look at the license renewal process click here to access the License Renewal Process Fact Sheet.