Tweet

Rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

• • 

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is putting a hold on requests for new reactor construction and license renewals after a recent court ruling questioned the agency's plans for storing radioactive waste.

The NRC's Tuesday ruling will delay at least 19 requests by utilities for new operating licenses or license renewals. Those projects include Ameren Corp.'s request for a 20-year license renewal at its Callaway County plant in central Missouri.

Environmental groups sought the delay after a federal appeals court in Washington ruled in June that the NRC's plans for long-term storage of radioactive waste at individual reactors were insufficient.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit by New York's attorney general and others over a relicensing application for the Indian Point nuclear plant along the Hudson River.