Nuclear Regulatory Commission Prepares Supplement to Environmental Impact Statement for Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1

Strategic Insights -

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced its intention to prepare a supplement to an existing environmental impact statement for the proposed construction permit of the Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1 in Roane County, Tennessee. This action is a crucial step in the regulatory process for the private sector entity's nuclear power ambitions. The public will have opportunities to engage with the commission as it proceeds with this environmental evaluation. The NRC will update its Early Site Permit Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a construction permit application from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NRC has announced its intention to prepare a supplement to an existing environmental impact statement for the Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1 in Roane County, Tennessee.
  • The supplement will evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a construction permit application from the Tennessee Valley Authority for a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 at the Clinch River Nuclear Site.
  • The NRC will not conduct a separate scoping process for this supplement to the environmental impact statement.
  • The commission intends to use its environmental impact statement process to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
  • A draft supplement to the environmental impact statement will be prepared and issued for comment through a separate Federal Register notice.
  • The public will have opportunities to engage with the commission as it proceeds with this environmental evaluation.

Statistics:

  • The Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1 is located in Roane County, Tennessee.
  • The Tennessee Valley Authority submitted its application for a construction permit to build a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in 2025.
  • The NRC's proposed action to determine whether to grant the permit is based on the Early Site Permit issued in 2019 (NUREG-2226).
  • The supplement to the environmental impact statement is expected to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Sources:

  • TNSFR, "Tennessee Valley Authority Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1 - Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplement", July 18, 2025.
  • Federal Register, "Tennessee Valley Authority Clinch River Nuclear Site Unit 1 - Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplement", 2025-13465, July 18, 2025.