Platts - Wednesday, November 24, 2004 
http://www.platts.com
------------

Licensing board grants hearing on Vermont Yankee uprate request

Washington (Platts)--23Nov2004

An NRC licensing board has granted a hearing on Entergy's uprate request for
Vermont Yankee. A three-member Atomic & Safety Licensing Board (ASLB)
yesterday said that the Vermont Department of Public Service and the
environmental group New England Coalition had each submitted two contentions
that could be litigated. But the ASLB rejected the state's request to extend
the deadlines for filing contentions. There is a 10-day period for parties to
appeal the decisions.

------------

Two NRC recess appointments expected in January

Washington (Platts)--22Nov2004

Two long-vacant NRC seats will be filled in January through recess
appointments under a deal reached yesterday between the White House, Senate
Democratic Leader-elect Harry Reid (Nev.), and Senate Republicans. The
appointments will allow Reid's science policy advisor Gregory Jaczko and
retired Navy Vice Adm. Albert Konetzni Jr. to serve through 2006. In an
apparent concession to the industry's vehement objections to Jaczko, the
34-year-old congressional staffer will not be renominated for a full term, and
he must recuse himself from any votes on matters related to the proposed Yucca
Mountain, Nev. repository during his first year. Nils Diaz will serve as
chairman until June, according to Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete
Domenici (R-N.M.). He said the agreement lifted the block on scores of
presidential nominees and allowed the Senate to confirm about 175 appointments
to federal positions.

------------