NRC Approves Safe Tweaks for Oconee and Farley Nukes
Published Date: 1/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing two requests to update operating licenses for the Oconee and Farley nuclear plants. These updates are considered safe and don’t pose new hazards. People interested can comment or ask for a hearing by late February and March 2026, with special rules to access sensitive info needed for their case.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Special Access Rules for Sensitive Documents
If you intend to be a party and need access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI) to prepare contentions, you must request access within 10 days after publication (deadline February 6, 2026). The request must describe the licensing action, your name/address and particularized interest, and explain why public versions are insufficient. The NRC staff will decide within 10 days whether you likely can establish standing and have a legitimate need; if granted, access may require a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Protective Order, and SUNSI-based contentions must be filed within 25 days of receiving the information.
Deadlines to Comment and Request Hearing
You can submit public comments on these nuclear license amendment requests until February 26, 2026. If you want to ask for a hearing or formally intervene, you must file a request or petition by March 30, 2026.
Amendments Can Be Issued Before Hearings
Normally the NRC waits 60 days after this notice before issuing license amendments, but it may issue an amendment earlier if it finalizes a no significant hazards consideration (NSHC) determination or if waiting would cause derating or shutdown. If an amendment is issued early, any hearing would take place after issuance.
Oconee P/T Limits and 80-Year Operation
The Oconee Nuclear Station amendment request would revise Technical Specification 3.4.3 to update Reactor Coolant System pressure-temperature (P/T) limit curves for Units 1, 2, and 3 and specify that the revised P/T limit curves apply to 72 effective full-power years, corresponding to 80 years of operation.
Farley Reactor Trip and ESFAS Specs Revised
The Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant amendment request would revise selected allowable values in Technical Specifications 3.3.1 (Reactor Trip System instrumentation) and 3.3.2 (Engineered Safety Feature Actuation System instrumentation) as described in the application dated September 4, 2025.
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