NRC schedules public meeting on nuclear reactors to be built near Homestead

FPL to build 2 nuclear reactors at Turkey Point

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled two public meeting sessions where people can express their opinions on the two new nuclear reactors Florida Power & Light is expected to build at Turkey Point near Homestead.

The first session will be held on April 22 from 7-10 p.m. at Florida International University's Stadium Club at 11200 SW Eighth Street in Miami.

The second session with be held April 23 from 1-4 p.m. and another from 7-10 p.m. in the Reef Room at the Hampton Inn & Suites at 2855 NE Ninth Street in Homestead.

The three sessions will each be preceded by a one-hour open house, which will allow the public to speak with NRC and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff.

FPL applied for a combined license to double its nuclear reactors from two to four units in June 2009.

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado fears the transmission lines won't be storm ready.

"The transmission line towers will be 10-stories tall and not built to hurricane standards," Regalado said.

"The current corridor was decided based on minimal impact to schools, local businesses, and just any environmental impact," Bianca Cruz with FPL countered.

Cruz also maintains that the poles are study enough to maintain hurricanes.

"These are concrete reinforced poles. and actually, since 2006 FPL invested more than $2 billion to improve all the infrastructure so the poles would be more than hurricane ready," Cruz said.

The NRC's Draft Environmental Impact Statement includes a preliminary report stating that there are no environmental impacts that would preclude the issuance of the combined license.

If the plan gains approval, reports say the earliest the new reactors could go online would be 2022.

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