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the power plant safely, and 86 percentbelieve the company is doing a good jobprotecting the environment.The telephone survey of 1,152randomly selected plant neighbors—18adults within 10 miles of each of thenation’s 64 nuclear power plant sites—was conducted in mid-July, 2009.Survey results are available at:http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/ newplants/reports/thirdbiennial-nuclear-power-plant-neighborpublic-opinion-tracking-survey.Contact: Nuclear Energy Institute,telephone: (202) 739-8000, email:media@nei.org.Early Site PermitThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission’sOffice of New Reactors has issuedan Early Site Permit (ESP) and LimitedWork Authorization (LWA) to SouthernNuclear Operating Company for the Vogtlesite near Augusta, Georgia. The ESP,valid for up to 20 years, is the fourth suchpermit the NRC has approved.Successful completion of the ESPprocess resolves many site-relatedsafety and environmental issues, anddetermines the site is suitable for possiblefuture construction and operation of anuclear power plant. The LWA allowsa narrow set of construction activities atthe site. Southern Nuclear filed its ESPapplication on August 15, 2006, and filedits LWA request on Aug. 16, 2007, seekingpermission for construction activitieslimited to placement of engineeredbackfill, retaining walls, lean concrete,mudmats, and a waterproof membrane.Contact: Offi ce of Public Affairs,telephone: (301}) 415-8200, email: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov.Uranium EnrichmentFacilityThe Nuclear Regulatory Commissionhas accepted for formal review an applicationby General Electric-Hitachi Global LaserEnrichment for a license to construct andoperate a uranium enrichment plant usinglaser technology in Wilmington, N.C.GE-Hitachi submitted the applicationin two stages: an environmental report,submitted on January 30, 2009 and asafety report, tendered on June 26, 2009.The NRC staff has completed an initialacceptance review and determined thatthe application is sufficiently completefor the agency to begin its formallicensing reviews. The agency has alreadyrequested additional information from theapplicant.Contact: Offi ce of Public Affairs,telephone: (301}) 415-8200, email: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov.Pebble Fuel HeadsIn a first for Africa, South Africa’sPebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR)company – in collaboration with Necsa(the South African Nuclear EnergyCorporation) – has manufactured HighTemperature Reactor fuel spheres or“pebbles” containing 9.6% enricheduranium. Sixteen of these graphite sphereswere shipped to Russia for irradiationtests to demonstrate the fuel’s integrityunder reactor conditions.The achievement follows PBMRand Necsa’s successful manufacturingin December 2008 of enriched uraniumcoatedparticles, 14,000 of which are(Continued on page 10)Zachry—a visionary forcefor the nuclear future.The U.S. nuclear renaissance is on the horizon, and Zachry is ready with forward-thinking people,services and capabilities. Combining 85 years of construction expertise and 35 years of engineeringexperience, Zachry brings a rich history, comprehensive services and unwavering integrity. As theindustry advances, we are a visionary force for the nuclear future.www.zhi.comNuclear Plant Journal, September-October 2009 www.NuclearPlantJournal.com 9