Hearings Set on Building Reactor

Construction of the reactor would take about six years, according to testimony submitted by Susan Gray, project manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Power Plant Research Program. Based on current projections, the third reactor would not become operational until 2015.

The program and other state agencies have concluded that "the proposed facility can be constructed and operated in such a way as it will not cause any unacceptable environmental or socioeconomic impacts," according to Gray's written testimony.

The state's Critical Area Commission has held a hearing, and more are scheduled with the Army Corps of Engineers to assess possible effects on wetlands.

George Vanderheyden, president and chief executive of UniStar, said that the company has surveyed the surrounding communities and has tried to address concerns that were identified. In terms of withstanding a terrorist attack, he said, the proposed reactor "is fully capable of taking a large jumbo jet" and has a double-containment system. He said it also uses 98 percent less water for the cooling tower than the previous two reactors, he said.

The reactor design "will be one of the most expensive technologies in the United States to build," said Vanderheyden, who declined to put a price tag on the project.

The utility is submitting the first portion of an application for a federal loan guarantee, which it must have to proceed with construction, Vanderheyden said. The decisions on the loan are expected to be made by the end of the year.

The PSC public hearings will be at 7 p.m. tomorrow and Aug. 11 and 19 at the Holiday Inn Select in Solomons. The public meetings to discuss filed testimony will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 11 and 19 at the Hilton Inn in Dowell.