Thursday, September 9, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) -- A nuclear regulatory board will hear arguments over whether environmental groups can raise new concerns about the design of a proposed nuclear power plant in Georgia.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has scheduled arguments Sept. 17 to consider whether it should weigh the objections over the design of two reactors that the Atlanta-based Southern Co. wants to build at Plant Vogtle.

Local environmental advocates including the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League have said that the Westinghouse Electric Co.'s AP1000 reactor picked for the project could be vulnerable to corrosion. They worry that if radioactive material escaped through a corroded spot during an accident, the public could be harmed.

Westinghouse says its reactor would avoid corrosion and would be frequently inspected for problems.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)