New Hill, N.C. — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined no environmental impacts would preclude renewing the operating license for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant.

Progress Energy, which operates the plant in southwest Wake County, applied for a 20-year license renewal last month. The plant's current license is due to expire on Oct. 24, 2026.

The NRC will hold two public meetings on Jan. 30 for people to comment on the draft environmental impact statement. The meetings, at 1:30 and 7 p.m., will be held at New Horizons Fellowship, 820 E. Williams St. in Apex. NRC staff will be available for an hour prior to the start of each meeting for informal, one-on-one discussions.

The draft report is available for review at the West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive in Cary, and the Eva H. Perry Library, 2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Drive in Apex.

Written comments on the draft report submitted before March 5, 2008, will also be considered by the NRC staff. Comments can be submitted by mail to Chief, Rulemaking, Directives and Editing Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mail Stop T-6D59, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by e-mail to ShearonHarrisEIS@nrc.gov.