Nation : Nuclear Plant Step Closer to License

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today ruled that the Seabrook, N.H., nuclear power plant is financially qualified to run low-power tests and said that the plant could receive its low-power license by Jan. 6.

The commissioners said Seabrook officials must set aside $72.1 million for decommissioning costs in case the plant receives the low-power license but never secures a full-power commercial license. Deputy general counsel Mark Malsch also said the commission’s licensing board must rule on another Seabrook matter, emergency evacuation planning, before the low-power permit is issued.