From:	Mulkey, Cindy
Sent:	Friday, September 05, 2008 3:27 PM
To:	'chambleep@windstream.net'
Subject:	EO-43553 Response
Mr. Chamblee,

This email is in response to your July 21st email to Governor Crist.  In your email you asked Governor Crist to explain why his EPA is fighting the building of a new nuclear electric plant.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the lead agency responsible for coordinating the interagency review and certification (licensing) of large steam power plants under the Electrical Power Plant Siting Act.  The Siting Coordination Office (Siting), in conjunction with the Office of General Counsel, has been assigned by the Department to perform the administrative and legal tasks of the coordination process.  However, the actual licensing entity under these Acts is the Governor and Cabinet, not the Department or the other agencies.  Certification is an umbrella permit for all affected state, regional and local agencies, and includes any state and local regulatory activity which would be applicable under these agencies’ regulations for the facility.  Certification is a life-of-the-facility approval, authorizing construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility.

Electric utilities are also required to obtain certain federal permits, which are separate and in addition to the Siting certification which contains state and local approvals.  Additional permits necessary for a new power plant may include the following:  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Air Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Construction, Underground Injection Control (UIC) or a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  Of these approvals, Florida has been authorized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue the above excluding an NRC license.  

To address your specific question, the Department is not opposed to the building of a new nuclear electric plant, and is currently reviewing Progress Energy’s proposed Levy Nuclear Plant.  In processing the Levy application, the Siting Office will adhere to the Rules and Statutes which govern the Siting process.  

Of interest, on August 12th, 2008 the Department presented before the Governor & Cabinet (and the Governor & Cabinet approved) a project recommending an “uprate” to the existing nuclear power plant at the Progress Energy, Crystal River Energy Complex.  This project added an additional 180 megawatts (MW) to the existing unit.  The Siting Office is currently processing similar uprate projects for two Florida Power & Light Company nuclear plants (Turkey Point and St. Lucie) in south Florida.  

Details for all of the above mentioned projects can be accessed at the following website:  http://www.dep.state.fl.us/siting/Highlights/applications.htm  

The Department is committed to helping the State of Florida have a sufficient, reliable supply of electricity.  We are also committed to ensuring that the electricity is generated in such a manner as to minimize adverse environmental impacts.  

Cindy Mulkey

Engineering Specialist
Department of Environmental Protection
Siting Coordination Office
Mail Station 48
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
Phone:  850-245-8006
FAX:  850-245-8003