The Tennessee Valley Authority is pleased that Commissioners of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to delegate authority to the Director of its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) to issue a full power operating license for Watts Bar Unit 2, pending applicable regulatory requirements being met.

“The commission’s action was a critical regulatory step necessary to keep Watts Bar Unit 2 on track to become the nation’s first new nuclear generation of the 21st century,” said TVA’s Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Grimes. “The delegation of this authority signifies confidence that NRC inspections show Watts Bar Unit 2 is being built according to rigorous regulatory requirements and industry standards.”

The issuance of the NRC’s Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) delegates authority to issue the Watts Bar Unit 2 operating license to the part of the oversight agency that monitors and inspects the work that's been done and notes requirements TVA must meet before the license can be issued.

"We have a responsibility to complete Watts Bar Unit 2 the right way – safely and with quality – and that's what we're doing,” added Sr. Vice President of Watts Bar Operations and Construction Mike Skaggs. “The Watts Bar team has made tremendous progress getting us to this point and is focused on the work and challenges ahead to successfully complete, test, and license Unit 2 and to integrate the unit into TVA’s nuclear fleet."