FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

04/16/2012

Contact
Leslie Anderson Maloy, (703) 276-3256 or landerson@hastingsgroup.com

Advisory: NRC Rejects Vogtle Motion

Nuclear Regulation Commission to Meet Monday to Rule on Groups’ Filing to Halt Reactor Project; NRC Action Likely to Force Filing of New Stay Motion in Federal Court Amidst Latest Signs of 30+ Vogtle Project License Changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NEWS ADVISORY – Representatives of nine groups opposed to the Nuclear Regulation Commission's (NRC) decision in February to approve the licensing of Southern Company’s two new Vogtle reactors in Georgia will comment Monday about a same-day NRC decision on their bid to halt construction of the troubled project. Because the NRC denied their petition earlier this morning, the groups plan to file a motion in federal court to stay construction. That court proceeding would unfold against a backdrop of more than 30-plus license changes that Southern Company has said are needed and that the nine groups believe may result in possible delays and cost overruns.

The groups will hold a phone-based news conference at 1:30 p.m. EDT Monday following today's 9 a.m. NRC public hearing.

News event speakers will be:
• Diane Curran, Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg, L.L.P., attorney for organizations;
• Dr. Arjun Makhijani, president, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research;
• Sara Barczak, High Risk Energy Choices director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy; and
• Rev. Charles Utley, Environmental Justice coordinator, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League.

TO PARTICIPATE: You can participate in a related live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 1:30 p.m. EDT on April 16, 2012 by dialing 1 (800) 860-2442. Ask for the “NRC/Vogtle reactor challenge” news event.

MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Anderson Maloy, (703) 276-3256 or landerson@hastingsgroup.com.