Nuclear services firm Enercon Services has been selected by Entergy Nuclear Potomac to help prepare an early site permit (ESP) application for the Grand Gulf station. Enercon will conduct extensive engineering and environmental studies of the potential impact of a new unit on the site including evaluations of hydrology, meteorology and ecology.

Entergy Nuclear’s senior vice president of business development Randy Hutchinson said: “We are pleased to join with Enercon on a project such as this which holds such significance for our nation. Enercon’s expertise in nuclear licensing and its knowledge of the Grand Gulf site makes it well-suited to participate in this project.” The preparation of the ESP application includes evaluating suitability of the site based on population, transportation routes and potential environmental effects from construction and operation of a new plant. The application will be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in June 2003. The NRC will then review it for at least two years.