NC0039586_New Facility License_20070418

Pro g ress Energy
Mr. Alan W.,Khmek
Director, Division of Water Quality !
NC Department of Environment and N
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
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April 18, 2007
PROGRESS ENERGY NEW FACILITY LICENSING, HARRIS NUCLEAR PLANT,
WAKE COUNTY, NC
Dear Mr. Klimek:
The purpose of my letter is to inform you of Progress Energy Carolina, Inc.'s plans for
preparing a Combined License Application (COLA) for submittal to the U. S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC). A combined license from the NRC includes a combined
construction permit and operating license.- The COLA outlines Progress Energy's plansfor
construction and operation of two proposed new power generating units (referred to as
Harris Units 2 & 3) at the existing Harris Nuclear .Plant (HNP). The HNP is located
approximately 20 miles southwest of Raleigh in western Wake County, North Carolina.
The NRC may consult with your agency as part of its National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) scoping process regarding the COLA submittal. Progress Energy is providing this
information as a courtesy to make you aware of details regarding the proposed new nuclear
power generation, where we are in the COLA preparation process, and what your agency
can expect as this COLA moves forward with NRC review.
Construction of the proposed Harris Units 2 & 3 will be immediately adjacent to the
footprint of the existing Harris Unit 1 (see Enclosure). The preferred- option to supply the
required water for the operation of Harris Units 2 & 3 includes raising the, operational
elevation of Harris Lake, from an existing elevation of 220 feet above mean sea level (USGS
NGVD29 datum) to a level of 240 feet msl (see Enclosure). This -increase .in lake elevation
will result in covering approximately 4,000 additional acres of land. The preferred option
also includes transferring water from the Cape Fear River to Harris Lake to supply the
additional volume to the lake. Harris Lake was originally created for the sole purpose of
furnishing water for multiple units at the Harris site; however the lake was downsized
when only one unit was constructed at the site and the original plans for make-up water
transfer from the Cape Fear River were tabled.
Transmission corridors which currently support Harris Unit 1 will be used to support
generation from Harris Unit 2. If Harris Unit 3 were constructed, additional transmission
corridors may be needed, but as of yet have not been evaluated or planned.
Progress Energy is in the process'of preparing the COLA for submittal to the NRC by late
2007. The COLA is a comprehensive document that will cover various aspects of
construction and operation of Harris Units 2 & 3 including engineering specifications;
Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.
P.O. Bax 1551
Raleigh, NC 27602

Mr. Alan W. Klimek
f HAR / Page 2
operation and safety considerations; and environmental, recreational, cultural, and
economic impacts. After the COLA submittal, the NRC will begin a lengthy review process
under NEPA which may include input from your agency and other interested stakeholders,
public scoping meetings to identify issues and concerns, and preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the proposed project. Much of the NEPA
process will be initiated by Progress Energy with state agencies after the NRC's receipt of
the COLA.
The licensing process, once completed, gives Progress Energy the option to construct and
operate the units; however, it does not obligate the Company to build. A final decision to
build the proposed units is still several years away. In order to provide the most reliable,
safe, and efficient mix of energy resources for its customers, Progress Energy is taking steps
now to keep the option open in the future for the two new nuclear power generating units.
Because your agency is a key stakeholder identified in the COLA and NEPA scoping
process, we would like to arrange a meeting to discuss our generation plans, the COLA and
NEPA process, and the interests of your agency. Progress Energy will contact you to
schedule this meeting.
In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the Web site we have created regarding our new
generation initiatives at http://www.progress-enerLV.com/aboutenergy and click on the
"Powering the Future - Carolinas" link. Additional information will be posted on this -web
site in the future.
Progress Energy is committed to working with the various state and federal agencies and
other interested stakeholders as we move through the COLA and NEPA scoping process
with the NRC. We intend to incorporate stakeholder input, questions, and concerns into
our planning as we work to meet the region's future electricity needs.
If you have any questions about the COLA process, please call Mr. Paul Snead, Lead
Environmental Specialist, at [phone] or me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Tit othy P. Cleary
General Manager
Nuclear Plant Development and License Renewal
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Paul E. Rawls
Mr. Thomas A. Reeder
Mr. David Matthews, II

Proposed Site
(Harris Units 2 and 3)
Separating Dike,
Auxiliary Dam
Spillway
Auxiliary Darr
Harris Unit 1 r,
---Spillway
Buckhom.
Main
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LEGEND w+E
- Major Lakes, Rivers, and Streams g
Proposed Normal Pool Elevation 240 -feet (NGVD29) 0 1 2
® Proposed Site (Harris Units 2 and 3) ® Progress Energy Carolinas
HNP Unit 1 0 Kilometers 2 Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant
QBuckhom Creek Drainage Basin New Hill, North Carolina
Miles