The AP1000® pressurized water reactor works on the simple concept that, in the event of a design-basis accident (such as a coolant pipe break), the plant is designed to achieve and maintain safe shutdown condition without any operator action and without the need for ac power or pumps. Instead of relying on active components such as diesel generators and pumps, the AP1000 relies on the natural forces of gravity, natural circulation and compressed gases to keep the core and containment from overheating.
That is good, but the greenies would rather stall a reactor like this replacing current reactors. They would rather have us rely on old unsafe designs because it fits their anti-nuclear agenda.
Looks like the Greenies are out of luck on this one. Once the NRC License is issued, they only way they can stop it is if the utility screws up.
The NRC licensing process was changed about 10 years ago. It used to be a two step process... first a construction license and then after construction, an operating license. That gave the anti-nukes many opportunities to throw monkey wrenches into the process to delay things, for expensive (and often needless changes) and run-up costs. (Remember Seabrook and Shorham?)
Today, it's different. Once the design is approved, and a combined construction/operating license is issued, all they have to do is build it exactly as designed and they are good to go. If they start today, that plant will be operating in five years or less and the kooks won't be able to stop it.