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NRC: Fermi 3 Plant Poses No Environmental Threat

FRENCHTOWN TWP. (AP) — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff says there are no environmental reasons to reject DTE Energy Co.'s application to build a nuclear power plant next to its existing Fermi 2 plant in southeastern Michigan.

The NRC's staff has released a report for public comment on its analysis of plans for the Fermi 3 plant. The complex is near Monroe and Lake Erie in Monroe County's Frenchtown Township, northwest of Toledo, Ohio.

The staff will discuss the analysis and take comments Dec. 15 at Monroe County Community College.

The Monroe Evening News says the proposed cooling tower is larger than the two serving Fermi 2.

DTE says it's considering a 1,600 megawatt reactor. Fermi 2 is 1,100-megawatts.

Opponents say the plant would harm wetlands and feed toxic algae in Lake Erie.

© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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