Steven P. Frantz

Partner

Steven P. Frantz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Energy Practice. Mr. Frantz represents and counsels electric utilities, manufacturers of reactors and materials licensees on the regulation and licensing of nuclear power plants, as well as other facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Mr. Frantz has been an industry leader in the certification and licensing of new nuclear power plants. For example, he was instrumental in assisting General Electric in obtaining a design certification for the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, the first design certification ever issued by the NRC. In this role, he pioneered many of the concepts accepted by the NRC and used by other reactor vendors in design certification proceedings. Mr. Frantz was lead counsel to Exelon in connection with its application for an early site permit (ESP) for the Clinton site, which was the first ESP ever issued by the NRC. He also is lead counsel to NuStart, and a number of other companies, in connection with their plans to apply for combined licenses for power plants. He has also assisted the Nuclear Energy Institute in developing the conceptual framework for implementing the provisions in 10 CFR Part 52 on combined construction permits and operating licenses.

Mr. Frantz has handled a variety of other matters in licensing proceedings and administrative hearings. For example, he was lead counsel for a Florida utility in a NRC proceeding to obtain a license amendment to expand the capacity of its spent-fuel pools. He also represented a Texas utility in NRC proceedings to obtain operating licenses for their nuclear plants, a Washington utility in proceedings before the NRC and a state siting commission to obtain authorization to construct a nuclear plant. Additionally, Mr. Frantz has assisted California, Texas and Illinois utilities in prudence proceedings before state public utility commissions to include the cost of nuclear plants in the companies’ rate bases, and was lead counsel for license renewal of the Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant.

Mr. Frantz has devoted a substantial part of his practice to assisting utilities in developing strategies for helping nuclear plants obtain permission to resume construction or operation following NRC enforcement action. For example, Mr. Frantz has taken a lead role in assisting clients in preparing business and improvements plans, has assisted clients in developing reports to the NRC describing progress in achieving improved performance, and has helped prepare reports describing the results of verification programs. He has also assisted several clients in preparing for and responding to large NRC team inspections. Mr. Frantz has also assisted a number of utilities in preparing for meetings and enforcement conferences with the NRC and in developing responses to NRC enforcement actions.

Mr. Frantz has been active in the area of investigations and assessments. For example, he participated in an independent evaluation of the performance of a utility’s licensing organization. Additionally, Mr. Frantz has conducted independent factual evaluations of employee concerns and third-party allegations. He has also counseled and represented witnesses interviewed by the NRC Office of Investigations.

Before joining the firm, Mr. Frantz was a shareholder at Newman, Bouknight & Edgar.

Mr. Frantz is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.