# Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Belews Creek; Early Site Permit Application
**AGENCY:**
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
**ACTION:**
Notice; receipt.
**SUMMARY:**
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing public notice each week, for four consecutive weeks, of receipt and availability of an application for an early site permit (ESP) from Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for the Belews Creek site located in Stokes County, North Carolina.
**DATES:**
February 18, 2026.
**ADDRESSES:**
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-2161 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly available information related to this document using any of the following methods:
• *Federal Rulemaking Website:* Go to *https://www.regulations.gov* and search for Docket ID NRC-2025-2161. Address questions about Docket IDs in *Regulations.gov* to Bridget Curran; telephone: 301-415-1003; email: *[email protected].* For technical questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the *For Further Information Contact* section of this document.
• *NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS):* You may obtain publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at *https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.* To begin the search, select “Begin ADAMS Public Search.” For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email to *[email protected].* The Belews Creek Early Site Permit Application package is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML25364A004.
• *NRC's PDR:* The PDR, where you may examine and order copies of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to *[email protected]* or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Emmanuel Sayoc, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-4084; email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Discussion**
On December 30, 2025, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC filed with the NRC, pursuant to Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act and part 52 of title 10 of the *Code of Federal Regulations* (10 CFR), “Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants,” an application for an ESP for the Belews Creek site located in Stokes County, North Carolina. By issuance of *Federal Register* notice of Receipt and Availability on January 7, 2026, (91 FR 542), and in ADAMS under Accession No. ML25352A121, the staff also acknowledged receipt of the application.
In accordance with subpart A of 10 CFR part 52, “Early Site Permits,” an applicant may seek an ESP separate from the filing of an application for a construction permit (CP) or combined license (COL). The ESP process allows resolution of issues relating to siting. At any time during the period of an ESP, the ESP holder may reference the ESP in an application for a CP or COL. These notices are being provided in accordance with the requirements in10 CFR 50.43(a)(3).
A subsequent *Federal Register* notice will be published addressing the acceptability of the tendered ESP application for docketing and provisions for participation of the public in the ESP process.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Dated: January 29, 2026.
Michelle Hayes,
Chief, Licensing and Regulatory Infrastructure Branch, Division of New and Renewed Licenses, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.