The NRC issued an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Tennessee Valley Authority's request for an exemption from 10 CFR 50.10 at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Tennessee. TVA sought the exemption to allow early installation of an initial ground support system for reactor building excavation before a construction permit is issued. The NRC assessed impacts across eight resource areas including land use, air quality, water resources, and ecological and cultural resources, and determined all impacts are SMALL. No EIS is required. Delaying excavation until after construction permit issuance would push TVA's commercial operation schedule back 12 to 24 months.12