Waterford – Millstone Nuclear Power Station’s application to amend its license to allow it to use higher temperature intake water than its current permit allows has been accepted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The NRC said Tuesday that it will begin a detailed technical review of the request to change its temperature limit from 75 to 80 degrees for Millstone 2 and 3, after obtaining additional information from Millstone owner Dominion on the application it submitted in May.

Last summer, Millstone 2 was shut down for three weeks because water temperature at the Long Island Sound intake pipe to the plant exceeded 75 degrees. Millstone 3, which draws intake water from a cooler, deeper part of the sound, continued to operate.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said the review is expected to be completed in a year, and a decision would not be made until sometime in 2014.