Activities at Joshua Falls

To meet growing electricity demand with clean energy, Appalachian Power is exploring the development of a small modular reactor (SMR) in Virginia and has identified Joshua Falls in Campbell County as a potential site. Located near Lynchburg and a significant existing nuclear industry presence, the site is company-owned and provides access to existing infrastructure that can support a potential new facility.

Project Updates

2/14/2025: Appalachian Power representatives are doing environmental surveys to determine site suitability for an SMR. This site exploration begins the roughly two-year process of data collection and developing an Early Site Permit application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Field work will begin in March 2025 and include things like clearing trees, installing a meteorological tower, and taking soil and water samples. You can expect to see new fencing, trucks and equipment, project team members commuting to the site, and changes to the boat ramp parking lot such as reduced parking and possible temporary closures.

‍11/14/2024: Appalachian Power announced plans to explore the Campbell County property as a potential site in November 2024 and invite community members and landowners in the project area to learn more at an in-person community open house on Thursday, December 5, 5–7 p.m. at 300 Lucado Place, Lynchburg, VA 24504.

Field Activities

Engineers and scientists conduct extensive site studies to evaluate the feasibility and suitability for SMR development.

Examples of common activities include...
 

Environmental Surveys

Biologists and environmental scientists scope and conduct field surveys, including but not limited to, to gather information about wetlands and other waters, wildlife and their habitats, and rare, threatened, endangered and other protected species.

Meteorological Evaluation Tower (MET)

Surveyors collect information about the habitats and physical attributes of the project area. They also look for ecological concerns like wetlands, flood plains and forests. This process can help protect endangered species, such as the Indiana Bat and American Burying Beetle.
 

Fencing

Installation of protective and boundary fencing around the Joshua Falls property to ensure safety and security. Specifically, the fencing will control site access, demarcate property lines, and prevent unauthorized entry.

Subsurface Investigations

Drilling and boring activities will take place in order to install groundwater monitoring wells and to take boring samples of the site. This information is required to characterize the site for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Early Site Permitting Application process.

Historical and Cultural Resources Survey

Archaeologist sand historians perform literature reviews and field investigations of the site.

Land Surveying

Field crews use staking to mark the project area, identify site features, and pinpoint future structure locations. Environmental crews use staking to identify wetlands or other environmentally sensitive areas.