Power companies seek to extend life of nuclear reactors to 80 years

New York Times : Getting permission to build new nuclear reactors is difficult, and building them is extremely expensive. To help fill the gap before new reactors are operational, power companies have sought and been granted extensions for their existing reactors. Most were originally built in the 1980s, with a predicted economic lifespan of 40 years. To date, more than 70 reactors have been granted 20-year extended licenses by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Now, three power companies are requesting extensions of yet another 20 years for some of their reactors. Although concerns have been expressed about the possible long-term effects of radiation on the metal and concrete in the reactors and their cooling systems, both NRC staff and industry experts agree that with proper monitoring, the extended operations should be safe. The question now is what that proper monitoring would entail.