Federal regulators have accepted Dominion Virginia Power's application for a full review of a proposed third nuclear reactor at its North Anna Power Station in Louisa County.

The so-called combined license application is the fourth nationally accepted for review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The director of the NRC's Office of New Reactors, Bill Borchart, said in a statement Tuesday agency staff concluded the Dominion application meets the NRC's requirements and a review will likely continue into early 2011.

The NRC already has approved an early site permit for a third nuclear reactor at North Anna.

A Dominion Virginia spokesman, Richard Zuercher, said the Richmond power company is pleased by the decision and means the utility can move forward on the licensing of the multibillion dollar reactor.