A 22-month process to renew Grand Gulf Nuclear Station’s license to operate for another 20 years continued Tuesday for the start of public comments.

An application from Entergy Nuclear was received by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November, the start of a multistep process expected to culminate in September 2013 with a decision from the agency.

The plant’s current license expires in 2024. Its safety record and impact of plant operations on multiple aspects of the environment will form the basis of the renewal, project managers said during a public hearing Tuesday in Port Gibson. Comments are due Feb. 27.