nuclear-news

Strong case against proposed Florida nuclear plant

“It…will (do) irreversible damage to the springs, wetlands and wildlife.”…. The project’s cost is estimated at $22 billion….
The proposed plant site includes 722 acres of wetlands.

Nuclear plant opponents speak out, Ocala.com By Fred Hiers, January 13, 2012  CRYSTAL RIVER — For three hours on Thursday, opponents of a proposed Levy County nuclear plant told the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board the facility would siphon too much water from the aquifer, cause saltwater intrusion, and expose people to deadly radiation.

Hearing the complaints was a three-judge panel from the board, which falls under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and acts as its judicial arm. The meeting for public input was the result of three environmental groups — the Nuclear Information and Resources Service, the Ecology Party of Florida and the Green Party of Florida — challenging Progress Energy’s application to build the plant.

The three petitioners said in their complaint that the NRC, in its
draft environmental impact study, and Progress, in its environmental
impact report, did not accurately predict the impact the nuclear plant
would have on area wetlands, floodplains and groundwater.
NRC’s final environmental impact report is scheduled for release in
April, and a formal trial on the complaints could be this October.

“This …is the wrong plant in the wrong place, paid for in the wrong
way,” said Teddi Rusnak, president of the Citrus County Council, a
nonprofit consortium of civic clubs, homeowners associations and
environmental groups. “It…will (do) irreversible damage to the
springs, wetlands and wildlife.”…. The project’s cost is estimated
at $22 billion….
The proposed plant site includes 722 acres of wetlands.

Although the hearing was supposed to focus on the issues named in the
legal objections, many in the crowd, such as Bidgood, expressed fears
about radiation leaks and damage to the plant in case of hurricanes.

“We could be just as unlucky as Japan,” Bidgood said, citing that
country’s nuclear catastrophe last year…… The company expects to
collect $680 million through 2012 from its customers to pay for work
done so far in preparation of construction. The money includes
collections that began in 2009….
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120113/ARTICLES/120119841/1005/sports01?Title=Nuclear-plant-opponents-speak-out

January 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, USA