nuclear-news

Without waiting for safety solutions, NRC approves relicense for Pilgrim nuclear plant

“When the regulator does not follow its own rules, don’t expect that
it will require the nuclear industry to do so either. Fukushima showed
what happen,” 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission OKs new 20-year license for Pilgrim nuke plant, Boston Herald, By Associated Press,  May 25, 2012 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the renewal of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station’s operating license for another 20 years, the agency announced Friday, despite objections from Gov. Deval Patrick and other Massachusetts officials. The commission voted 3-1 to
authorize staff to renew the license before June 8, when the original
40-year license of the Plymouth, Mass., facility was set to expire.

Patrick called the NRC’s decision “extremely troubling.” He and other
officials, including Attorney General Martha Coakley and U.S. Reps.
Edward Markey and William Keating, had called on the NRC hold off on
renewal until all safety and environmental contentions had been
resolved. The commission approved an earlier staff recommendation to
relicense the plant, even though some issues regarding its operation
were still under review.

Outgoing commission chairman Gregory Jaczko cast the dissenting vote,…..
Mary Lambert, an anti-Pilgrim activist from Duxbury, said granting the
license before the hearing process was completed was like ending a
football game in the middle of the fourth quarter.

“When the regulator does not follow its own rules, don’t expect that
it will require the nuclear industry to do so either. Fukushima showed
what happen,” said Lambert, who heads the group PilgrimWatch.

Critics had also raised concerns about plant security and emergency
planning, and how relicensing would affect Atlantic sturgeon and river
herring, which swim nearby the plant and are protected under the
federal Endangered Species Act.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20120525nuclear_regulatory_commission_approves_new

May 26, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA