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Secrecy and lack of oversight in Entergy’s nuclear waste plans for Pilgrim Nuclear Plant

all Pilgrim Coalition is asking.
“Once again, the total lack of transparency and oversight by the NRC
and other regulators responsible for the safe and proper operation of
Pilgrim is alarming,” she said. “All we want is straight answers and
public accountability. It’s not a lot to ask, given what is at stake.”

NUCLEAR MATTERS: Pilgrim Coalition wants public accountability Entergy
seeks zoning permit for dry cask storage project By Frank Mand
Wicked Local Plymouth  Mar 03, 2013 PLYMOUTH —

Has Entergy begun construction of a dry cask, spent fuel, storage
system on the grounds of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station? And, if
so, why hasn’t the company been more forthcoming about its efforts in
order to assure the public and comply with the town departments which
exercise oversight on projects of this size and scope?

Or has Entergy met the requirements of the law and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission?

Meg Sheehan, founding partner of EcoLaw and a leading member of the
Pilgrim Coalition, a regional organization made up of nuclear watchdog
groups and critics, has been arguing for months that the necessary
permits are not in place…..
“Our research shows that Entergy is required to provide the NRC and
the public with information about the “Interim Spent Fuel Storage
Installation” (ISFSI) that is now under construction,” Sheehan told
the Old Colony.
That information should include an environmental report, information
about the consequences of locating the ISFSI in a floodplain and a
description of “siting evaluation factors,” such as the impact of
storms and radiological releases, she said.
The Coalition also suggested that Entergy might be funding the
preliminary work with money from its decommissioning fund…… The
Coalition wants a specific response from the NRC stating Entergy has
not used any of those funds.
Meanwhile, there may be movement from Entergy to file plans with the
town but still avoid any hearings or public meetings…..
First, Meg Sheehan has already requested the Conservation Commission
determine whether it will require Entergy to file plans because the
dry cask storage work may be near wetlands.
Second, if McAuliffe signs off on the zoning permit request, any
appeal of that decision will trigger a hearing before the Zoning Board
of Appeals.
There is also at least one selectman, John Mahoney, who thinks Entergy
should do far more to keep the public informed on this and other
issues.
“The town of Plymouth is host to the only nuclear power plant in
Massachusetts, one of only six such facilities in the history of New
England,” Mahoney said. “This facility, after 40-plus years of
operation, has reached a certain benchmark. Its spent fuel pool is
nearly full to capacity. It is going to have to start taking spent
fuel rods from the pool and transition them to dry cask storage, a
$160 million construction project. Because of the nature of what they
want, indeed have to do, the public should at least be offered an
elementary presentation on those plans. They need to be told what is
going on and why.”
That, according to Meg Sheehan, is all Pilgrim Coalition is asking.
“Once again, the total lack of transparency and oversight by the NRC
and other regulators responsible for the safe and proper operation of
Pilgrim is alarming,” she said. “All we want is straight answers and
public accountability. It’s not a lot to ask, given what is at stake.”
http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/news/x2082703553/NUCLEAR-MATTERS-Pilgrim-Coalition-wants-public-accountability#ixzz2MawNyo8j

March 4, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA