nuclear-news

Another expensive legal fight over Vogtle nuclear power plant

New $900 million Vogtle lawsuit filed, By Kristi Swartz, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5 Nov 12 The main contractors building two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle filed a more than $900 million lawsuit against Georgia Power and other utility groups Thursday, escalating a fight over the project’s costs. Continue reading →

November 6, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Federal judge uphold’s Vermont State’s right to tax nuclear power plant

Federal judge throws out Vt. Yankee tax challenge Boston.com AP /  October 25, 2012 RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant against the state, challenging taxes on the plant that were passed earlier this year by the legislature.

U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss rejected the argument made by New Orleans-based plant owner Entergy Corp. that the payment is not a tax and said federal court lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Reiss granted the state’s motion to dismiss the case saying, Entergy’s challenge ‘‘could be brought directly in Vermont’s state courts.’’

Entergy had challenged the taxes that it said increased the reactor’s annual state tax from about $5 million to about $12.8 million. Supporters of the new taxes said they were designed to replace money the plant paid the state under agreements in 2003 and 2005 that saw
the state drop its opposition to the plant boosting its power output by 20 percent and to the plant’s plan for storage of more highly radioactive nuclear waste on its grounds. Those agreements lasted until March 21, when the plant’s 40-year operating license expired.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a 20-year license extension last year…. http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/2012/10/25/federal-judge-throws-out-yankee-tax-challenge/fuHCQ3LNFULA0aH8NbsouI/story.html

October 27, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

The case for closing Vermont Yankee nuclear plant heard in court

Vermont Yankee Debate Heats Up On Two Fronts http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/96334/vermont-yankee-debate-heats-up-on-two-fronts/ , 10/24/12 The legal debate over the future of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is heating up at federal appeals court and at the state Public Service Board.

The state this week laid out a detailed case for why the plant should not get a new 20 year state permit to operate. Continue reading →

October 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Judges struggle to understand budget for Indian Point nuclear plant evacuation plan

Nuke hearing targets evacuation costs Iohud.com Michael Risinit  22 Oct 12, Federal judges question formula used by Indian Point owner TARRYTOWN — The three federal administrative judges presiding over Indian Point’s re-licensing hearing struggled Wednesday to understand how the nuclear plant’s owner and federal regulators
estimate the cost of relocating residents following a radioactive accident. Continue reading →

October 23, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Hearings drag on about Indian Point nuclear waste dump

Indian Point Hearings: It’s Down the Rabbit Hole Entergy Watches as Boron Degrades, Counter Punch by JOHN RAYMOND, 8 Oct 12 Will New York State have any more success in shutting down Entergy’s Indian Point nuclear waste dump on the Hudson River than Vermont has had, so far, in its battle to close Entergy’s Yankee plant that befouls the landmark Connecticut River?

Don’t bet on it. But stay tuned.

Recall that Yankee was relicensed last year without a hitch despite: a long and continuing history of radioactive leaks, shutdowns, and slipshod maintenance that caused, most stunningly, the collapse of a cooling tower in 2007; a perjury investigation by the state Attorney General triggered after Entergy officers lied to state authorities that Yankee had no underground pipes that carried radioactive water (it does), and, last but hardly least, the Vermont Senate’s celebrated vote in 2010 to shut the plant down.

The five commissioners on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would hear none of it. Their unanimous vote to extend the 40-year-old plant’s license for another 20 years came less than two weeks after the nuclear catastrophe in Japan raised new fears in the U.S. where 23 reactors, including Yankee, operate with same flawed GE design (identified and covered up by federal nuclear regulators beginning in the early 1970s) that failed in the triple meltdown at the Fukushima plant and released over four times the amount of cesium-137 than was released in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Continue reading →

October 10, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Legal action against owners of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

Activists plan to sue Mass. nuclear plant owner Boston.com AP /  October 9, 2012 PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts activists have announced plans to
sue the owners of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station for what they say is the continuous pollution of Cape Cod Bay over the last 16 years. Continue reading →

October 10, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | Leave a comment