ML062270064

Statement of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut Regarding the NRC Annual Safety Assessment Public Meeting at Millstone Nuclear Power Station March 29, 2006

ML062270064
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	03/29/2006
From:	Blumenthal R State of CT
To:	NRC/FSME
References
Download: ML062270064 (1)

Text

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL OF CONNECTICUT NRC Annual Safety Assessment Public Meeting March 29,2006 I urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to immediately investigate safety and security systems at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, Connecticut.

As Attorney General, my duty is to insist on the highest degree of protection for the citizens of Waterford and the State from potentially highly dangerous radioactive material used in the reactors and stored in spent fuel pools at Millstone. Dominion, the corporate owner of Millstone, has a clear duty to provide our citizens with the highest level of security.

I am concerned by information indicating that the perimeter security system at Millstone may sometimes fail. Plant operators at various times have intentionally shut down the system due to the number of false alarms. Equally troubling is Dominions claimed retaliatory dismissal of one of its employees, Sham Mehta, who complained of serious security flaws.

This situation must be effectively addressed. The dangers of accident or attack are readily apparent. Effective security, including a proven and effective perimeter warning system, is a minimum requirement. Strong, stringent action should be taken to punish and deter any retaliation against whistleblowers who provide information regarding security defects or damages. Such issues have been raised with the NRC, as well as our State Department of Public Utility Control, where I am intervening in the whistleblower retaliation case.

In addition to flaws in the security system, there is a new and potentially devastating threat to Millstone and the public. The proposed Broadwater LNG project includes a plan for liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers to routinely pass Millstone.

These LNG tankers can cany up to 250,000 cubic feet of liquid methane -- a cargo so flammable that the Coast Guard is currently investigating how large a security zone must surround the tankers to protect the public from the massive conflagration that could be caused by an accident or attack. Therefore I also urge NRC to carefully consider and separately study the potential threat to Millstone and its safety and security systems from an offshore accident or attack on a nearby LNG tanker.

The NRC has an enforceable obligation under federal law to regulate and inspect the nations nuclear power stations. I urge that NRC act immediately to investigate these issues and restore public trust in the safety of Millstone.