ML070440359
| ML070440359 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 01/04/2007 |
| From: | Raymond W Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| To: | Raymond W, Williamson A NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB, NRC/RGN-I/DRP/PB5 |
| References | |
| TAC MD3698 | |
| Download: ML070440359 (12) | |
Text
JAliqiaýilýiamson - FW: P!ýIgrirn inthei News Page 1,
Alicia Wilharnson-FW: Pilgrim in the News Page 1.1 I
From:
"Raymond, William" <WRaym90@entergy.com>
To:
<wjr@nrc.gov>, <arwl @nrc.gov>
Date:
01/04/2007 2:08:55 PM
Subject:
FW: Pilgrim in the News This is the other news item I spoke of in my voice mail.
See the attached PDF file.
Bill
Original Message -----
From: Ryan, Joanne Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:13 AM To: Balduzzi, Michael (Pilgrim Station); Gottlieb, Laurence; Bronson, Kevin; Smith, Robert G. (PNP); Raymond, William; Alexander, John; Sowdon, Thomas; Sowdon, Thomas; Bethay, Stephen; Lach, David J; Ford, Bryan
Subject:
Pilgrim in the News Attached are newsclips from last week.
Joanne Ryan Entergy - Pilgrim Station Communications 508-830-8200 508-830-8357 Fax Jryanl @entergy.com
Original Message -----
From: PNP560_DoNotReply@ Entergy.com
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 8:55 AM To: Ryan, Joanne
Subject:
Scan from a Xerox WorkCentre Pro Please open the attached document. It was scanned and sent to you using a Xerox WorkCentre Pro.
Sent by: Guest [PNP560_DoNotReply@Entergy.com]
Number of Images: 10 Attachment File Type: PDF WorkCentre Pro Location: ESB 1St FIr Nuc Info Device Name: PNP560
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FW: Pilgrim in the News 01/04/2007 1:57:29 PM "Raymond, William" <WRaym90@entergy.com>
WRaym90 @entergy.com Recipients nrc.gov kpl po.KPDO WJR (William Raymond) nrc.gov TWGWPO04.HQGWDO01 ARWI (Alicia Williamson)
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....P age j 14 CURRENT CLIPS FROM THE PILGRIM, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PUBLICATION:
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iEntergy Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
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Plymouth official quits out of frustration with NRC By Robert Knox rLOE CORRESIPJIDENT PLYMOU-FH - The head of the town's Nuclear Matters Committee has resigned, criticizing the nu-clear industry's federal regulators for failing to listen to the public's concerns about the security of nuclear power plants such as the Pilgrim plant.
Jeff Berger, owner of a Plymouth-based marketing communications company, chaired the committee' that last year produced a lengthy set of recommenda-tions to advise the town on Pilgrim's request to ex-tend its license.
"Bottom fine, the NRC" - the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - "is in the pocket of the nuclear indus-try," Berger stated in an e-mail to Town Manager Mark Sylvia. He also described the agency as consist-ing of "obstinate, supercilious, arrogant, obnoxious individuals" who care more about the letter of regula-tions than public safety.
While there was no single incident that soured his view of the NRC, Berger cited the behavior of one offi-cial for "looking bored and slkyward" when local resi-dents at a meeting in Plymouth criticized Pilgrim and "doing everything but really listening to what people are saying'" A lack of genuine attention to public con-cents symbolizes the agencTy's attitude, Berger said.
NRC spokesman Neil Shechan said anyone with concerns "with or about us" can coniact the agency's Office of the Inspector General "if there is a belief that sian employee of the NRC is acting niappropriately."
S As an example of the igencv' attention to public concerns, Sheehan cited a rnetilog last month with area government officials to update theni and answer qllestions. 'Ve ftoild tlie ;css" m *1o h1)"e,"
trem ely prn-ductive andt the attendees to be !ighiy nig;igcl,"
Sheehan said via Q-mail.
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'n tended public hearing in Plymouth library. Pilgrim employees praised the plant's operation, but most other residents raised concerns about security, emer-gency evacuation, and public health. A month later,.
the committee issued its report saying selectmen should back relicensing only if issues such as improv-ing emergency response plans and radiation monitor-ing are addressed.
But despite the committee's report, the town has kept a low profile at public meetings, while private itizerLs have taken the lead in challenging NRC staff assessments of issues. iuxbury-based Pilgrim Watch, for example, succeeded in convincing the nuclear ex-perts panel that oversees the relicensing review to hold hearings on two issues.
The Nuclear Matters Committee also studied the possibility of forming a national alliance of communi-ties hosting or living near nuclear reactors to advo-cate to Congress and the federal government for their interests. But Berger said he has grown less hopeful of an alliance's potential to influence decisionis. He said he decided to step down from an official role so that he might express his oiwn opinions frecly
. "For the safet" of the cnuntry, the NRC has to be changed," he said.
In his resignation letter Wednesday, Berger said that at a time of growing concerns over climate change from carbon dio.xide emissions, alternatives such as nuclear power should he embraced. However, the NRC "pays only lip service to the issues that should he at the top f its agenda and routinely ig-nores" voicesof'genrine concern. such as tie state at-torney generalss, he said.
Attorney General Toi R1liiy's recent petition to place the issue Of Cl,-sitI storage of liuclear waste on the table or licensing review was turned down by the NRC.
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4 bU Property taxes hold, for now PLYMOUTH - The tax rate in Plymouth will decrease, but property taxes will stay about the same in 2007.
Selectmen decided in December to keep the unified tax rate, despite the protests of many homeowners who say commercial property owners are not paying their fair share.
- However, Director of Assessing Anne Dunn has said the commercial base in Plymouth is much too small to handle a shift in the tax bur-den.
The tax rate for 2007 will be
$9.96 per $1,000 assessed value for both residential and com-mercial properties. That is a 23-cent decrease from the fis-cal year 2006 rate of $9.88 per
$1,000.
According to Dunn, the aver-age residential tax bill will be
$3,457,43, a $44.88 increase over the average tax bill in 2006.
- But fiscal year 2008 is loom-ing. It begins July 1. 2007.
The payment in lieu of taxes made by Entergy will decrease by $10 million in 2008.
The town is negotiating an, agreement with Entergy, the owner of Pilgrim nuclear power plant. for a new payment in lieu of taxes agreement. The current agreement expires in 2012, when Pilgrim's operating license expires. Entergy wants to extend the plant's operating license for another 20 years.
, The town has put aside money in a stabilization fund.
but that fund only has enough money to cover the loss for two years.
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Berger resigns Nuclear Matters Committee member frustrated by NRC Sy Casey Meserve cmeserve@cnc.com PLYMOUTH -
Calling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission a "contemptible sham" Jeff Berger resigned from the Nuclear Matters com-mittee Wednesday afternoon in an email to Town Manager Mark Sylvia.
Berger, formerly the com-mittee chairman, had been on the NMC for five years.
He said his resignation stems from the frustration he's felt when the committee review. The NRC does not look at evacuation or emergency planning in the environmental review.
He wrote that the NRC was created as a watchdog over nuclear power, but has become a lapdog for the nuclear indus-try.
Berger wrote that he is not opposed to nuclear power, and still thinks it is a viable way to decrease the use of fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide, adding to global warming.
"It seems to me that states
Alicia Williamson - Scan001.PDF Paoe 6 1 I
-- Entergy Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
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Relicensing continues The process to extend the nuclear power plant's license will run through the year PLYMOUTH - It has been nearly a year since Entergy applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the operating license of Pilgrim nuclear power plant and it may be another year before the NRC makes its final decision.
The relicensing process for Pilgrim will continue in 2007. It will probably extend into 2008, if Pilgrim Watch and the attor-ney general's office have any-thing to do about it.
Pilgrim Watch, a nuclear power watchdog group, along with Mass. Attorney General Tom Reilly filed petitions to intervene in the relicensing process with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The attorney general's peti-tion was turned down, and is being appealed, but several contentions in Pilgrim Watch's petition were admitted.
However, Entergy and NRC staff members filed appeals to have Pi!grim Watch*s con-tentions thrown out.
It wi be up to the five mem-bers of the presidentially appointed commission to make the final decision on Pilgrim Watch and the attorney gener-al.
NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said if one oi more hearing is granted, the reli-censing process will take about 30 months. Without a hearing, the process usually takes 22 months.
"If no hearing is granted, there could be a final decision on the Pilgrim application in late November," Sheehan said.
"If there is a hearing granted, we're looking for a decision in July, 2008."
Pilgrim Watch and the attor-ney general's office, with Martha Coakley as the new attorney general, are hoping the process lasts until 2008.
In the meantime, the public meeting process continues.
The NRC will hold two pub-lic meetings in January to describe the results of the NRC's environmental review of Pilgrim.
The commission released a draft of its environ-mental impact statement con-cerning the impact Pilgrim has on the environment surround-ing the plant.
"We're still firming Ltp the dates for public meetings." said Sheehan.
H1lsaiid 1h1 ieetrings are tentatively scheduled for Jan.
24.
Comments from the January meeting will be taken under consideration as the NRC staff -,
prepares the final environmen' tal report, to be issued in July.
Another report will also be -
issued in July. The safety evalu-ation report with open items, a report on the safety and aging -
of the plant and its compo-nents, will. be issued that i month, with a draft version issued in May.
Apublic meeting will be held sometime in the summer on -
the safety evaluation report. 'j A fourth step in the process will also be concluded thi year. The advis6r.F committe' on reactor safeguards, a pane"j of nuclear reactor safetI experts, acts as an advisory..
committee to the NRC. Th'n advisory committee will dis-cuss the Pilgrim application during a subcommittee meet-ing in April. The full advisory committee will discuss the application in September, according to Sheehan, The public is invited to ask questions concerning the envi-ronmental review and may comment in vTiting to the NRC bv Feb. 28 at Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commissiot.,
Mail Stop T6-D59.. Washington. DC 20555-000 1.
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!© The environmen I and security threats of PIgrim Duxbury is directly across the bay from a nu-clear power reactor-a known terrorist target. Are you satisfied with current security measures?
For example, will a couple of buoys floating "No Trespassing" signs and an occasional Coast Guard drive-by keep terrorists out?
Will passenger screening limited to major airports protect against smaller aircraft loaded with explosives leaving secondary airports?
Will state police get to Pilgrim on time to pro-vide the support needed by onsite security guards to block a land-based attack? And appre-ciating that even the best security can reduce, but ties, including Duxbury, impacted by Pilgrim's emnissions. They found a four-fold increase the closer one lived or worked at Pilgrim and made four recommendations, yet to be implemented as intended.
The recommendations included requiring a system of real-time monitoring ofradionuclide emissions placed in surrounding communities so that reliable and timely data would be avail-able to assess exposure; implementing a state allowable radioactive air emission standard more stringent and protective of public health than currently in use by federal,
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-"ax 5,2.8 K.-, K,57 luke watchdog head resigns, blasts NRC 3y Patriot Ledger staff ILYMOUTH - The head of a town committee that acts as a watchdog over the Pilgrim nuclear plant has resigned, calling the Nuclear legulatory Commission "a contemptible sham" that imperils the safety of people who live near nuclear plants.
Jeff Berger stepped down this week as chairman of the nuclear matters committee.
'I am far too busy, and my time is far too valuable, to waste any more of it banging my head against the NRC wall when it is clear that the trrogance, haughtiness, bull-headedness, and overall incompetence of the NRC continues unabated," Berger said in his resignation letter to 3electmen.
k spokeswoman for Pilgrim plant owner Entergy declined to comment on Berger's resignation, but said the company will continue to 2ooperate with the committee.
,ommission spokesman Neil Sheehan said the agency will forward Berger's comments to the Office of Inspector General, an independent sody that investigates "any concerns about fraud or abuse or inappropriate behavior by an agency employee."
'We're not aware of any interactions between Mr. Berger and us that would provoke this sort of comment," Sheehan said.
E3erger served on the committee for alrmost five years, longer than any other member. He was the only one who remained on the panel after it disintegrated last year amid complaints that selectmen had not provided adequate leadership, some members did not participate and a Pilgrim spokesman had treated them rudely. Selectmen revived the group in May 2005 by appointing six new members.
More recently, Berger and other committee members have clashed with federal regulators over Pilgrim owner Entergy's bid to extend the plant's license.
Members criticized evacuation plans to protect the public in an accident or terrorist attack against Pilgrim and said the commission's requirements are inadequate.
F3erger echoed many of those criticisms in his resignation letter. He likened the approved emergency plans to "children's fairy tales" and said the commission "gives lip service to the still very real prospect of a terrorist attack" on the Pilgrim plant.
"Entergy is obeying the law but behaving in a way that will endanger the people of Plymouth in a serious nuclear accident or attack because the NRC negligently (and stupidly) allows it to," he wrote.
He also criticized regulators for allowing the plant to test for "potentially lethal emissions" of radiation in only one location, inside Pilgrim property. If a plume of radiation changes course, people fleeing an accident or attack might be sent to an area in the path of thae.MiaignzsbJa, ___
said.
Sheehan said the commission's rules bar considering evacuation plans during license renewal proceedings. "That needs to be dealt with on an ongoing basis," he said.
Berger said he had asked to join the committee soon after the.Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, where his daughter-in-law had been working on that day. "My reason for joining was deep concern about the possibility of an attack on Pilgrim Station," he said.
At the time, he was "neutral" about the nuclear power industry, he said. He still does not oppose nuclear plants but he is no longer unbiased about the commission, Berger said.
Plymouth needs an unbiased chairman for its Nuclear Matters Committee, Berger said.
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Nuke watchdog panel head quits in huff over NRC SOLTHOFBOSTON.COM PLYMOUTH--The head of a town commit-tee that acts as a watchdog over the Pilgrim nuclear plant has quit out of frustration with weak. federal regulators who endanger the public, he says.
Jeff Berger resigned Wednesday as chair-man of the Nuclear Matters Committee, call-ing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 'a contemptible sham" that 'imperils the safety of American citizens" living near nuclear plants.
'I am far too busy, and my time is far too valuable, to waste any more of it banging my head against the NRC wall when it is clear that the arrogance, haughtiness, bull-headedness, and overall incompetence of the NRC contin-ues unabated," Berger said in his resignation letter to selectmen.
Berger served on the committee for almost five years, longer than any other member.
More recently Berger and other committee members have clashed with federal regulators over Pilgrim owner Entergy's bid to extend the plant's license.
Members criticized evacuation plans to pro-tect the public in an accident or terrorist attack against Pilgrim and said the commission's re-quirements are inadequate.
Berger echoed many of those criticisms in his resignation letter. He likened the approved emergency plans to "children's fairy tales" and said the commission "gives lip service to the still very real prospect of a terrorist attack" on the Pilgrim plant.
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-69 Where agendas clash Relicensing the nuclear power plant brings out true believers on both sides PLYMOUTH - Pilgrim nuclear power plant's original license expires in 2012, but plant owner Entergy decided to begin the renewal process a little early.
From the first public hearing on the relicensing process in March, no speaker at any hearing has lacked an agenda.
Whether it was marine life, watershed associations, public safety or taxes, everyone who spoke at the NRC's public meet-iags became an advocate for some-thing, and was either for relicens-ing or against it.
Entergy is Plymouth's largest employer and provides the town with about 11 percent of its munici-pal budget In 2008, however, Entergy's payments in lieu of taxes will decrease by $10 million until Pilgrim's operating license expires in 2012.
Relicensing the plant could mean a windfall to the town's cof-fers, or it could be a bust. in May, Town Meeting agreed to spend S1.5 million to hire a team of lawyers to negotiate a payment plan with Entergy.
Because the NRC has systems in place to plan for emergencies and test those plans, evacuation and related issues fall outside the reli-censing process. As do the issue of spent fuel storage on plant proper-ty. Those issues have not disap-peared yet, as a California court ordered the NRC to consider ter-rorism and emergency planning as it reviews licensing applications.
The NRC has never refused a relicensing application for a com-mercial nuclear power plant.
Thirty-nine plants have received 20-year extensions.
In December, the NRC came out with a draft of the environmental impact statement. The report stat-ed that relicensing the plant would have a small to moderate impact on the population of winter flounder in Cape Cod Bay and rainbow smelt in the Jones River.
Former Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly and the nonprofit watchdog group Pilgrim Watch petitioned the NRC to inter-vene in the relicenasng process.
That process will last 22 to 30 months. Relicensing would allow the plant to operate for another 20 years. Entergy can file for a second operating extension then.