ML15096A465

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Comment (43) by Tim Murphy on NRC-2015-0004 Re Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report
ML15096A465
Person / Time
Site: Vermont Yankee Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 03/23/2015
From: Murphy T
Southwest Region Planning Commission
To: Cindy Bladey
Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch
References
80FR1975 00043, NRC-2015-0004
Download: ML15096A465 (1)


Text

rlýS o u th wes t 37 Ashuelot Steet, R egi on Keene, NH 03431 Planning Co111mission 603-3.57-0.557 Voice 603-3.57-7440 FaL March 23, 2015 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Administration Attention:

Cindy Bladey Mail Stop 3WFN-06-A44M Washington, DC 20555-0001

///Yb /f~~F-i I,-10 Re: Docket No. NRC-2015-0004 Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report To Whom It May Concern: The Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) serves the 34 municipalities in southwest New Hampshire.

Although the Vermont Yankee facility is not physically located within the region in which we serve, it is located immediately adjacent.

Therefore, many of the impacts associated with the closure of the facility are felt in the communities in which we serve. Please accept the following comments on the above-referenced matter.Emergency Planning and Response:

Although the reactor is off-line as of late December 2014, the fact that nuclear fuel is being transitionally stored on-site is associated with risk and therefore continued emergency planning and response capabilities should be maintained.

As the fuel will be stored in various phases of wet and dry storage, it is appropriate to consider emergency planning and response capabilities commensurate with the risks associated with each phase of storage. Costs for maintaining these activities should not be thrust upon local communities.

Socioeconomic Impacts: Findings have been made suggesting that the socioeconomic impacts anticipated as a result of Vermont Yankee closure would be small. However, in the rural region comprising Cheshire County (NH), Franklin County (MA) and Windham County (VT), this characterization is not accurate.

A recent study conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute forecast losses of approximately

$500 million of total annual output, nearly 1,200 jobs, and $90 million in annual economic activity in the tri-county area within 7 years of facility closure. In this rural region, such impact is significant and should not be characterized as small. Furthermore, the study shows that the approximately 600 Vermont Yankee jobs to be lost provide wages 2.5 higher than average in the tri-county region. In addition, the loss of nearly 700 jobs resulting from indirect and induced activity of Vermont Yankee are largely in the service sector. The loss of these lower-wage jobs suggests that environmental justice impacts of closure will be significant.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments for consideration as you continue your review of documents filed in this process. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sinerely,.

Tim Murphy Executive Director SUNSI Review Complete Template = ADM -013 E-RIDS= ADM-03 Add=TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-73,5-2964 z:SWRPC/Assistance to Towns/VT Yankee/letter to NRC_9jIbtte: ,nvrv.vrpc.crg