ML18213A427
| ML18213A427 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 07/31/2018 |
| From: | Silverstein R Miami Waterkeeper |
| To: | Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| SECY RAS | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18213A417 | List: |
| References | |
| License Renewal, RAS 54382, 50-250-SLR, 50-251-SLR | |
| Download: ML18213A427 (4) | |
Text
Attachment I
DECLARATION OF RACHEL SILVERSTEIN. PHJ).
I, Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D. declare as follows:
1.
I am the Executive Director of Miami Waterkeeper, and I make this declaration in support of petitioners' request for a hearing and leave to intervene in Florida Power & Light Co.'s application for a second license renewal of its operating licenses for Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Units 3 and 4.
2.
Miami Waterkeeper (also known as Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper, Inc.)
("Waterkeeper") is a Florida non-profit organization with a mission to defend, protect, and preserve the waters of South Florida from the Everglades to the aquifers to the reefs through citizen involvement and community action. As its advocate, Waterkeeper seeks to eliminate or mitigate threats to South Florida's coastal waters. Through its work, Waterkeeper hopes to ensure a clean and vibrant South Florida watershed and coastal culture for generations to come.
Waterkeeper uses community outreach, scientific research, and legal advocacy to protect South Florida's marine ecosystems, marine life, and coral reefs. Waterkeeper is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international organization uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates across the globe. Miami Waterkeeper has approximately 100 members.
3.
In addition to serving as Executive Director of Miami Waterkeeper, I am a member of the organization and I also serve as the "Miami Waterkeeper." A Waterkeeper is a full-time, paid employee of an organizational member of the Waterkeeper Alliance who serves as a non-governmental public advocate for an identified watershed. I hold a B.A. in Evolution, Ecology and Environmental Biology from Columbia University, and I received a Ph.D. in the Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School 1
for Marine and Atmospheric Science. My job as Miami Waterkeeper involves patrolling the bays, monitoring and testing water quality, investigating pollution problems, educating the public, enforcing state and federal environmental laws, and working with civic leaders to support our mission.
Many members of Miami Waterkeeper recreate, study, enjoy, and work in the 4.
waters in South Florida, including those of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park near Turkey Point. Waterkeeper's members observe and interact with marine organisms such as fish, lobsters and other invertebrates (such as corals), sea turtles, and marine mammals through wildlife observation, research, photography, scuba diving, and recreational fishing. Our members also visit the terrestrial portions of the two national parks and other freshwater wetlands areas near Turkey Point and observe, interact with and value terrestrial organisms that depend on freshwater wetlands such as crocodiles, panthers, snakes, turtles, and a wide variety of birds. These activities require healthy freshwater wetlands, which in turn requires continued protection of the groundwater underneath those wetlands.
Members of Miami Waterkeeper also rely on the Biscayne Aquifer as a source of 5.
potable water. Consequently, Plaintiffs' members are concerned and directly affected by the consequences of Turkey Point's use of a cooling canal system to dispose of waste heat, including salinization of the Biscayne Aquifer, degradation of freshwater wetlands, discharges of pollution into Biscayne Bay, and the taking of American Crocodiles and harm to their Designated Critical Habitat.
6.
I am a resident of South Florida, and I also personally share these concerns. I enjoy boating in southern Biscayne Bay, as well as scuba diving, snorkeling, and camping in the 2
area. My family and I frequently visit Everglades National Park as well. I plan to continue visiting our spectacular national parks and marine sanctuaries, and enjoying viewing the unique wildlife that depend on clean water and sustained fresh water flow for their habitats and lifecycles.
As a resident of Miami-Dade County, I also rely on the Biscayne Aquifer as a 7.
primary source of drinking water. I am concerned that the hypersaline plume emanating from Turkey Point's Cooling Canal System is contaminating the Biscayne Aquifer.
8.
Lastly, I live approximately 30 miles from Turkey Point, and if an accident happened and a radiation release occurred, my personal safety may be at risk.
For these reasons, the relicensing of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 is of great interest 9.
to me, to Miami Waterkeeper. and to our membership.
We thus seek to intervene in order to ensure that the most important environmental impacts, and any mitigation alternatives, are fully and adequately presented to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission so that a responsible and informed decision can be reached on whether to relicense Turkey Point Units 3 & 4. I endorse Miami Waterkeeper's effort to intervene in the Turkey Point relicensing proceeding on my behalf. I am also a member of petitioner Natural Resources Defense Council since 2018.
10.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on July 3 1, 20 1 8.
Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D.
MiamfJ Waterkeeper 2103 Coral Way, 2nd Floor Miami. FL 33145 (305) 905 - 0856 3