Massachusetts environmental regulators have denied a request by the corporate dismantling a shuttered nuclear energy plant to launch greater than 1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. AP Picture/Steven Senne, File
By MARK PRATT, Related Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts environmental regulators have denied a request by the corporate dismantling a shuttered nuclear energy plant to launch greater than 1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.
The state Division of Environmental Safety’s draft determination issued Monday stated it denied Holtec’s request for a allow modification as a result of the discharge from Pilgrim Nuclear Energy Station in Plymouth would violate a state regulation that designates the bay as an ocean sanctuary.
The draft won’t be finalized till after a public remark interval that ends Aug. 25.
Environmentalists and politicians praised the choice.
Launch of the handled wastewater would pose a risk to the bay’s atmosphere, human well being, the fishing and shellfishing industries, and the economic system of the area, Andrew Gottlieb, govt director of the Affiliation to Protect Cape Cod, stated in a press release.
“Holtec sought to revenue on the expense of the folks, the atmosphere and economic system of Cape Cod and, like most company bullies, wanted to be advised no,” he stated.
Holtec promised a clear decommissioning course of when it took over the plant after it stopped producing energy in Might 2019, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey stated.
“Within the years since, Holtec has fallen woefully quick on this dedication — notably with regard to its plans to discharge a million gallons of radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay, regardless of vehement opposition from native stakeholders,” he stated.
In searching for its allow modification, Holtec stated Pilgrim had discharged water into the bay for 50 years whereas the plant was producing electrical energy for the area and that environmental research carried out by the plant operators and Holtec have proven that releasing the wastewater would have little or no environmental influence.
“We’re upset by the state’s denial of our allow modification for discharge of handled water from Pilgrim Station that’s properly inside established, secure limits,” Holtec stated in a press release.
The corporate can also be awaiting a pending determination on the problem from the U.S. Environmental Safety Company.
“This course of has already delayed the completion of the challenge for an extra 4 years, impacted the workforce on website and additional modifications when the positioning will be returned to be an financial driver for the Plymouth group,” the assertion stated.
Pilgrim was a boiling water reactor. Water continually circulated by the reactor vessel and nuclear gasoline, changing it to steam to spin the turbine. The water was cooled and recirculated, choosing up radioactive contamination.
There are options to discharging the water into the bay, together with evaporation and trucking it off website for remedy and eventual discharge.
