BOSTON—Citing the threat
of sabotage and risks posed by an aging plant with deteriorating equipment,
the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) is calling for the
retirement of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth.
"Pilgrim is one of
the oldest operating nuclear power plants in the nation," said Frank Gorke,
an energy advocate with MASSPIRG. "Old nuclear plants present unacceptable
risks to public health, safety, and the environment. We have better options
to power our lights."
"Unacceptable
Risk," a new MASSPIRG Education Fund report, summarizes recent
research on the dangers of nuclear power and spotlights particular threats to
public health and safety posed by the Pilgrim plant. The report makes the case
for public officials to oppose an expected application by the plant's owner,
Entergy, to extend its federal operating license from 2012 to 2032.
"Pilgrim is only supposed
to run for 40 years." said Gorke. "Running the plant any longer is
simply too dangerous, in part because it's flawed design would not be approved
by regulators today." Entergy has notified federal regulators that they
may ask for an extended license as soon as July of 2005.
When the plant became operational
in 1972, it was granted a 40-year operating license by the federal Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC). That license will expire in 2012, at which point the Pilgrim
plant is supposed to cease operation and begin decommissioning. However, several
nuclear plant owners across the country have recently petitioned the NRC to
re-license their facilities for an additional 20 years. Several of these extensions
have been granted, including one for a plant in Arkansas owned by Entergy, the
same Louisiana-based company that owns Pilgrim.
Citing many problems with
aging nuclear power plants, "Unacceptable Risk" argues that Massachusetts
should shift to other cleaner, safer electricity sources. Among these problems:
* The risk of a serious
accident at the plant increases as the plant ages;
* Nuclear plants are a known target of terrorists, according to the recent report
of the federal 9/11 panel;
* An accident or attack at Pilgrim could have catastrophic impacts on public
health and the environment in Massachusetts for generations to come;
* Pilgrim is operating with a severe design flaw;
* Evacuation plans are out-of-date and wholly inadequate; and
* Radioactive waste is accumulating on the South Shore as uncertainty over federal
storage continues.
"Pilgrim only provides
about three to five percent of New England's electricity," said Gorke.
"If we start planning now, sensible initiatives to build renewable power
and conserve energy will enable replacement of its power."
The report calls for immediate
steps to be taken to ensure adequate safeguards are in place until Pilgrim is
retired. "For the short-term, we need better emergency plans for surrounding
communities, stronger security measures to protect against sabotage, and safer
storage of radioactive waste," said Gorke.
"Unfortunately the
NRC has a history of ignoring crucial safety and environmental issues,"
cautioned Gorke. "It will be very important for Gov. Romney, Attorney General
Reilly, and the Congressional delegation to oppose any license extension for
Pilgrim."
