Important Public Meeting on Aging Nuclear Power Plant and Spent Fuel Rod Storage

Concerns about boosting power from plant near retirement, spent fuel rod storage in containers potentially vulnerable to terrorist attack, and safety violations lead the list of issues to be addressed at a meeting on the border of southwestern New Hampshire. Details follow in this note from Martha Cooper.

Thursday evening, December 16, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold a public meeting at 6:00 pm at Brattleboro Union High School. This is probably the ONLY opportunity left to voice our concerns about the Vermont Yankee plant in Vernon. And since New Hampshire has so little voice in this issue, it is really important that any officials who can take the opportunity to address this issue.

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You may already know that the multinational, Louisiana-based owner of Vermont Yankee, Entergy Corporation, seeks to increase the plant's output 20% more than what is now permitted. No other nuclear power plant this old has ever increased output this much in one step. This plant was built in the early 1970's before many of the safety systems found in newer plants were required. And even the plant's owner agrees that this power increase will make a nuclear accident more likely.

The New Hampshire Senate, the Vermont Senate and the Vermont Public Service Board asked the NRC for an Independent Safety Assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant prior to such an increase. But only a minimal inspection has been done. Less than 1% of the reactor's safety systems have been examined. Even in this minimal inspection, 8 problems and violations were discovered. The meeting on December 16 is the best opportunity we have to speak out about the need for a thorough inspection of the plant. This plant is already operating beyond its original 30-year license. Whether you support a 20% power boost or not, the plant should be inspected THOROUGHLY before such action is taken.

This public meeting is to address the issue of the missing-and-then-found spent fuel rods, and the results of the inspection. It is our best chance to convince the NRC that local people care about this issue. Please come to the meeting. If you want to speak at the meeting, you need to arrive a little early to sign up to speak, and also because they are handing out tickets for the limited seating in the main auditoriium. Overflow attendees will be in a different room. Just being there so you can hear for yourself what the NRC says about this issue--and so that the NRC can SEE our concern for this issue--would be wonderful!

Directions from Brattleboro center

Go south through the center of Brattleboro and down the hill. Take a right on Route 5 (Canal Street), which angles off to your right. Take Canal Street westward heading out of town until you see the hospital on your right, and then the Price Chopper. At that light, take a left onto Fairground Road. The high school is on the right on the second block.

Directions from Route 91

Take route 91 south to exit 1. Turn left toward Brattleboro. At the first light, take a right onto Fairground Road. The high school is on the right on the second block.

If I can be of any further assistance to you concerning this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Marty Cooper
26 Terrapin Lane
Alstead, NH
ph:603-835-6862
fax: 603-835-2100
email: mbcooper@localnet.com

Posted by Dan & Julia