Do I Smell a Rat?

With this level of bad PR hitting the fan... (4.00 / 1)

... you'd assume all potential VT rep candidates would realize that anything short of vociferously supporting Yankee's retirement would be political suicide. Other than some fat checks from Entergy surrogates, what could they possible hope to achieve by propping out an outfit that seems to be shifting to the business of providing us with glow-in-the-dark rivers & children.

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by: thingwarbler @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 12:42:38 PM CST

The Leg CANNOT vote based on safety (4.00 / 3)

But they CAN vote based on what's best for VT rate-payers. Since VY has said they're losing money at the current electrical rates, that means rates must go up to fund continued operation.

Since the only rate-payer-oriented reason for continuing VY's operation is the currently low rates, there is no longer a rate-payer-oriented reason to keep Yankee open.

In addition, if the plant is kept online long enough for Entergy to shunt responsibility off to the proposed Enexus shell corporation, there's a very good chance that a seriously under-funded Enexus will pull a "Fairpoint" on us, leaving the taxpayers to foot the full clean-up bill.

That's two very strong rate-payer-oriented reasons to pull the license ASAP.

We hear a lot about personal responsibility these days, but never corporate responsibility. Entergy needs to be held responsible for its contractual obligations to Vermonters, including paying full-freight for the cleanup - which will be lower if they shut down earlier.

Beware the Everyday Brutality of the Averted Gaze

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by: mataliandy @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 13:27:41 PM CST

I agree (4.00 / 1)

I think we've seen tons of reasons to shot down Vermont Yankee, including:
1. They refuse to fund the decommissioning fund.
2. Their failure to adequately maintain the plant calls into question its reliability as a source of electricity into the future.
3. The fact that they have been caught lying about these pipes, and being very slow to report the leaks after they knew about them, calls into question whether we can rely on them to deal honestly with the people of Vermont when other questions arise.
4. (For those who don't believe they were lying about the pipes) If they didn't know about the pipes how are they complicated to operate such a complicated piece of machinery?

They all add up to one conclusion: shut down VY now!

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by: Jack McCullough @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 06:58:16 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Small fish,big fish (4.00 / 1)

 

"Had these actions not been reported to the state so quickly, there was the potential for significant environmental contamination at the site and surrounding community," said Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell. "We will continue to be vigilant in prosecuting crimes against Vermont's environment."

No, it's not the leaking tritium hot zone at Vermont Yankee the Attorney General was quoted talking about yesterday but the sentencing in a case involving 23 buried waste oil drums.

Its time the state leaders apply some of that same tough talk to Entergy, a big fish and not to 23 barrels of buried oil, a small fish. Time to vote on Yankee.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/a...

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by: BP @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 14:27:42 PM CST

wow... (0.00 / 0)

If simple common sense weren't enough, the Tang reference pushes me over the edge!

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by: BloggyDoggy @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 15:55:36 PM CST

VT Health Chief Davis -- Tritium May Be In CT River (4.00 / 1)

http://abcnews.go.com/Business...

Excerpt: "Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the volume and direction of flow of tritium-tainted groundwater leads to the conclusion that it's reaching the river.

A Vermont Yankee spokesman says the plant agrees."

Yikes.  

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by: David Babbott @ Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 18:06:19 PM CST

They will vote (0.00 / 0)

My rep, who is in a position to know, says that there is no way they will end this session without a vote on VY.

Minor Heretic
"Damned for 25% of eternity"

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by: Minor Heretic @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 07:04:03 AM CST

Who is your rep? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: farjas @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 08:49:25 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Re Pipes (4.00 / 1)

What I do not understand is why the Public Service Board does not have blueprints to the finest detail of VY. This is a nuclear power plant and we are told consistently that they are closely regulated. Why were these pipes a surprise? When and by whom were these pipes installed? The big noise is that VY lied and they surely did: but why hasn't the question been asked: Why didn't the PSB know that something was missing from the "blueprints". What about the NRA?

I think the legislature sure hopes that Entergy bails before they have to throw them out: what legislator (esp. one running for Gov) wants to be responsible for losing 650 jobs? I am urging my state Rep. and Senators to close it now down now before the other shoe drops.....  

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by: CANNON @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 11:57:13 AM CST

My understanding is that the lie about the pipes (0.00 / 0)

Was made as a direct response to a direct question about the condition of those pipes - which were known to exist, based on the reactor type. There is a consistent design for this type of reactor, and that design includes underground pipes. VY claimed that there were none in response to a direct question that was asked with an understanding of the reactor design, regarding the safety analysis that was supposed to have been done on those pipes.

My questions are: Why were they not held in contempt for the lie the moment it was uttered, since it was a direct contradiction of plain fact?

Why were they allowed to continue operating the plant after their lie-laden testimony made clear that the pipes had not been assessed? (Note: this analysis was legally required after the cooling tower collapse.)

Where was the NRC?

Where was the Governor's call for accountability?

Beware the Everyday Brutality of the Averted Gaze

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by: mataliandy @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 19:07:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Pipes (0.00 / 0)

that would be the NRC: NRA wouldn't be of much help.....

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by: CANNON @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 12:00:30 PM CST

We know what you mean. (0.00 / 0)

let's just refer to them as the "feds." I get all of that alphabet soup mixed-up, too.

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by: Sue Prent @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 12:14:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

All excellent questions (4.00 / 1)

which someone more knowledgeable that I might be able to answer.  I will say, however that the Nuclear Regulatory Agency is known to be less than diligent; and that is one reason why our legislature has the unique power to stop relicensing, regardless of the opinion of the Public Service Board.  Without that additional restraint, Vermont Yankee would most likely have already been authorized to keep wheezing away for another twenty years!

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by: Sue Prent @ Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 12:05:50 PM CST