Update, Update:NRC May Relicense VY NEXT WEEK!

The NRC (4.00 / 3)

The NRC has no valid (in their circles) reason to not approve VY.  The NRC's policy has always been to automatically renew licenses.  Not renewing licenses just doesn't happen, even if the plant is at the end of it's lifespan, leaking radioactive materials by the gallon every day, and decaying so fast it's visible to the naked eye.

The NRC has no interest in what a handful of non-pro-nuclear non-scientist rabble-rousers have to say.  The sole interest the NRC has is that a nuclear plant needs to be re-licensed.  The NRC's job is to rubber-stamp that renewal no matter what, no matter how dangerous, deadly, decrepit, no matter how much radioactive material that plant has released into the environment.  None of that has any bearing on a plant's license renewal.  The loss of any plant is intolerable to the NRC.

I can't think of any plant that is in better position for a REAL regulatory agency to honestly evaluate and come to the conclusion that it is too old and therefore unsafe to continue operating.  But the NRC is not a REAL regulatory agency.

The sole purpose of the NRC is to shield the nuclear power industry from the American citizen, everything they do is in service to that primary goal.  In fact, the more people protest a nuclear plant, the more the NRC feels obligated to renew it.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the NRC is eager to renew VY's license.  Keeping the decrepit VY operating until it fails catastrophically is a Gold Standard among nuclear plant owners.  Like Wisconsin Gov Wilson - it can't fail, it means too much symbolically to the far-right.  If they lose VY, then who knows where the next domino will fall.

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by: Comrade Rutherford @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 13:36:48 PM UTC

No excuse for not flooding the NRC with pleas not to relicense. (4.00 / 2)

Our legislature will want to be able to point to all those consumer complaints if they are to stand up to the NRC and close VY on schedule.  You can bet on it that Entergy's P.R. team is working overtime to ensure that there are tons of letters coming in in support of relicensing.

We can't just fold our hands and say the NRC's decision is unstoppable.  Nor can we assume that the Legislature can hold out against the NRC without a significant show of support for closing from the public.

If you care about our groundwater and don't want VY left free to continue down its slovenly path to calamity, please make your voice heard at the NRC.

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by: Sue Prent @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 14:10:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Please flood the NRC with pleas not to relicense (4.00 / 2)

Several times I refrained from writing that it's pointless to complain to the NRC.  While writing to them has no effect on the NRC, it is a useful tool for politicians to use in Congress and the public arena.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE NRC IMMEDIATELY!

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by: Comrade Rutherford @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 14:34:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Link (0.00 / 0)

to the electronic submittal seems to be broken.

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by: bmike @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 14:58:53 PM UTC

I fixed the link and removed my earlier comment which might have been misleading.. (4.00 / 1)

Shortly after sending my e-mail submission, I had a call from one Don Fry, who identified himself as the Project Manager at the Barre Electronic Filing Desk.  

He started telling me that that was not really the way to send comments but that he was forwarding it to the "Secretary."  He told me that my group should have filed forms with the NRC and received software to install on the computer etc. etc. etc.   I replied that I was not part of a group but just an ordinary Vermont citizen who had read about the possible impending relicensing in the morning paper and how was I expected to voice my objection.  He sort of hemmed and hawed and went on again about the protocols involved in being allowed to participate in the hearings, so I asked him point-blank whether they are at all interested in what the individual citizen has to say. "Of course, of course..."  I pointed out that what I used was the only available e-mail interface on the NRC's website and he quickly assured me he would forward my e-mail to the "Secretary."  

Seemed defensive and nervous.

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by: Sue Prent @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 21:06:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Looks like (4.00 / 1)

the courts will be the next major front in this battle.
Got to hope VT AG Sorrel is up to the task.
Fresh and rested after his recent soda wars.

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by: BP @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 15:17:40 PM UTC

Yeah; nothing like conserving your energy! (0.00 / 0)

I mean nothing like it.

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by: Sue Prent @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 15:21:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Somewhat unclear (0.00 / 0)

if this is truly a serious option, since Entergy Louisiana must make a decision whether or not to order fuel, which is in the tens of millions, by next month, April. What they have will take them to next refueling outage this coming fall. Some, myself included think they could shut down then.

This is their last hurrah, since plant needs a condenser, which is expected to be over $100 million & much more. They also had that 81 item laundry list to bring themselves up to VT code. Looks rather bleak imho.

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by: stardust @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 22:52:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Reminder to Shumlin and the Dem Legislators (4.00 / 1)

Stand firm on VY, even when the diehards whine about jobs.  More will be created if we kill the plant and invest in sustainable energy:

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/jfo...

Become a fan of our grassroots campaign on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/todd4v...

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by: ntoddpax @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 15:22:28 PM UTC

NRC, NR-shmee (4.00 / 1)

Doesn't mean shite & mere procedural move. VT must issue state licensure to all businesses. Without this they must cease operations upon scheduled closure date. VT Senate put the kabosh on it & shut down the game a year ago. This is a good thing-not a bad thing. Did we think this would not happen? Of course not.

If VY unlicensed, they can operate somewhat indefinately, which is why I suspected NRC was dragging asses. States & their rights including VT have much more power than these jackasses if they would only take the reins as VT did.  This is available to every state-to allow the state to have some oversight, it is recognized in NRC rules that states have rights over that which is not solely w/in NRC purview-safety & radiological releases.

And more heavy hammers where that one came from. Groundwater legislation, which we always knew we had, now has a legal precedent w/Omya brouhaha. Statehouse only turns bluer w/each election.

PSB nailed their asses to the wall w/order to submit future bimonthly reports as a legal affadavit. CLF has once again opened another PSB docket.

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by: stardust @ Wed Mar 09, 2011 at 15:39:04 PM UTC