Summary of Texas’ Nuclear Interventions
Texas is Ground Zero in the fight against a new generation of nuclear reactors. We’ve gained Intervenor status in the cases against Comanche Peak and South Texas Project reactors and all of the contentions we have been granted will set national precedent.
Oral arguments were held on Nov. 12-13 for Comanche Peak and South Texas Project on the admissibility of new contentions regarding new NRC fires and explosions rules. The proceedings, for the most part, were closed to the public.
South Texas Project Intervention
Five Admitted Contentions (Hearing to be held after NRC issues final EIS, expected in Spring 2011)
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Impacts from severe radiological accident scenarios on the operation of other units at STP site have not been considered in the Environmental Report.
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The Environmental Report fails to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the increase in radionuclide concentration in the MCR due to operation of STP Units 3 & 4.
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The Environmental Report fails to predict or evaluate the effects of increasing groundwater tritium concentrations.
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The Environmental Report fails to analyze the environmental impacts of unregulated seepage from the MCR into the adjacent shallow groundwater.
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The Environmental Report fails to consider adequately the environmental impact of the possible withdrawal of additional groundwater in excess of that authorized by the current permits.
Seven New Fires and Explosions Contentions Pending – Admissibility argued in Rockville, MD on Nov. 13
- NRC recognizes in its new rules that nuclear plants are vulnerable to air attacks. On August 14th the Intervenors filed seven contentions regarding STP's failure to comply with the new NRC fire safety rule which says each licensee must “develop and implement guidance and strategies intended to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities under the circumstances associated with loss of large areas of the plant due to explosions or fire,” including those that would occur from the impact of a large commercial airliner. However, the Intervenors’ contentions that STP has failed to meet the fire and explosion regulatory requirements, STP’s submittal, and related documents are considered “sensitive” by the NRC and are not available to the public.
Comanche Peak Intervention
Two Contentions Admitted (Hearing to be held after NRC issues final EIS, expected in Spring 2011)
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Impacts from a severe radiological accident at any one unit on operation of other units at the Comanche Peak site have not been, and should be, considered in the Environmental Report.
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The Comanche Peak Environmental Report is inadequate because it fails to include consideration of alternatives to the proposed Comanche Peak Units 3 and 4, consisting of combinations of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, with technological advances in storage methods and supplemental use of natural gas, to create baseload power.
FIVE New Fires and Explosions Contentions and Original (non-classified) Fires and Explosions Contention Pending Admissibility argued in Rockville, MD on Nov. 12
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On August 10th the Intervenors filed five contentions regarding Luminant's failure to comply with the new NRC fire safety rule.
For more links to fighting nuclear power in Texas, click here.
To read a letter to DOE regarding loan guarantees for STP click here.