Part 1 of 2 Parts
     It has been a contentious week for nuclear plant discussions among Massachusetts legislators and environmentalists debating the wisdom of discharging radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. The debate began last week on May 6th. U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, convened an unusual field Senate subcommittee hearing in Plymouth Town Hall.
     The hearing was sort of a preemptive strike to put the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on notice that Massachusetts legislators and residents oppose proposed changes in rules governing the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in general and, in particular, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.
     The hearing was confrontational at times. It involved grilling nuclear industry representatives and a lengthy interview with the CEO of Holtec International (HI). HI is the parent company of the Holtec subsidiary now dismantling the shuttered Pilgrim plant.
      On May 9th, the NRC held the sixth and final of its national public meetings in Plymouth to outline those proposed rules. Environmentalists and legislators were unrestrained at the hearing. They said that the proposed rules would weaking federal oversight of the dismantling process and make it easier for private industry to cut corners.
     The biggest apparent victory at the hearing came at the subcommittee hearing when Senator Markey was interviewing Holtec International’s CEO Krishan P. Singh. Mr. Singh repeatedly said that dumping as much as one million gallons of irradiated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay is one of three options that Holtec is considering to facilitate its site cleanup at Pilgrim. The water has been used over the years to cool the plant’s equipment. It would be cleansed and made safe before it was discharged into the Bay, according to Mr. Singh. He said that the levels of radiation would be far lower than the safe limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He added that “It does not raise concerns in people who are knowledgeable about the subject. It is not contaminated. It is processed water.”
     Senator Markey responded to Singh testimony that the community would feel better if an independent body with fisheries expertise was contacted to evaluate the wastewater’s long-term potential effect on the delicate environment of Cape Cod Bay. Marky said that the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is world-renown and trusted by the people of Cape Cod and Plymouth. It would be an excellent choice to call in as an expert. Why not utilize WEHOI to test water samples and determine the safety of the processed water? Mr. Singh responded at the hearing that he would approve of such testing. He added “I think it’s a great addition.”
     Mr. Singh sent a follow-up letter to Senator Markey’s office last Wednesday. In the letter, Mr. Singh reiterated his promise not to dump any radioactive wastewater into the Bay until WHOI determines that the level of radiation in the water would not affect marine life. In the letter, Mr. Singh said, “We will delay the completion of [the] decommissioning program, if need be, and hold the process[ed] water inside the plant for as long as necessary, if the expert scientific opinion advice is against discharging the remaining plant water into the bay.” Mr. Singh made other promises at the hearing. He claimed that he would work to improve communication with the community and the local labor unions.
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