The Vote is in: Plymouth Fails to Regulate Radioactive Waste Storage
On July 10th, Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-2 to allow Entergy to avoid the zoning bylaw special permit requirements for its nuclear waste storage project at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. CCBW is concerned about this project because a nuclear waste accident threatens the Bay and our environment. In addition, Entergy's current plan is to site the project very close to the shoreline, despite rising sea levels and climate change impacts. CCBW believes the Town should require a special permit so that local residents can have a say on how the nuclear waste storage facility is sited, built and operated. We are part of a petition campaign that urges the Plymouth Board of Selectmen to require the highest standards for Pilgrim's nuclear waste storage. Read and sign our petition here >>
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Waste Water Treatment Plant Problems in Plymouth
CCBW has begun investigating problems with water quality in Plymouth Harbor due to Plymouth's Sewage Treatment Plant. In April 2013, the U.S. EPA issued an enforcement order to the Town, following several unlawful discharges of untreated or improperly treated sewage (called Sanitary Sewage Overflows, or SSOs). CCBW believes public education and action is critical to help address these problems. We will be providing more information about this issue and ways you can help as our investigation continues.
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Plymouth Sewage Treatment Plant's outfall pipe, located just south of Nelson Park, is exposed at low tide.
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Bay's Water Becoming too Hot for Pilgrim's Cooling System
The recent heat wave in New England is causing the water in Cape Cod Bay to be too warm to be used in Pilgrim's cooling system under design standards. Pilgrim's license requires the water being drawn from the Bay not to exceed 75 degrees F. On July 16th and again on July 18th, water temperature reached above the 75 degree F limit. Typically a plant has 24 hours to fully shut down when water temperatures exceed the temperature limit.
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Bills Introduced to Improve Nuclear Safety in Massachusetts
Local groups and concerned citizens from Massachusetts flocked to the state house on July 9th to hear four new bills be introduced to the Public Safety Joint Committee. Many individuals provided testimony to the Committee, explaining the importance of passing the bills.
House bills 1906, 1907, 2045 and 2046 all relate to improving nuclear safety in the state - either by increasing protections to a 20-mile radius (currently, there are some protections in place only for a 10-mile radius) and increasing funding for the Department of Public Health (including for installing and maintaining real-time radiological monitoring stations).
Entergy representatives also provided testimony to oppose the bills. However, aside from financial reasons, the company didn't seem to have a good argument for opposing the bills. Rep. Turner (D-Dennis) questioned Entergy about why they wouldn't make safety improvements on their own accord, not just to meet legal obligations. He further stated that Entergy is not a good neighbor, for this reason.
If the committee passes the bills, they will then be sent to the House and Senate for action (and could potentially be subject to amendments) before making it to the Governor's desk for passage into state law. Stay tuned for updates and upcoming action alerts related to these bills.
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Rep. Sarah Peake shows the committee a map of the areas outside the 10-mile area, which are excluded from needed safety protections.
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A Journey into the Death Plume: The Untold Story of Pilgrim's Thermal Pollution
Adam Augello, CCBW's intern, writes about the effects of thermal pollution and the once-through cooling system on the ecosystem - primarily fish - in Cape Cod Bay. Read his blog here >> |
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Upcoming Event
Community Meeting
An ad hoc group of folks will be meeting on August 6th to discuss community organizing and next steps in making Entergy's dry cask storage project safer. If you are interesting in attending, please RSVP to Norm Pierce at npiercephd@aol.com as soon as possible. Venue location and time will be determined soon (likely the Cape Cod Bay Watch Office from 7:30-830 pm), based on the number people planning to attend. |
