Governor
Urges NRC to Approve Independent Safety Assessment
Montpelier, Vt.March 12, 2008 -- Governor Jim Douglas has called on the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to support a reliability and safety
assessment-commonly called an Independent Safety Assessment
(ISA)-of the Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vernon.
In a letter to NRC Chairman Dale Klein, Governor Douglas said the
operation of Vermont Yankee is at a critical juncture and events during the
summer of last year raised questions about the reliability of the
station. Vermont Yankee had several events that included the partial
collapse of a cooling tower and a reactor scram that have each been traced to
shortcomings in the maintenance of equipment.
"These events have shaken the confidence of Vermonters and our
neighbors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts about the
safety and reliability of the plant. They have brought into question
whether Vermont Yankee should operate beyond its present operating license
expiration date of 2012," the Governor wrote. "In addition, I
need to be assured that the conditions and/or practices that contributed to the
events of last summer do not extend to other areas of the Vermont Yankee
operation which may have an impact on plant safety as well as
reliability."
The Governor said it is critical that, before the State of Vermont is in a position
to consider a license extension, that a comprehensive reliability and safety
assessment of Vermont Yankee-known in energy circles as an ISA-be
conducted as soon as possible.
"I am formally requesting that the NRC conduct such an
assessment, and do so in consultation with the Vermont Department of Public
Service in formulating the inspection program. I also request that the
assessment include the participation of the Vermont State Nuclear Engineer and
consultants, and those NRC inspectors and contractors have independence from
the Vermont Yankee operation," the Governor continued. "The
bottom line is that any such assessment must provide the information needed for
our regulators and the Vermont General Assembly to determine if the Vermont
Yankee nuclear station can operate safely and reliably for the additional 20
years requested beyond its current licensed life."
Governor Douglas noted that members of Vermonts Congressional delegation
have their own concerns with the information needed for a license extension,
and his administration continues to discuss the matter with them. The
Vermont General Assembly is also considering legislation of its own to address
this issue. Douglas said he expects the
point of view of the delegation and the Legislature to influence the scope of
the ISA.
"If the NRC is to conduct the assessment which I believe is
essential, it must be initiated in the next several months to be completed in a
timely fashion such that its findings can be available to both our Public
Service Board and the General Assembly when it convenes next January,"
the Governor said. "Every day that passes without this safety
and reliability assessment underway is another day we don't have the
answers to our most significant questions."
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