PALISADES TRANSFER TO HOLTEC: Coalition warns about decommissioning risks

For decades, an environmental coalition has warned about the risks of operations at Palisades, on southwest Michigan's Lake Michigan shoreline. This week, the coalition, including Beyond Nuclear, warned Michiganders about the risks of license transfer to Holtec for decommissioning and highly radioactive waste management there. Holtec has many skeletons in its closet, as does its decommissioning consortium partner, SNC-Lavalin. See Beyond Nuclear's letter to MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Attached were our new fact sheet about decommissioning, and backgrounder on decommissioning trust funds, as well as cautionary tales from Indian Point's proposed transfer to Holtec in New York. See the coalition press release.

Environmental Groups Warn Michigan Governor Whitmer about Sale of Palisades Atomic Reactor to Holtec; Fears of Radioactive Contamination to be Left Behind, Short Cuts on Highly Radioactive Waste Management

NEWS FROM BEYOND NUCLEAR For immediate release, Tues., Dec. 8, 2020 Contact: Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear & Don't Waste Michigan, (240) 462-3216, kevin@beyondnuclear.org Michael Keegan, Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes and Don't Waste Michigan, (734) 770-1441, mkeeganj@comcast.com Terry Lodge, legal counsel for environmental coalition opposed to Palisades' operation, (419) 205-7084, tjlodge50@yahoo.com

Environmental Groups Warn Michigan Governor Whitmer about Sale of Palisades Atomic Reactor to Holtec

Fears of Radioactive Contamination to be Left Behind, Short Cuts on Highly Radioactive Waste Management

COVERT, MICHIGAN -- The national nuclear power industry watch-dog group Beyond Nuclear, with support from Michigan-based organizations Don't Waste Michigan and Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, has written Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, urging the state government intervene against the license transfer of Palisades nuclear power plant, in Van Buren County on the Lake Michigan shoreline, from its current owner, Entergy, to a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Holtec International. Entergy has announced it will shut Palisades for good by May 31, 2022, after which the reactor will enter its decommissioning phase. Numerous other state officials, including the Lt. Gov., Attorney General, Public Service Commissioners, Department of Health and Human Services officials, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) officials, Michigan's Treasurer, the state's U.S. congressional delegation, state legislative leaders, and Indigenous Nations leaders, were copied on the letter. The letter included links to additional information, including three backgrounders: Nuclear Plant Decommissioning, A New Crisis and New Opportunity for States;  Decommissioning Trust Funds, What States Can Do to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, and Protect their Citizens; and Background Supplement to Comments by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater on Indian Point License Transfer Application from Entergy to Holtec.   If the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approves the license transfer of Palisades, then Holtec, along with its consortium partner SNC-Lavalin of Montreal, Quebec, would be put in charge of Palisades' decommissioning (facility dismantlement), radiological cleanup, and highly radioactive waste management. Palisades' sister reactor site, Big Rock Point in Charlevoix, Michigan, would be included in the sale. There is a meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Tuesday, December 8th, from 2 to 4pm Eastern, to discuss the sale and license transfer. State officials, environmental group representatives, and impacted residents can attend the teleconference, make comments, and share concerns.  Members of the news media can ask questions. Details of the NRC meeting are posted here, including the teleconference call-in numbers. Here is a link to the slideshow that will be presented.  Michigan Radio has reported on the meeting.   The groups have warned Gov. Whitmer that transferring Palisades' licenses to Holtec poses significant risks to Michigan -- in terms of health and safety, environmental impacts on the surrounding area and Lake Michigan, and in terms of its impact on the state's economy and fiscal health.  Holtec's track record -- as well as that of its decommissioning consortium partner, SNC-Lavalin of Canada -- includes bribery, fraud, and malfeasance, as well as serious shortcomings in terms of financial assurance, technical qualifications, and decommissioning experience.    Simply put, there's ample reason to worry Holtec could do a superficial job of decommissioning, exhaust Palisades' already woefully inadequate decommissioning trust fund and other public monies, walk away with no liability, and leave the Great Lakes State and surrounding communities, downwind and downstream, to bear the risks and costs of a radioactively contaminated site over the long term.  It's happened to other reactor communities before. This is of great concern at Palisades, given its significant radioactive contamination of soil and groundwater, on the edge of Lake Michigan as well as an inland aquifer, both of which are used for drinking water by immediately adjacent communities, such as Palisades Park and South Haven.   But these risks are addressable, the groups have pointed out.  While the industry-captured U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- unfortunately, given its dereliction of duty -- has sole, exclusive jurisdiction over radiological safety issues, state governments are not powerless, the groups assert.  The State of Michigan can and should assert its significant authority over numerous other aspects of the license transfer and decommissioning decisions, the environmental coalition has stated.   Michael Keegan with the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, and co-chair of the Don't Waste Michigan board of directors based in Monroe, Michigan, stated: "Four mechanisms by which the State of Michigan can protect its residents include: insistence of $500 million in surety bonds/escrow, until Palisades' cleanup meets the state government's expectations; a state-authorized Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Board, with funding from the Decommissioning Trust Fund, with independent expertise, autonomy, and oversight with teeth; transparency and quality assurance; and the State of Michigan becoming an official legal intervenor in the license transfer proceeding, demanding public hearings."   Terry Lodge, Toledo, Ohio-based attorney, legal counsel to the environmental coalition opposed to Palisades' ongoing operations for the past 15 years, stated: “NRC's very troubling likely decisions, to let Entergy operate one of the most dangerous atomic reactors in the country for at least another year and a half, and then allow it to be handed off to the most controversial dismantler around, Holtec, should give no one rest.”   Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear, a Don't Waste Michigan board of directors member representing the Kalamazoo chapter, stated: "Holtec and SNC-Lavalin are crooked companies, which have engaged in bribery and other criminal behaviors. They cannot be trusted, other than to do as little radiological cleanup as they can get away with, while taking as many shortcuts on high-level radioactive waste management as they can get away with, and then pocket all the remaining money from the decommissioning trust fund, all with rubber-stamp complicity and collusion from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission."   Kamps added: "After Consumers Energy and Entergy looted Palisades' decommissioning trust fund to the tune of $316 million in 2007, Entergy now claims there is only $552 million left. This is woefully inadequate to perform comprehensive radiological cleanup of Palisades' significantly contaminated site, located on the edge of Lake Michigan, headwaters of the Great Lakes, drinking water supply for 40 million people downstream, in seven U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and a large number of Indigenous Nations. Holtec and SNC-Lavalin have clearly shown that they cannot be trusted to carry out such a high stakes job. We call on Michigan's governor, attorney general, Public Service Commission, county and local governments, to intervene as strongly against Holtec's takeover of Palisades and Big Rock Point, as have their equivalents in the State of New York against Holtec's takeover of Indian Point, in order to protect Michiganders against the costs, liabilities, and risks inherent in atomic reactor decommissioning and irradiated nuclear fuel management." -30-

Beyond Nuclear is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization. Beyond Nuclear aims to educate and activate the public about the connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapons and the need to abolish both to safeguard our future. Beyond Nuclear advocates for an energy future that is sustainable, benign and democratic. The Beyond Nuclear team works with diverse partners and allies to provide the public, government officials, and the media with the critical information necessary to move humanity toward a world beyond nuclear. Beyond Nuclear: 7304 Carroll Avenue, #182, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Info@beyondnuclear.org. www.beyondnuclear.org.

Letter from Beyond Nuclear to Michigan Governor Whitmer: Important information on sale of Palisades and Big Rock Point nuclear power plants from Entergy to Holtec, and a request for dialogue

[View a PDF of this letter, here.]

To: The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan

(sent via email)

Dear Governor Whitmer,

As you may know, Entergy has proposed selling the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert Township, Van Buren County, to a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Holtec International, which would then be in charge of its decommissioning, radiological cleanup, and highly radioactive waste management. (Palisades' sister reactor site, Big Rock Point in Charlevoix, would be included in the sale.) There is a meeting of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday, December 8th, to discuss the sale. State officials and concerned citizens can attend, ask questions, and make comments.  Details of the meeting are posted here.  Michigan Radio has reported on the meeting.

Transfering Palisades' licenses to Holtec poses significant risks to Michigan -- in terms of health and safety, environmental impacts on the surrounding area and Lake Michigan, and in terms of its impact on the state's economy and fiscal health.  Holtec's track record -- as well as that of its decommissioning consortium partner, SNC-Lavalin of Montreal, Quebec -- includes bribery, fraud, and malfeasance, as well as serious shortcomings in terms of financial assurance, technical qualifications, and decommissioning experience.

A comprehensive backgrounder prepared by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., attached [linked below], written in the context of the Indian Point, New York decommissioning saga, clearly lays this out.  Simply put, there's ample reason to worry Holtec could do a superficial job of decommissioning, exhaust Palisades' decommissioning trust fund and other public monies, walk away with no liability, and leave the Great Lakes State and surrounding communities, downwind and downstream, to bear the risks and costs of a radioactively contaminated site over the long term.  It's happened to other reactor communities before. This is of great concern at Palisades, given its significant radioactive contamination of soil and groundwater, on the edge of Lake Michigan as well as an inland aquifer, both of which are used for drinking water by immediately adjacent communities, such as Palisades Park and South Haven.

But these risks are remediable.  While the industry-captured U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, unfortunately given its dereliction of duty, has sole, exclusive jurisdiction over radiological safety issues, states are not powerless.  They can and should assert their authority over numerous other aspects of the license transfer and decommissioning decisions.

Attached are some briefing materials from my organization Beyond Nuclear explaining the risks that the current decommissioning business model and Holtec in particular pose to Michigan, and what the State can do to protect Michiganders from them.

It's a complex subject, but one well worth understanding.  Beyond Nuclear is experienced in this area, and we're in very close touch with citizens' groups in Michigan working toward the same goal of protecting Michigan's residents, environment and economy.  We'd welcome a dialogue with you on it.

I will follow up with your office in the near future.  Meanwhile please see the attached, and please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Kevin Kamps

Radioactive Waste Specialist

Beyond Nuclear 

7304 Carroll Avenue, #182
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

(and member of the board of directors of Don't Waste Michigan, representing the Kalamazoo chapter; as well as a member of the advisory board of Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, headquartered in Lake Township, MI)

Cell: (240) 462-3216
kevin@beyondnuclear.org
www.beyondnuclear.org

cc:

Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan Lieutenant Governor

Dana Nessel, Attorney General of Michigan

Robert Gordon, Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive, and Chief Deputy Director for Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Nicole Britten, MPH, Health Officer/Director, Berrien County Health Department

Kim Comerzan, Officer/Director, Monroe County Health Department

Jeffery L. Elliott, BBA, Health Officer/Administrator, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

Liesl Eichler Clark, Director, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

James Clift, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Sally A. Talberg, Chairman, Michigan Public Service Commission

Daniel C. Scripps, Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission

Tremaine L. Phillips, Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission

Rachael Eubanks, Treasurer of Michigan

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (MI-1st District)

U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga (MI-2nd District)

U.S. Representative Justin Amash (MI-3rd District)

U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (MI-4th District)

U.S. Representative Daniel Kildee (MI-5th District)

U.S. Representative Fred Upton (MI-6th District)

U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (MI-7th District)

U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-8th District)

U.S. Representative Andy Levin (MI-9th District)

U.S. Representative Paul Mitchell (MI-10th District)

U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11th District)

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12th District)

U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-13th District)

U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (MI-14th District)

Michigan State Speaker of the House, Representative Lee Chatfield

Michigan State House Minority Leader, Representative Christine Greig

Michigan State Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mike Shirkey

Michigan State Senate Minority Leader, Senator Jim Ananich

Chairman Bryan Newland, Executive Council, Bay Mills Chippewa Indian Community

Chairman Thurlow "Sam" McClellan, Tribal Council, Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Kenneth Meshigaud, Tribal Chairman, Hannahville Indian Community

Warren C. Swartz Jr., President, Tribal Council, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

James Williams Jr., Tribal Chairman, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Larry Romanelli, Tribal Ogema, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Regina Gasco-Bentley, Tribal Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Bob Peters, Tribal Chairman, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake)

Jamie Stuck, Chairperson, Naganijek/Tribal Council, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians

Matt Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

Tim J. Davis, Chief, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

Aaron A. Payment, Tribal Chairperson , Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Link to Beyond Nuclear document: Nuclear Plant Decommissioning, A New Crisis and New Opportunity for States;

Link to Beyond Nuclear document: Decommissioning Trust Funds, What States Can Do to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, and Protect their Citizens;

Link to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., document: Background Supplement to Comments by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater on Indian Point License Transfer Application from Entergy to Holtec.

Report: Company Decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Plant Under Criminal Investigation

As reported by WBUR.

Holtec International, owner of the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant, and conducting its decommissioning and high-level radioactive waste management, has also proposed a highly controversial consolidated interim storage facility for commercial irradiated nuclear fuel in New Mexico.

Judge Orders Decommissioning Temporarily Halted at Former Nuclear Plant

Lacey Officials, Oyster Creek Generating Station Owners Disagree on Land Use Oversight

As reported by TheSandpaper.net.

The company involved in this legal dispute, Holtec International, is also proposing a highly controversial consolidated interim storage facility in New Mexico for commercial irradiated nuclear fuel, including that from Oyster Creek.