Nuclear Power Safety Concerns in Michigan amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

"Nuclear Power Safety Concerns in Michigan amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," letter and briefing paper sent to Governor Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist by three-dozen groups and 62 individuals

To: Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II P.O. Box 30013 Lansing, Michigan 48909

Also submitted via email to: <governor@michigan.gov>, and  <governorsoffice@michigan.gov>

June 19, 2020 (Juneteenth, and the eve of Summer Solstice)

Dear Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist,

We respectfully ask that you, and the rest of state, county, city, and tribal leadership, as well as the U.S. congressional delegation, in Michigan, cc'd below, do everything in your power to protect nuclear power plant workers, as well as nuclear power plant host community residents downwind and downstream, against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC), and the nuclear power industry's, attempts to weaken regulations at this time. During a global pandemic, safety, security, health, environmental protection, and emergency preparedness and response regulations should be strengthened, not weakened.

Specifically in Michigan, as detailed in the attached briefing paper below, we request that:

---Vital safety inspections, repairs and maintenance at Michigan reactors be carried out, not deferred or cancelled, including for example the torus inspection and repair at Fermi 2 prior to reactor restart;

---The highly radioactive waste storage pools at Michigan reactors be carefully monitored and prepared for the potential loss of electric grid power to run safety and cooling systems, that is, that back-up emergency diesel generators be connected to pool cooling systems prior to an emergency, and that expedited transfer of irradiated nuclear fuel into on-site or near-site hardened storage be prioritized;

---There be no further reduction in safety margins at Fermi 2, Palisades, or Cook, even during refueling outage shutdowns;

--- the COVID-19 emergency is no excuse to increase radiological risks;

---Emergency preparedness and response measures, complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, be comprehensively reviewed and addressed, including by state, county, local, and tribal agencies of jurisdiction;

---Given the reduced demand for electricity at the present time, keep Palisades shut down for good, and delay refueling outages, and postpone restarts, at Fermi Unit 2 and Cook Units 1 and 2, until post-pandemic, in order to prevent coronavirus outbreaks in southwest Michigan, as has already occurred in southeast Michigan at Fermi 2 due to very large, itinerant refueling outage workforces traveling in from outside counties and even other states.

On April 22, 2020, four Michigan-based safe energy groups, and numerous national organizations with large Michigan memberships, wrote Vice President Pence as President Trump's COVID-19 Task Force director. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration were copied on the letter. The letter regarded "Urgent Actions Required to Mitigate COVID-19 Impacts in [the] Nuclear Energy Industry," and "Demand[s] for Immediate Corrective Action to Address Urgent COVID-19 Pandemic Risk." A link to this letter is provided in the briefing paper attached below. We have not received acknowledgement of receipt of the letter, nor a direct response.

But NRC's Chairwoman, Kristine Svinicki, did write Vice President Pence on May 18th (a link is provided in the briefing paper below), enclosing our April 22nd letter. Her indirect response to our concerns was most unsatisfactory. We disagree with her claim the agency is on top of nuclear safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.   As Michiganders, and others downwind and downstream of Michigan's reactors, we are now writing to you, because our national concerns, conveyed in the April 22nd letter cited above and linked in the attached briefing paper, very much apply to Michigan's operational nuclear power plants (with additional concerns at Michigan's sole closed reactor site, Big Rock Point in Charlevoix). The Fermi Unit 2 atomic reactor in Frenchtown Township, Monroe County, on the Lake Erie shore, is of the most immediate concern. However, similar concerns will grow more urgent in the months ahead at the Palisades atomic reactor in Covert Township, Van Buren County, and the Donald C. Cook atomic reactors in Bridgman, Berrien County; all three southwest Michigan reactors are located on the Lake Michigan shoreline, and have scheduled refueling outages in August and September, respectively.  Nothing less than the Great Lakes themselves are now at elevated risk.  (See, for example, this cautionary essay entitled "Downstream" by Fairewinds Energy Education nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen, who has served as an expert witness for nuclear power watchdogs in Michigan:  https://www.fairewinds.org/demystify/downstream?rq=downstream.) Also at risk is a second wave coronavirus outbreak in southwest Michigan due to the refueling outages at Palisades and Cook.

We are requesting to meet with the designated responsible department(s) in your administration to discuss our concerns. Who in your administration should we communicate with, regarding our concerns expressed in the April 22 letter to Vice President Pence, as well as our Michigan-specific concerns expressed in our briefing paper attached below? Which departments and staff persons in your administration are handling such concerns? We would be happy to meet with them by teleconference or webinar, or when applicable stay home/stay safe orders are lifted, in person while socially distanced. Many of our Michigan-based groups, or groups with large numbers of Michigan members and supporters, have been watch-dogging nuclear power plants and radioactive waste issues in the Great Lakes State for several decades, as we will continue to do in the future. We look forward to sharing with your administration our expertise, born of deep concern living downwind and downstream of Michigan's atomic reactors and radioactive waste storage sites. We look forward to working with your administration on the current pandemic-related increase in nuclear risks, as well as future nuclear power and radioactive waste issues in our state.

Please see our briefing paper, "Nuclear Power Safety Concerns in Michigan amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," [linked here], which provides more detail on our concerns regarding nuclear safety amidst the coronavirus pandemic at Michigan's operating, and even closed (Big Rock Point), atomic reactors. Thank you for your consideration. We eagerly await your response. Please direct your response to Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist at Beyond Nuclear (as well as Don't Waste Michigan Board of Directors Member, Kalamazoo Chapter, and Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, Advisory Board Member): kevin@beyondnuclear.org; (240) 462-3216; Kevin Kamps, 441 Fairfax Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

Sincerely,

Sovereign Native American Authority:

Jane A. TenEyck, Executive Director, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA), Sault Ste. Marie, MI, jteneyck@chippewaottawa.org (CORA is composed of five Native American tribes that have treaty rights in Michigan: 1836cora.org)

Organizations:

Michigan Groups --

Keith Gunter, Co-Chair, Alliance to Halt Fermi 3, Livonia, MI, Keith.Gunter9@gmail.com

LuAnne Kozma, President, Ban Michigan Fracking, Charlevoix, MI, luannekozma@gmail.com

Sandra Novacek, Coordinator, Belle Isle Concern, Detroit, MI, belleisleconcern@gmail.com

Reverend Edward Pinckney, President & CEO, Black Autonomy Network Community Organization, Benton Harbor, MI, banco9342@sbcglobal.net

Tada Gunter, President, Citizens for Peace, Livonia, MI, tadajoyful@gmail.com

Jesse Deer In Water, Community Organizer, Citizens' Resistance at Fermi 2 (CRAFT), Redford, MI, shutdownfermi@gmail.com

Diane Weckerle, Co-Chair, Coalition to Oppose the Expansion of US Ecology, Detroit, Michigan, djweck@gmail.com

Tom Stephens, Detroit Independent Freedom Schools Movement, Detroit, MI, thomasstephens2043@sbcglobal.net

Michael J. Keegan, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Don't Waste Michigan, Monroe, MI, <mkeeganj@comcast.net>

Kathryn Barnes, Sherwood Chapter, Don’t Waste Michigan, Sherwood, MI, <greenwoodsforest@gmail.com>
Elizabeth Kirkwood, Executive Director, FLOW (For Love of Water), Traverse City, MI, info@flowforwater.org

Kristy Meyer, M.S., Associate Director, Freshwater Future, Petoskey, MI, Kristy@FreshwaterFuture.org

Natalie Jakub, Executive Director, Green Living Science, Detroit, MI, info@greenlivingscience.org

John Ephland and Ruth Moerdyk, Chairpersons, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW), Kalamazoo, MI, newsfromknow@gmail.com

Christina Schlitt, President, League of Women Voters of Michigan, Lansing, MI, bcschlitt@aol.com

Terry Miller, Chair, Lone Tree Council, Bay City, MI, terbar@charter.net

Peggy Case, President, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, Mecosta, MI, Info@savemiwater.org or hildaheron@aol.com

Jessica Smith, Administrative Coordinator and Policy Committee Chair, Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance, Lansing, MI, moffaorganic@gmail.com

Barbara (Iris) Potter, Founding Member/Organizer, Michigan Safe Energy Future-Kalamazoo Chapter, Kalamazoo, MI, b.irispotter@gmail.com

Bette Pierman, Michigan Safe Energy Future-Shoreline Chapter, Benton Harbor, MI, Bette49022@yahoo.com

Vic Macks, Steering Committee, Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign, St. Clair Shores, MI, vicmacks3@gmail.com

John J. Ropp, President/CEO, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, Bath, MI, jropp@MiWildlife.org

Hasan S. Newash, Director, Palestine Cultural Office-Michigan, Detroit, MI, newashh@sbcglobal.net

Jody Flynn, on behalf of the Palisades Park Community, Covert, MI, jodygflynn@gmail.com

Rev. Rich Peacock, Peace Action of Michigan, Ferndale, MI, rjpeacock@wowway.com

Steven E. Saelzler, Chapter Coordinator, Chapter 74, SE MI Michael Gramlich Chapter, Veterans for Peace, Brownstown, MI, saelzler@comcast.net

Lisa Patrell, Washtenaw350, Ypsilanti, MI, <patrell.lisa@gmail.com> 

Groups based in other Great Lakes States/Provinces downstream and/or downwind from Michigan's nuclear power plants --

Derek Coronado, Coordinator, Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, dcoronado@cogeco.net

Barbara Warren RN, MS, Executive Director, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Cuddebackville, NY, warrenba@msn.com

David Kraft, Director, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Chicago, IL, neis@neis.org (on behalf of NEIS's members and supporters in MI, as well as the Lake Michigan drinking water supply)

Terry J. Lodge, Convenor, Toledo Coalition for Safe Energy, Toledo, OH, <tjlodge50@yahoo.com> (on behalf of the Lake Erie drinking water supply; and Legal Counsel, Don't Waste Michigan, and Beyond Nuclear)

Dr. Ross Landsman, Safety Inspector, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region III, Chicago, IL (retired), <ross@landsman.info>

National groups with members and supporters in Michigan, as well as downwind and downstream throughout the Great Lakes Basin --

Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Specialist, Beyond Nuclear, Takoma Park, Maryland, kevin@beyondnuclear.org

Timothy Judson, Executive Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Takoma Park, MD, TimJ@nirs.org

INDIVIDUALS (alphabetical by last name):

Wade Adams and Family, Kalamazoo, MI, wadeadams65@hotmail.com

Cliff Alles-Curie Rodas, Rockford, MI, aboveriver@gmail.com

Jeff Alson, Ann Arbor, MI, jeffalson56@gmail.com
Dale Anderson, Kalamazoo, MI, daleanderson@mei.net
Pam Barker, Monroe, MI, misspjb1@gmail.com

Thomas Beck, Covert, MI, tombeck1961@gmail.com
Lee Blackburn, Pataskala, OH, leeblackburn@live.com
John Brenneman, South Bend, IN, thebrenneman@yahoo.com
Mary Buchowski, Charter Township of Clinton, MI, <mbucko2@gmail.com>

Barry Lee Burnside, Kalamazoo, MI, barryburnside@att.net
Tom Cannon, Haslett, MI, toppcatt71@hotmail.com
Karen Chadwick, Kalamazoo, MI, karen.chadwick@gmail.com
Julia Christianson, Decatur, MI, julia@nscjc.net
Patrice Cole, Bloomfield Hills, MI, pcole1545@comcast.net

Bill Costantino, Caledonia, MI, Bill.c@w3groupllc.com

Pedro Crespo, Fennville, MI, Pedroc3@att.net
Martha Dahlinger, Portage, MI, marthadahlinger@att.net
Tom Duffield, Kalamazoo, MI, b.irispotter@gmail.com
Julie Dye, Dowagiac, MI, julietooohio@yahoo.com
Carolyn Ferry, Covert, MI, carolynferry@sbcglobal.net

Patrick Flynn, Palisades Park, Covert, MI, patflynnspub@aol.com

Tom Flynn, Palisades Park, Covert, MI, tflynn71@gmail.com

Flo Friender, Scotts, MI,  friendernest@comcast.net

Earl Hall, Kalamazoo, MI, earl_hall@att.net

Catherine Heaney, Palisades Park Community, Covert, MI, caqheaney@yahoo.com

Robert Henderson, Cottage Owner, Palisades Park Community, Covert, MI, rhenderson1010@yahoo.com
Joseph W. Hess, East Lansing, MI, jwhessgm@gmail.com
Christopher and Lydia Hodshire, Kalamazoo, MI, ong_lydia@hotmail.com
Deb Killarney, Citizen, Kalamazoo, MI, byline1@charter.nert

Mary Lebert, Brighton, MI, mlebert@umich.edu
Patricia R. Lynn, Delton, MI, plynn@mei.net

Rebecca Mandrell, Kalamazoo, MI, eggplant783@gmail.com
Mitchell Maricque, Menominee, MI, mmaricque@yahoo.com
Larry B. & Priscilla D. Massie, Allegan, MI, mihistory.massie@gmail.com
Rebecca McClure, Health care worker, Kalamazoo, MI, Raprahm@gmail.com
Carol McGeehan, Holland, MI, cpmcgeehan27@gmail.com
Victor McManemy, Traverse City, MI, vrmcmanemy@yahoo.com
Mark Muhich, Jackson, MI, turtleeyeproductions.com

Kathleen O’Connor Pierce, Covert, MI, kathleenop@maine.rr.com

Pattie O'Connor, Covert, MI, pattieoconnor@outlook.com 

Deborah A. Owens, South Haven, MI, Debaowens@aol.com
Julius and Barbara Pellegrini, Benton Harbor, MI, barbpell@att.net
David Peterson, Plainwell, MI, david.peterson@wmich.edu
Kathleen Phillips, Covert, MI, kcfp215@gmail.com

Nancy Poprafsky, Royal Oak, MI, ezzybomaso@gmail.com
Francis B. Quinn, Jr., and Claudia J. Somes, MD, Palisades Park, Covert, MI, fbquinn1@gmail.com and drmomcjs@aol.com
Dillon Reed, Homeowner, Covert Township, MI, dillonreed1@gmail.com
Natasha Robinson, Kalamazoo, MI, n.robinson8@gmail.com

Pamela Rups, Kalamazoo, MI, lotusrabbit51@icloud.com
Ilze Skrupskelis, Kalamazoo, MI, ilze-jsj@usa.net

Daniel Smith, Portage, MI, daniel_b_smith@yahoo.com
Dave Staiger, Oshtemo Township, MI, davestaiger@gmail.com
George Theodoru, Portage, MI, gtheodoru@aol.com
Karen Tomlonson, Kalamazoo,  MI, tomlonsonk@gmail.com
Margaret Valade, Bloomfield Hills, MI, macmarg@comcast.net
Lynne VandeBunte, Kalamazoo, MI, lynnegya@gmail.com

Jeffrey Vrba, Bloomfield Hills, MI, jeffvrba@mac.com

Ineke Way, Kalamazoo, MI, inekew786@gmail.com
Ashley Yonker, Kalamazoo, MI, ashleyyonker21@yahoo.com

 

cc: 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, Senior Great Lakes Advisor, 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