Coalition Wants Cook Closed ; Environmental Groups Protest License Renewals for Nuclear Reactors
Dec 27 - South Bend Tribune
American Electric Power Co.'s attempt to renew its license for its twin reactors at the D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman is facing stiff opposition from environmental and public interest groups.
In fact, those groups don't want the licenses renewed for 20 years when the
current licenses expire in 2014 and 2017, for units one and two, respectively,
and they want the plant closed down.
The coalition filed a three-page written statement with the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission Wednesday, citing weaknesses in Cook's radiation
containment building, risky reactor cooling procedures and the large amount of
additional radioactive waste that would be generated during the 20-year period.
The coalition believes the concerns provide evidence that the regulatory
commission should reject the application for extension.
A decision is not expected until sometime in the middle of 2005.
The group claims that in late 2000, after Cook's three-year forced shutdown
due to major safety concerns, Ross Landsman, veteran Nuclear Regulatory
Commission structural engineer, expressed concern that the agency was allowing
the two reactors to start without adequate containment.
"We fear that no substantial repairs to this 'soft spot' have ever been
done," said Gary Karch, Niles spokesman for Don't Waste Michigan.
Karch said there could be a release of radioactivity in a serious accident.
Not surprisingly, Bill Schalk, spokesman for Indiana Michigan Power, a
subsidiary of AEP, sees that and other issues raised by the coalition quite
differently.
He agreed that there was a question of structural integrity of the interior
containment wall of the units.
"We presented a repair plan, and it was accepted by the NRC,"
Schalk said. "We believe the issue is resolved, and there is no soft
spot."
Schalk also acknowledged there was a differing opinion filed within the NRC.
"He (Landsman) disagreed with our experts and (the NRC's) experts, and
it's his right to file," Schalk said. "It was considered and not
accepted."
Schalk also called Cook one of the safest plants in the country prior to
Sept. 11, adding additional steps have been taken since.
The group also questioned why the utility would file so long in advance for a
renewal when the first unit's license is not even up until 2014.
Schalk said the reason a utility files so early is because if the renewal is
rejected, 10 years is a reasonable amount of time needed to secure replacement
power of such magnitude.
Kevin Kamps, nuclear waste specialist of the Nuclear Information and Resource
Service, expressed concern over the amount of nuclear waste already on the Cook
site.
"They are sitting on 1,000 cubic metric tons of waste at Cook --
high-level, radioactive waste," he said.
Even if the proposed Yucca Mountain site in Nevada is opened for nuclear
waste, Kamps believes Cook will always be stuck with at least 1,000 tons of
waste, and much more if it does not open.
Schalk said there are a lot of opportunities for storage of nuclear waste,
but the primary site is Yucca Mountain.
"It's safe where it is right now until it is ready," he added,
saying that should happen in 2014.
Kamps indicated the coalition is frustrated with a past lack of action by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Based on the past, we have always been ignored by the NRC," he
said. "We will see what happens. If we get rejected, we will turn to
Congress."
Schalk said the company's primary objective "has been and will always be
the safe operation of the plant and the protection of the public's health and
safety."
Staff writer Jim Meenan:
(269) 687-7005