Apr 14 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Neal Goswami Bennington Banner, Vt.



The Vermont House gave preliminary approval to legislation Tuesday that would hold the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plan accountable for cleaning up the reactor site when the plant closes.

Vermont Yankee

The decommissioning bill, which was given preliminary approval on a 139 to 0 vote, establishes that Entergy is responsible for costs associated with decommissioning, managing spent nuclear fuel and restoration the site to a greenfield condition. Entergy must kick in additional money to help accomplish those goals when the plant shuts down, now scheduled for March 2012.

"Vermonters should not be stuck footing the bill for cleanup once Vermont Yankee shuts down," said House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown. "This bill ensures that Entergy keeps the promise it made to the state in 2002 to restore the site to greenfield condition."

 According to the legislation, two trusts must be formally established by the scheduled closing date. One will fund the greenfield restoration and the second will fund the management of spent nuclear fuel. The bill requires the greenfield trust to have an initial $10 million set aside in 2012 with an additional $10 million by 2017 and total funding secured by 2032.

Proponents of the bill say Entergy has yet to set aside funds for greenfield restoration or spent nuclear storage.

Two previous efforts in the last two years by the Legislature to pass similar

decommissioning bills have been vetoed by the governor.

Proponents are more optimistic this year, however.

Rep. Joseph L. Krawczyk, R-Bennington, vice chairman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, reported the bill Tuesday on the House floor. He worked closely with Rep. Tony Klein, the Democratic chairman of the committee from Montpelier, to craft the legislation.

"We're from opposite ends of the political spectrum, but as chair and vice chair we worked well together," Krawczyk said.

The bill received bipartisan support because of compromise, Krawczyk said. The bill approved by the House on Tuesday requires Entergy to gradually add funds to the trusts when previous bills required initial lump sums, he said.

"Yankee has to come up with money to show their good will, but at the same time it's not too onerous," he said. "This absolutely ensures that Vermont taxpayers and ratepayers will not be on the hook for any costs associated with decommissioning. That was my goal."

The bill is expected to be given final approval today before heading to the Senate for consideration. The Senate is expected to advance the bill with few, if any, changes.

Contact Neal P. Goswami at ngoswami@benningtonbanner.com

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