Information sessions held on proposed new nuclear reactor in Salem Twp.

Jun 5 - McClatchy-Tribune Content Agency, LLC - Elizabeth Skrapits The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

 

Although a decision on whether to build it is years away, the new owner of the Susquehanna Steam nuclear power plant is moving forward with requirements to build a third reactor.

On April 24, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave preliminary approval to the draft environmental impact statement for the Bell Bend nuclear reactor, which would be constructed adjacent to the existing plant in Salem Township. PPL Corp. applied for a license for the new reactor on, 2008.

The NRC and Army Corps of Engineers held two meetings at Bloomsburg University for public comment on the project on Thursday. NRC Branch Chief Jennifer Dixon-Herrity, NRC Environmental Project Manager Tomeka Terry and Army Corps of Engineers District Section Chief Wade Chandler outlined the federal agencies' preliminary recommendations.

Most of the environmental impacts from the project would range from small to moderate; the moderate impacts would occur during the construction phase, according to Terry.

She also revealed that none of the three alternative sites -- one in Montour County, the Seedco Industrial Park in Northumberland County, and the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township -- would be preferable to the Salem Township site.

On Monday, Talen Energy officially took over the Susquehanna nuclear plant from PPL Corp. Talen spokesman Todd Martin said the company has maintained the same management, operations and employees as under PPL, including the team working on the Bell Bend project.

He said a final decision is "literally several years ahead," and will be based on factors including community support and economic viability.

The reactor planned for the Bell Bend facility -- the U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor, by the French multinational group AREVA NP, Inc. -- has not been certified for use in the United States.

Right now, Talen is continuing to move forward with plans using that design.

"That said, we're monitoring it very closely," Martin said.

The company is focused on completing the environmental impact statement, he said.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said another part of the process to build Bell Bend, the safety assessment, is on hold.

The only member of the public to comment during the first session was Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., which monitors the three nuclear power plants on the Susquehanna River: Susquehanna Steam, Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom.

Epstein critiqued the draft environmental impact statement, calling the conclusions the NRC and Army Corps of Engineers drew in it "fatally flawed" and "cursory."

"I don't think this plant is ever going to be built," he said, describing the hearings as "a circus" and "a farce."

Epstein pointed out the reactor design is not approved, that PPL never completed a final application to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission for use of the millions of gallons of water per day the plant would require, and that there is no money for the project.

To build Bell Bend there would have to be $4.5 billion in federal subsidies, he said.

"This is a tremendous financial undertaking ... The money has to come from somewhere, and the company isn't going to pay," Epstein said.

In addition, Epstein said the existing Susquehanna plant generates 60 metric tons of nuclear waste a year.

"Why build another plant if we still haven't solved the issue of where the waste is going to go?" he asked.

Public comment via regular mail or email on the draft environmental impact statement will be accepted until July 7. A final environmental impact statement is scheduled to be published in April 2016, according to the NRC.

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is accepting public comment until July 7 on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Bell Bend nuclear reactor, a copy of which can be found by searching for "Bell Bend" at www.nrc.gov or searching docket ID NRC-2008-0603 at www.regulations.gov; copies can also be reviewed at the Mill Memorial Library in Nanticoke and the McBride Library in Berwick.

Comments can be emailed to bbnp.coleis@nrc.gov or mailed to Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, Mailstop: OWFN-12-H08, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

citizensvoice.com

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