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Sierra Club urges halt to planned radioactive wastewater discharge from Pilgrim decommissioning
Summary
A representative of the Massachusetts Sierra Club told the committee that Holtec International's plans to dispose of wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant pose risks to health, the environment and local economies and urged a moratorium and community‑involved alternatives.
Arthur Desloges testified on behalf of the Massachusetts Sierra Club in support of Senate Bill S540, which would prevent the discharge of radioactive materials associated with decommissioning activities.
“Holtec International, the company that is decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power plant, planned to discharge 1,000,000 gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay,” Desloges told the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management. He said community groups previously blocked a similar discharge and that Holtec had chosen to use industrial heaters to accelerate evaporation of contaminated water into the air. He said the Plymouth Board of Health characterized that method as a threat to public health.
Desloges told the committee that local elected officials, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Bill Keating, have urged Holtec to develop a transparent, community‑involved approach and that local voters backed a municipal referendum opposing the discharge. He asked the committee to advance legislation placing a pause on Holtec’s accelerated evaporation activities and to require study of economic and environmental impacts before permitting a release.
Committee members acknowledged industry and fisheries concerns raised by the testimony. No formal vote or motion was taken on S540 during the hearing.
