PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Activists say the company that is decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth is backing off potential plans to dump a million gallons of possibly radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay.
Holtec International had proposed the plan at last month's Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel meeting. The company said the plan would discharge the water in 20,000 gallon batches.
Diane Turco is the Director of Cape Downwinders and said dumping the radioactive water in Cape Cod Bay, even in 20,000 gallon intervals, would result in lasting health issues for the surrounding community.
"Holtec's decision-making process is motivated by profit, only. This was the cheapest, fastest way."
Turco said this option needs to be taken off the table, adding that there are other disposal options out there.
"One option is to let it evaporate, but it can become airborne. We could truck it to a facility to Idaho that deals with nuclear waste. Another one is just to leave it there," she said.
Turco said Holtec backed off on that plan after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission notified Congressman Bill Keating of it last week. WBZ NewsRadio reached out to Rep. Keating's office and Holtec International but had not heard back by Sunday night. The public will be able to weigh in at next month’s Citizens Advisory Panel meeting.
WBZ's Tim Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) reports:
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