January 23, 2019

Warren, Markey, Moulton Commend Decision to Delay Seabrook Nuclear Plant License Amendment and Extension

Lawmakers last week called for community input on safety concerns before any decisions made on relicensing

Washington, DC – United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) today commended the decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to delay the request to amend and extend Seabrook Nuclear Power Station’s license until the community’s concerns are heard. Seabrook’s licensee, NextEra Energy Resources, has requested a 20-year license extension to 2050. Last week, the lawmakers called on the NRC to hear community concerns and address ongoing safety issues before renewing or amending the license for nuclear power plant. In their letter to the NRC, the lawmakers expressed their concerns with how the Seabrook plant operator plans to monitor, assess, and address structural degradation at the plant caused by alkali-silica reaction.

“We are pleased to see that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to prioritize public involvement when reviewing the applications to amend and renew the Seabrook Nuclear Plant operating license, as we requested last week,” said the Massachusetts lawmakers. “Local communities and concerned stakeholders have the right to be heard in this process. By rethinking its decision to approve the amendment and renewal before public hearings could take place, the NRC will now give community members the chance they deserve to highlight concerns over degraded concrete at the plant.

“We will be continuing to monitor the license amendment and renewal process closely, in order to ensure that Seabrook’s operations are held to the highest standard of transparency and safety.”

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