NRC to Hear Arguments on Post-Fukushima Orders

A three-member Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral arguments regarding two NRC post-Fukushima orders, afteropponent, Pilgrim Watch, filed a hearing request.

The session will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 7, in Courtroom 1 at the John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse, 5 Post Office Square, Boston.

The hearing was requested by Pilgrim Watch of Duxbury in response to three orders issued by the NRC meant to enhance the safety of U.S. nuclear reactors using lessons learned from the disaster at Fukushima, Japan in March 2011.

Pilgrim Watch argues that the orders do not adequately meet concerns about spent fuel pools and containment vents and the ASLB assigned to review the request concluded that the filings raised several issues that require further exploration and an oral argument session.

Last week, the NRC announced that it would approve Entergy's application to renew the operating license for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station for another 20 years.