NRC GRANTS RIVERKEEPER’S REQUEST FOR SEPARATE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON RELICENSING ISSUES

5/30/07

NRC GRANTS RIVERKEEPER’S REQUEST FOR SEPARATE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON RELICENSING ISSUES

FROM: RIVERKEEPER
Contact: Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper
914-478-4501 x. 221

For Immediate Release: May 30, 2007

NRC GRANTS RIVERKEEPER’S REQUEST FOR SEPARATE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON RELICENSING ISSUES

(Tarrytown, NY) On May 25, 2007 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted Riverkeeper’s May 2, 2007 request to reinstate the NRC’s policy of holding two initial separate meetings on the relicensing process for the Indian Point nuclear reactors. Riverkeeper’s request was in response to an August 2006 NRC decision to reduce the number of public meetings required for the relicensing of nuclear power plants. Prior to this date the official relicensing process included two meetings at the beginning of the process: an initial public information meeting describing the NRC license renewal process and an environmental “scoping” meeting, at which the public could raise environmental impacts that should be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS). The first meeting, scheduled for June 27th at the Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt, New York, will focus on the relicensing process. The second meeting, yet to be scheduled, will focus on the environmental scoping process.

“Riverkeeper commends the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for realizing that limiting public participation in the relicensing process goes against the grain of our democratic society,” stated Lisa Rainwater, Indian Point Campaign director. “Providing the public with two separate and equally important meetings on Entergy’s bid to relicense Indian Point for twenty more years will keep the process open and more accessible to the public.”

On May 25, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Riverkeeper’s May 2nd request. Riverkeeper’s May 25th letter to the NRC can be found at: http://riverkeeper.org/campaign.php/indianpoint_relicensing/we_are_doing/1326

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5/30/07