NRC to Hold Public Hearing on Fukushima-Type Nuclear Reactors

A public hearing regarding all US nuclear plants with the same type of reactor as the plant in Fukushima, Japan can be heard from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 7 via webcast or telephone.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing will give the pubic the opportunity to comment on requested emergency enforcement actions to suspend operations at Fukushima-style nuclear reactors, like the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

The public hearing was prompted by a , including the local group Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety (GRAMMES). The petition calls for the NRC to “freeze our Fukushimas.”

The petition, spearheaded by the anti-nuclear organization Beyond Nuclear, calls for the immediate suspension of 17 nuclear facilities with General Electric (GE) Boiling Water Reactors Mark 1 units. The Mark 1 units are the same type of reactors at Fukushima that experienced a meltdown following an earthquake and tsunami.

The advocates are also fighting for the 1989 approval of an experimental venting system to be revoked as well as for Mark 1 operators to install emergency backup power for the spent fuel cooling system, said Paul Gunter, Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear.

Speakers during the public hearing will include Paul Gunter and Kevin Kamps (Beyond Nuclear), Dale Bridenbaugh (former GE engineer), Arnie Gunderson (Fairewinds Associates), Deb Katz (Citizens Awareness Network), Lou Zeller (Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League), Randy Kehler (Safe & Green Campaign), Michael Mariotte (Nuclear Information and Resource Service), Bobbie Paul (Georgia WAND) and more.

To participate, call one of the following toll free phone numbers or visit the NRC’s website to view the webcast:

1-877-533-7601 (passcode 5087356)
1-866-741-7099 (passcode 3340595)
1-866-732-2413 (passcode 8181837)
Webcast at http://video.nrc.gov