Vermont Nuclear Plant Lies to Regulators about Radioactive Water
WPTZ-TV
January 14, 2010
Area: Burlington, Plattsburgh
MONTPELIER, Vermont - Political leaders of every stripe sharply criticized executives at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant Friday over new revelations they have repeatedly misled regulators about key systems at the site.
The focus of their ire was the discovery of underground pipes around the reactor site that carry radioactive fluids, a system consultants forking for the governor and state Legislature, and the Public Service Board, had been assured as far back as 2008 did not exist.
The issue came to light now as Yankee searches for the source of underground tritium, a radioactive isotope, discovered in a well near the reactor. Consultants said it almost surely came from a leaking pipe or storage tank, touching off a firestorm of criticism Friday at the Statehouse.
"I'm very unhappy about what we've learned about their representations to the PSB," said Gov. Jim Douglas, a longtime proponent of VY and its economic benefit to the state. "I don't want to jump to conclusions," he added, but asked Entergy's CEO to report back on the scope of any deception.
State Public Service Commissioner David O'Brien said he wasn't sure VY executives deliberately lied over the existence -- and risk from -- underground radioactive piping, but he was incredulous it could have been accidental. He called it a serious "breach of trust."
Friday afternoon, Entergy Vice President Jay Thayer told NewsChannel Five the error was his own. Thayer said he had been unaware of the system when asked questions at a PSB hearing, and he failed to correct his error afterward. "I take full responsibility," Thayer said. "It's pretty serious, and I'm very sorry about it."
Republican and Democratic leaders asked their consultants to revisit the plant and the reliability report they delivered last year, to see if any other revisions about plant reliability needs to be made, asking for a new report by Feb. 16.
Entergy said it would fully cooperate in a new plant review.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders called the new allegations alarming, and Friday afternoon the state's congressional delegation sent a joint letter to the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission demanding an investigation into whether Entergy officials have deliberately misled state officials.
Entergy is seeking state and federal permission to permit Vermont Yankee to continue operation beyond 2012, when its 40-year operating license is scheduled to expire.
State approval also requires an affirmative vote by the Vermont House and Senate, and Friday's revelations put the outcome of that in further doubt.
Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, a Republican candidate for governor, agreed that before lawmakers consider any extension for the plant, conflicting statements from Vermont Yankee need to be resolved.
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