Discussions are ongoing about a criticized plan to transfer ownership of Three Mile Islands defunct Unit 2 reactor to a Utah-based company that would complete its dismantling.<\/p>\n
And signs point to a settlement between state and federal regulators, and FirstEnergy, the power company that now owns the unit that partially melted down in 1979.<\/p>\n
At least thats what Dauphin County-based nuclear watchdog Eric Epstein said he suspects. Epstein said he opposes any kind of agreement that would advance the plan, which he worries could threaten radioactive disaster.<\/p>\n
We will not agree to allow Three Mile Island to become a radioactive waste site, Epstein said. An island in a river is the worst place for it.<\/p>\n
Spokespeople speaking on the behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission did not provide details about the negotiations.<\/p>\n
Regarding a settlement, DEP is evaluating the motion and will reach a decision soon, DEP spokesman Neil Shader said. More information will be available once a decision is reached.<\/p>\n
FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young said much the same.<\/p>\n
FirstEnergy continues to work with the DEP as well as the NRC to address questions relevant to the license transfer and decommissioning plans for TMI-2, she said. Details of the settlement agreement are confidential.<\/p>\n
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Last fall, Unit 2s owners at FirstEnergy announced they planned to transfer ownership of all related licenses and assets to a subsidiary of Utah-based EnergySolutions, which would eventually dismantle the reactor.<\/p>\n
The transfer must be approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and its to that commission that Epstein of the Harrisburg-based Three Mile Island Alert raised concerns, urging that the transfer not be approved before they are addressed.<\/p>\n
Specifically, he worried about the environmental threats of leaving radioactive waste on the island, which is situated in the Susquehanna River just north of Conoy Township near the Dauphin-Lancaster counties line. That's in addition to fears that rate-payer funded accounts will not have enough money to cover the cost of decommissioning.<\/p>\n
Similar concerns were included in a letter sent earlier this year from DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell to federal regulators.<\/p>\n
But now, Epstein worries that DEP officials will settle, undermining those fears, though he admits he hasnt been a part of ongoing discussions a point of contention.<\/p>\n
I dont know how you build public confidence by excluding the public, he said.<\/p>\n
Regardless of what may come from negotiations, Epstein said his organization plans to continue advocating for safety by any legal means, appealing decisions if necessary.<\/p>\n
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Nuclear watchdog opposes any agreement that would transfer ownership of Three Mile Island Unit 2 - LancasterOnline<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discussions are ongoing about a criticized plan to transfer ownership of Three Mile Islands defunct Unit 2 reactor to a Utah-based company that would complete its dismantling. And signs point to a settlement between state and federal regulators, and FirstEnergy, the power company that now owns the unit that partially melted down in 1979 Continue reading