Fishermen, Neighbors Fight Plan To Dump Radioactive Water In Cape Cod Bay

By Mike Sullivan, CBS Boston

March 23, 2023

PLYMOUTH - Neighbors along Cape Cod Bay are pushing back against the dumping of radioactive water into the bay. A permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stands in the way of it happening.

The Pilgrim nuclear power plant shut down in 2019. Holtec is the company working to decommission the plant. The EPA originally cleared them to dump contaminated wastewater into the bay but backtracked when it learned the water may have nuclear contaminants.

"The Environmental Protection Agency regulates certain pollutants that are released by industry. [For instance,] lubricants, greases, power plants use chemicals to prevent fouling of the water intake pipes," says Cutler Cleveland with the Boston University for Institute Global Sustainability, "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a very different agency, regulates nuclear waste and its release. EPA said, 'Whoa, wait a minute, if you are going to propose to release radioactive waste, you are going to have to get a whole, other, separate permit.'"

Click https://www.cbsnews.com/boston... for a CBS News video report.

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.