NRC Rules Against Riverkeeper's Post-Fukushima Contention

This information is from the Nuclear Regulatory Comission: The three-judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel handling the Indian Point license renewal application has issued a ruling today on a post-Fukushima contention filed last Aug. 11 by the Riverkeeper and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organizations.

The contention argued that the Environmental Impact Statement developed by the NRC staff on the application is flawed because it did not take into consideration lessons learned from Fukushima. Specifically, the groups contend that the Severe Accident Mitigation Analysis (SAMA) done as part of the review should be redone in light of the Japan reactor events.

However, the ASLB panel has ruled the groups have “not offered any information in support of their contention that ties the recommendations of the (NRC) Task Force Report (on Japan) to any site-specific circumstances at the facility.” In other words, the contention is too generic in nature to be considered during the proceeding.

The groups can appeal the decision to the five-member, presidentially appointed Commission that oversees the NRC.