TMI-Alert Declines to Participate in TMI-2 Panel
TMI-Alert Will Not Participate in Corporate Panel
April 6, 2021
TMI-Alert (“TMIA) notified TMI-2 Solutions that the organization
will not be participating in the Community Advisory Panel. TMIA
advocated for a truly independent advisory panel modeled on the
community-based Advisory Panel created after the TMI-2 accident.*
will not be participating in the Community Advisory Panel. TMIA
advocated for a truly independent advisory panel modeled on the
community-based Advisory Panel created after the TMI-2 accident.*
Eric Epstein, Chairman of (“TMIA”) stated, “After thoughtful
discussion, TMIA decided not to serve on the TMI Community Advisory
Panel. This entity is a corporate extension of TMI-2 Solutions, which funds,
manages, and staffs the panel.”
discussion, TMIA decided not to serve on the TMI Community Advisory
Panel. This entity is a corporate extension of TMI-2 Solutions, which funds,
manages, and staffs the panel.”
Mr. Epstein noted that the NRC license transfer docket is open. TMIA
filed an Appeal with the NRC on March 19, 2021.The NRC has given the
parties associated with the proposed TMI-2 license transfer until April 12,
2021 to respond to TMIA’s argument that the action violates the Clean
Water Act.
filed an Appeal with the NRC on March 19, 2021.The NRC has given the
parties associated with the proposed TMI-2 license transfer until April 12,
2021 to respond to TMIA’s argument that the action violates the Clean
Water Act.
On February 16, 2021, TMIA notified the Department of
Environmental Protection, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission that the Three Mile Island Unit-2
license transfer from FirstEnergy to TMI-2 Solutions violated the
Environmental Protection Agency’s, Clean Water Act (“CWA”) Section, 401
Certification Rule.
Environmental Protection, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission that the Three Mile Island Unit-2
license transfer from FirstEnergy to TMI-2 Solutions violated the
Environmental Protection Agency’s, Clean Water Act (“CWA”) Section, 401
Certification Rule.
Mr. Epstein stated: “The CWA was the tool designed by the EPA to
defeat pollution by corporate greed and regulatory inertia. The TMI-2
license transfer cannot occur without the new owners satisfying compliance
with the Clean Water Act. Certification should explicitly state that TMI can
not dump highly radioactive water into the Susquehanna River.”
defeat pollution by corporate greed and regulatory inertia. The TMI-2
license transfer cannot occur without the new owners satisfying compliance
with the Clean Water Act. Certification should explicitly state that TMI can
not dump highly radioactive water into the Susquehanna River.”
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* The original TMI-2 Advisory Panel met 78 times, and held public
meetings in the vicinity of TMI-2. The Advisory Panel met regularly with
the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners. The Panel provided an invaluable
forum for community residents to ask questions and register concerns
relating to cleanup issues including the reactor head lift, removal of
damaged fuel, and disposal of 2.3 million gallons of accident-generated,
radioactive water.
meetings in the vicinity of TMI-2. The Advisory Panel met regularly with
the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners. The Panel provided an invaluable
forum for community residents to ask questions and register concerns
relating to cleanup issues including the reactor head lift, removal of
damaged fuel, and disposal of 2.3 million gallons of accident-generated,
radioactive water.
One consistent theme that emerged from all sides was the desire to
make sure that adequate funding was in place to fund the TMI cleanup.
make sure that adequate funding was in place to fund the TMI cleanup.
Funding the TMI-2 cleanup has been problematic dating back to the
accident in 1979. At that time, there were no decommissioning funds set
aside. In 1982, Governor Richard Thornburgh cobbled together the
Thonburgh Plan — a $1 billion fund to pay for the removal of the damaged
fuel. But, funding problems did not go away.
accident in 1979. At that time, there were no decommissioning funds set
aside. In 1982, Governor Richard Thornburgh cobbled together the
Thonburgh Plan — a $1 billion fund to pay for the removal of the damaged
fuel. But, funding problems did not go away.
On October 25, 1988, Panel Chairman Arthur E. Morris told the NRC
Commissioners: “... there is no specific funding plan in place, and
consequently no guarantee that monies will be in place for cleanup
following PDMS [Post-Defueling Monitored Storage]...This uncertainty
troubled the panel.”
Commissioners: “... there is no specific funding plan in place, and
consequently no guarantee that monies will be in place for cleanup
following PDMS [Post-Defueling Monitored Storage]...This uncertainty
troubled the panel.”
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