Extending the operating license of a decades old nuclear plant is big news.

By Natalie Hildt Treat
•
18 Apr, 2019

It is disappointing, though not surprising, that the NRC chose to push forward and grant both the license amendment request and the license extension for Seabrook Station (on March 11 and March 12, 2019), before serious questions about the nuclear plant's degraded concrete get a full public vetting.

The Commission has said it will allow Seabrook to operate for up to thirty more years, without a reasonable assurance that its structures meet its own requirements for safety during an earthquake.

In so doing, NRC has shown disregard for the concerns of numerous citizens, elected officials, and the Massachusetts Attorney General, who had urged them to delay rulings until after the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hears from C-10 and Dr. Victor Saouma, an internationally-recognized expert in concrete and the problem of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) that has weakened Seabrook's structures.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) says that C-10 will still get our public hearing on the concrete problems this summer.

Following are quotes of note in these news developments:

"There is no reason why the Seabrook license amendment should be approved before the hearing (on degraded concrete) occurs... public safety could be threatened by a premature approval of the license amendment" if C-10's concerns about Seabrook are not priorly heard. - Sen. Markey, Sen. Warren, and Rep. Moulton wrote to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a letter dated January 16, 2019.

"Because NextEra’s license amendment request has been hidden from scrutiny behind the veil of ‘proprietary’ status granted by the NRC, the only truly independent peer review will be provided through C-10’s participation in this proceeding” -C-10 board member Chris Nord.

“There simply is no reason for the NRC staff to act on the amendment or license extension requests at this time. NextEra’s existing license does not expire until March 15, 2030 — eleven years from today." -Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

"In my expert opinion, the manner in which the NRC Staff reviewed and accepted NextEra’s testing and analysis programs was so devoid of scientific rigor or independence as to fatally undermine the credibility of its determinations regarding the safety of continuing to operate Seabrook in the presence of ASR." - Dr. Victor Saouma, University of Colorado, Boulder

“Our organization remains laser focused on exposing the scientific and regulatory shortcomings of this process, and we are committed to working on behalf of public safety.” - C-10 Executive Director Natalie Hildt Treat.

Some recent news coverage relative to Seabrook's license & C-10:

WBUR: Supporters Say Seabrook Nuke Protects Climate; Critics Worry About Cracks In The Concrete

Newburyport News: Village talk focuses on C-10, nuclear plant

Newburyport News: NRC sets September hearing date for C-10's filing

Lawrence Eagle Tribune: NRC grants license to Seabrook Station

SeacoastOnline: NRC Approves Seabrook's License Extension

Boston Globe - Nuclear Regulators to Extend Seabrook's License to 2050

Engineering News-Record: Citizens' Group Files Petition Over Concrete Degradation at Seabrook Nuclear Station

Keene Sentinel - NRC defends Seabrook's license extension

Newburyport Daily News: Concerns, support voiced at crowded NRC meeting

Boston Globe: With concrete degrading in critical parts of Seabrook, environmental advocates urge to delay renewal of license

Portsmouth Herald: Seabrook license extension delayed