While citizens spoke out on Seabrook's license, C-10 filed emergency petition with NRC

The room was packed, especially with dozens of union employees from the plant, attesting to many people who earn their livelihoods at Seabrook.  NRC spokesman Joe Donahue opened by saying "NRC concedes we could've done a better job communicating with the public, and that's why we're here tonight." 

Staffers from several Members of Congress were in attendance, many speaking in favor of a go-slow approach on licensing action until after C-10's hearing. There were a number of people who spoke in favor of Seabrook or nuclear power generally, raising issues such as jobs, climate concerns, etc.

There were about as many concerned citizens who asked the NRC tough questions about safety, voiced their worries about the aging plant, nuclear waste and sea level rise, and urged them not to grant a license extension before C-10 has a public hearing where they will formally bring contentions relative to the plant's concrete.

When NRC was pressed about why they appear to be in a hurry to do the licensing actions, they said that they are not, but they are indicated they still plan to move forward, "because we can." Donahue said, "I'm not going to stand here and tell you there's an urgency to it."

Just as the meeting was getting underway, C-10's legal counsel was busy filing an emergency petition with the NRC, asking the commissioners to reverse a finding that Seabrook's concrete aging management plans pose no significant hazards, and for them to suspend the planned decisions on Seabrook's license amendment request and license renewal application. The timing on an NRC response to the petition is unknown.

C-10 is not relying on the NRC to be swayed by the pleadings of concerned citizens and Members of Congress to delay licensing action until after our hearing on the plant's degraded concrete. Still, we hope that what they heard last night, along with the emergency enforcement petition we filled with the NRC commissioners, will cause the agency to reconsider their previously announced course of action and look seriously at the issues that we have raised.