Middleboro Review et al

Proposed NRC rule changes raise safety concerns By  Christine Legere Posted May 23, 2018  Revisions aimed at curbing exemptions sought after reactor shutdowns. PLYMOUTH — A U.S. senator who has been a longtime critic of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s oversight of the nation’s 99 nuclear power reactors is calling the latest report on the agency’s proposed rule changes for reactor decommissioning “an industry wish list that makes exemptions the rule.” The rule changes are particularly significant to the residents Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., represents, as the state’s only nuclear reactor, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, is set to permanently shut down by May 31, 2019. Pilgrim’s coastal location makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The rules contain no new requirements for considering environmental impacts, Markey said. “This is a missed opportunity to put down a marker for smarter decommissioning,” Markey said in...

Lawmakers, advisory panel plot Pilgrim’s future By  Christine Legere   Posted Apr 11, 2018 WEST BARNSTABLE — While there have been different perspectives among the public on the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station over the last 45 years, priorities are now aligning as the beleaguered plant progresses toward its announced permanent closure on June 1, 2019. That was the message delivered by the region’s senators and representatives during a meeting of the Pilgrim Nuclear Decommissioning Advisory Panel at Cape Cod Community College on Wednesday night. “We’re entering a really critical phase: the safe, swift decommissioning of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station,” state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, said to the panel. Whether you are a plant opponent or plant employee, everyone sees safety as a top priority once the reactor shuts down, Cyr said. Wednesday was kind of a wrapup of the advisory panel’s first year of information gathering. Meeting time was dedicated to...

ENTERGY's failures are known.  Let's support RENEWABLES that don't create TOXIC WASTE for generations.  Has anyone noticed Charlie Baker's silence?  Incapable of leadership, incapable of governing.  Charlie Baker: ONE AND DONE!  \ Pilgrim shutdown enters second month By  Christine Legere   Posted Apr 3, 2018  PLYMOUTH — March was a tough month for the beleaguered Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, and so far, April has been no better. The Plymouth reactor has now been shut down for 30 days because of a handful of equipment problems. Operators finished removing a damaged start-up transformer last week and are in the process of moving the new transformer into place, Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Tuesday. The reactor was shut down March 6 because of a leak in a system needed to heat water before it is pumped into the reactor. While workers addressed that problem, the reactor lo...

GOV field snapshot — DEM triumphs in Attleboro — New FUNDRAISING numbers 04/04/2018 07:07 AM EDT By Lauren Dezenski  ( ldezenski@politico.com ; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths ( bgriffiths@politico.com ; @BrentGriffiths) GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. IN GOV FIELD, "UNCOMMITTED" LEADS FOR DEM DELEGATES -  We're two months out from Democrats gathering in Worcester for their annual state convention, but among party faithful, one key thing has held true about the three Democrats vying to take on Gov.  Charlie Baker : No clear frontrunner has emerged. The latest example comes from the party members committed to each of the three candidates ahead of the convention,  Bob Massie ,  Jay Gonzalez , and  Setti Warren . So far, the top choice for delegate support isn't a candidate at all: It's 'uncommitted', according to the campaigns' latest internal vote counts of the 5,500-some delegates to the state convention. Next is Gonzalez, follow...