Options
VPR's John Dillon reports:
(Dillon) The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board held hearings last summer on a number of issues related to the reactor's aging components.
The New England Coalition citizen's group questioned the methodology used to calculate the impact of metal fatigue in the 37-year-old plant.
But the board this week dismissed the final challenge.
Rob Williams is a Yankee spokesman.
(Williams) "This decision concludes a three-year-long process - in fact it was more than three years-and it gave a fair hearing to the contentions that were raised by the intervenors. It basically considered whether our maintenance programs are adequate for the long term under a renewed operating license."
(Dillon) Ray Shadis of the New England Coalition said he was not surprised by the board's ruling, since the NRC has approved every application for a license extension.
He said the board did require Entergy Vermont Yankee to recalculate the effects of metal fatigue.
(Shadis) "What they were forced to do was to go back and re-do their analyses using a finer screen, a finer sieve. So to the extent that it was an improvement over what they had offered initially for analysis, yes, it makes the plant just that much less dangerous."
(Dillon) Yankee officials say they expect that the full, five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission will approve the license extension later this year.
But under Vermont law, the license extension still requires approval from the state Legislature.
For VPR News, I'm John Dillon in Montpelier.
VPR Headlines
- Putney General Store Construction To Start This Summer Monday, 03/15/10 7:34am
- Vermont Men To Play Syracuse In NCAAs Monday, 03/15/10 6:06am
- Dairy Farmer Talks About Immigration Probe Monday, 03/15/10 6:06am
- Student Loan Bill Causes Worries at VSAC Monday, 03/15/10 6:06am
- NH House Voting On Obesity Bill Monday, 03/15/10 6:06am
Vermont Edition
- Banning Hospital Advertising Monday, 03/15/10 Noon and 7pm
- Sen. Patrick Leahy Friday, 03/12/10 Noon and 7pm
- School District Consolidation Thursday, 03/11/10 Noon and 7pm
Commentaries
More from John Dillon
Vermont Senate Tables Donor Anonymity Bill
Friday, 03/12/10 5:50pm - VPR News
News Analysis: Hydro-Quebec Power Deal
Friday, 03/12/10 12:45pm and 7:45pm - VPR News
Utilities Reach Historic Agreement With Hydro-Quebec
Thursday, 03/11/10 5:50pm and Friday, 03/12/10 6:34am - VPR News
Breaking: Utilities Reach Deal With Hydro-Quebec
Thursday, 03/11/10 12:45pm and Friday, 03/12/10 7:45pm - VPR News
PSB Holds Hearing On Yankee Leaks
Wednesday, 03/10/10 5:50pm and Thursday, 03/11/10 6:34am - VPR News
© Copyright 2009, VPR
This is the online edition of VPR News. Text versions of VPR news stories may be updated and they may vary slightly from the broadcast version.