Shumlin Criticized Over Remarks On Connecticut River Fish

Some Vermont Republicans are criticizing Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin for saying he wouldn't eat fish caught in the Connecticut River near the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.

Republican Rep. Oliver Olsen of Jamaica and party Chairwoman Pat McDonald both say Shumlin's comments will hurt tourism in Vermont by discouraging people from fishing in the Connecticut River.

Shumlin said this week that he would not eat fish from the region of the river near the Vernon reactor after the Health Department announced that a smallmouth bass had turned up positive for radioactive strontium-90 in the edible portion of the fish.

Shumlin's health commissioner, Dr. Harry Chen, disagreed, saying he did not think the levels of strontium-90 found in the fish contained health dangers if consumed by people.