TAKOMA PARK, MD (WHTC) – The most outspoken opponent of the Palisades nuclear power plant wants answers.
Following a report by WWMT-TV on Friday of an investigation over several security officers at the Covert facility being placed on administrative leave, the group Beyond Nuclear on Saturday sent a “backgrounder” to media outlets that provides “significant additional context, information and documentation” about “current and long-standing security and fire risks at Palisades.”
Lead spokesman Kevin Kamps added in a statement that, “Beyond Nuclear also plans to file a Freedom of Information Act request at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission as soon as possible regarding this matter, in order to make the NRC investigations into ‘fire inspection anomalies’ … at Palisades accessible and transparent to the concerned public.”
An unnamed employee admitted to the television station concerns about security at the plant due to the absence of the guards. Officials of Entergy, the operator of the plant, told WWMT that they are looking into the matter but “denied any change of security levels in or around” the 45-year-old facility. “An investigation identified anomalies within the site’s fire tour records, and we have implemented strong interim actions to make sure we have appropriate staffing levels and that fire tours are conducted properly,” Entergy Senior Communications Specialist Val Gent told WWMT, who refused to give other specifics, citing the ongoing investigation.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission admits that a probe is ongoing and defended not notifing the media before the television station was alerted by an unnamed employee about the matter, saying that there was never an immediate concern about public safety. NRC inspectors at the plant “continue to monitor this issue,” agency spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng told WWMT, and she added that a public statement will be issued when the investigation is complete.
Beyond Nuclear has been the most outspoken in asking the NRC to decommission the Palisades plant due to its age and its operation.
