Plymouth, MA – The international organization, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), and the local groups, Jones River Watershed Association (JRWA) and Pilgrim Watch, called for a thorough investigation of pollution impacts on North Atlantic right whales from Entergy’s Pilgrim nuclear reactor in Plymouth, following recent whale sightings about a half mile off shore of the station on Cape Cod Bay. On April 17, three North Atlantic right whales, among the most endangered large whales on earth, were spotted swimming in front of the Pilgrim reactor. Consistent sightings of right whales off Plymouth have been reported since late November.[1]

Since it began operating in 1972, Entergy’s nuclear station has been sucking in and discharging up to 510 million gallons per day of polluted cooling water into Cape Cod Bay in the same area of the western shore where whales are being seen. The known pollutants include chlorine, biocides and water that is up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. While conservation groups are urging officials to explore the situation, Entergy is asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to continue these operations for another 20 years.

On February 6, 2012 two of the groups asked the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service for a thorough investigation of the impact on endangered whales, turtles, and river herring from this discharge practice.[2] In early April, WDCS also sent a letter outlining concerns about continued operations.[3] These groups continue to examine and collect data showing the impact of the plant’s operations on Cape Cod Bay and have asked state and federal agencies to deny a new license until Entergy’s outdated cooling system is fixed and marine life is protected.

WDCS Executive Director and Senior Biologist, Regina Asmutis-Silvia, is happy that Cape Cod Bay is protected as a critical habitat for North Atlantic right whales. She often stresses that with fewer than 500 North Atlantic right whales remaining, everything from habitat degradation to ship strikes are threats that need to be addressed by the public. She and her staff see this as the perfect time to remind others of the battle WDCS fights everyday – whales face a staggering number of threats and it is up to everyone to mitigate them. The outflow from Pilgrim is simply one of the many factors humans have introduced to their natural environment; it is also one of the cumulative factors that impacts the recovery of the right whale. WDCS and their supporters look to the future as they plan to eradicate the threats that take their toll on this depleted population.

According to Pine duBois of Jones River Watershed Association “Entergy’s operations cause unacceptable damage to our fisheries and the ecosystem that supports all marine life including the great whales and the plankton and fish they eat for food. There are alternatives to the operating methods Entergy is using that are less harmful and those should be implemented now.”

Mary Lampert of Pilgrim Watch added, “It is not OK for the NRC to look the other way and pretend that 510 million gallons a day of toxic pollution into Cape Cod Bay is not having an impact. This is just one more reason why Pilgrim should be fixed, clean up its act, or be closed immediately.”

Please join WDCS and a panel of experts at Plimoth Plantation on Thursday May 3, 2012 for a free public screening of Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Stewardship and an expert panel discussion. Tickets are available at www.whales.org

[1] Whale siting data is available at: www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/surveys

[2] JRWA to NMFS Letter (02/10/12)

[3] WDCS Letter (04/03/12)

For more information:
www.whales.org
www.jonesriver.org
www.capecodbaywatch.org
www.pilgrimcoalition.org

Two groups today asked the state to revoke a 2006 approval for Entergy’s Pilgrim nuclear reactor in Plymouth.  Jones River Watershed Association and Pilgrim Watch are asking the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (MCZM) to suspend its’ “consistency certification” issued under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act for Pilgrim re-licensing.  Entergy applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to continue operating the 40-year old reactor for another 20 years.  Before the NRC can act, the state must certify that relicensing will not violate state laws governing activities in the coastal zone.  Copy of Letter here: April 4, 2012 letter

“For 40 years, Entergy’s once-through cooling system has been taking over 510 million gallons of water a day from Cape Cod Bay into the reactor and sucking in fish, plankton, fish eggs, larvae, and more, and kills them. Another 20 years will cause even more destruction of our coastal zone and our ability to use and enjoy the Bay’s resources for fishing and recreation. We hope the state will suspend the certificate because Entergy is unnecessarily destroying marine life in Cape Cod Bay,” said Pine duBois, Executive Director of JRWA.

The letter to MCZM identifies 10 ways that relicensing will violate the state coastal zone management policy.  Many violations are based on new information about killing river herring, possible impacts to dolphins and porpoises, and failing to properly take steps to study the impacts on whales and endangered sea turtles.  The groups claim all the information showing the violations is in government agency files, but has been ignored for over a decade.

“We have repeatedly asked the NRC to protect Cape Cod Bay from Entergy’s destructive cooling water operations.  The state should be well aware that there is an issue here.  Enough is enough.  It’s time for action,” said Mary Lampert.

Contacts:

info@jonesriver.org

mary.lampert@comcast.net

For more information: www.pilgrimwatch.org   www.pilgrimcoalition.org

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March 8, 2011

Today two groups made a new legal challenge to the relicensing of Entergy’s deteriorating nuclear reactor in Plymouth

Sworn legal testimony outlines how Entergy’s Pilgrim nuclear reactor on Cape Cod Bay is killing fish by the thousands – at the same time fishermen are told they can’t catch these fish.

River herring are one of the candidate species under the federal Endangered Species Act that the groups say are being killed every year by Entergy’s cooling water intakes.  The groups’ testimony also shows that one of the most endangered whales on the planet – the North Atlantic Right Whale – regularly feeds and forages close to the Pilgrim reactor.  The fin whale eats the same type of fish that Entergy kills.

“Entergy has a license to kill marine aquatic resources in Cape Cod Bay,” said Meg Sheehan, one of the lawyers filing the appeal on behalf of Jones River Watershed Association.  ”They’ve been killing hundreds of thousands of menhaden, tens of thousands of other types of fish, and billions of fish eggs, larvae and plankton everyday for the last 40 years.  Enough is enough,” Sheehan added.

The groups claim the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cannot relicense Pilgrim until all impacts on whales, sea turtles, fish, and marine habitat are fully assessed and Entergy takes steps to upgrade its destructive cooling water intake and discharge operations.

Read the challenge here:  Legal Challenge to Entergy’s License to Kill

Here’s information about the species that Entergy kills and about the whales that are found around where Entergy discharges polluted water to Cape Cod Bay.   Testimony on Whales & Fish

Jones River Watershed Association in Kingston, Massachusetts detailed how Entergy’s cooling water operations are harming marine and freshwater species.

Jones River Watershed Testimony

Entergy has a license to kill fish, plankton, larvae, fish eggs, and every kind of living thing it sucks into its nuclear reactor with the cooling water.  

STOP ENTERGY NOW!  

Contact Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick and tell him to tell the NRC to deny Entergy a license to kill for another 20 years!  

Entergy’s license expires June 8, 2012.  

Enough is enough!