[NukeNet] Activists get tiny voice in nuclear hearings

[Mary Olson]

Ah, but it is the camel's nose under the tent!

Mike Ewall wrote:

>NukeNet Anti-Nuclear Network (nukenet at energyjustice.net)
>
>
>http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/03/15/031biznuke.html
>
>Activists get tiny voice in nuclear hearings
>
>By MARGARET NEWKIRK
>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
>
>Published on: 03/16/07
>
>Georgia environmental groups will have a seat at the legal table as Southern
>Co.'s Georgia Power tries to get federal permits for two new nuclear units
>at Plant Vogtle near Augusta.
>
>But it isn't much of one.
>
>A three-judge Atomic Safety Licensing Board handling Southern Co.'s nuclear
>expansion application ruled Thursday that six environmental groups can have
>legal standing in the process of permitting Southern Co.'s new reactors.
>
>But the groups will only be able to argue about the effect new plants could
>have on fish and water quality in the Savannah River.
>
>The board refused to grant them legal standing to argue about a range of
>other issues, including broader public energy policy and the continuing lack
>of a permanent place to store the nation's nuclear waste.
>
>"We've got a pinkie finger in the door," said Sara Barczak, of the Southern
>Alliance for Clean Energy.
>
>The groups are the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Atlanta WAND,
>Savannah Riverkeeper, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Blue Ridge
>Environmental Defense League and Turner Environmental Law Clinic.
>
>Southern Co.'s proposed reactors are part of a wave of similar planned
>projects across the country, particularly in the South.
>
>Barczak said other environmental challengers have fared worse.
>
>Challengers ended up with no legal standing in the process of permitting new
>nukes in Mississippi. In Virginia, they were limited to arguments related to
>the effects new nuclear plants would have on just one kind of fish.
>
>Georgia Power does "not believe the intervenors have identified genuine
>issues of fact or law that are material to the Nuclear Regulatory
>Commission's licensing process," spokesman John Sell said.
>
>"We believe that all relevant issues have been handled appropriately in the
>early site permit application," he said. "We'll continue through the legal
>process."
>
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/
>Change your settings or access the archives at:
>http://mail.energyjustice.net/mailman/listinfo/nukenet_energyjustice.net
>
>
>  
>