Bill Keating: “My amendment seeks to ensure adequate resources for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC, to provide for safe and…”

“My amendment seeks to ensure adequate resources for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC, to provide for safe and effective decommissioning of nuclear power plants. In 2016, Entergy Corporation, the owner and operator of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, announced that the plant would be decommissioned by 2019 after facing severe losses in revenue and plagued by safety concerns. Since coming to Congress, I have been concerned by the safety of Pilgrim's day-to-day operations as well as the security of its spent fuel storage. Following Entergy's announcement, I have worked with State and local representatives to prioritize the safety of the decommissioning process, security of the plant's spent fuel, and the displacement of over 600 workers who are employed at the site. The NRC has previously issued reports revealing that Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station comes up short on critical systems maintenance, and it is currently the worst performing reactor in the entire country. While this infraction ultimately falls on the responsibility of Entergy, it is equally important that the NRC has the necessary resources to address concerns as they arise, including through cooperation with local communities. As we have often cited, decommissioning of nuclear power plants has an enormous economic and financial impact on host communities.…”