NRC hearings to address water complaint against Turkey Point plant

A challenge to licensing amendments concerning water temperatures in the cooling canal system at the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead, Florida, will be the subject of a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) evidentiary hearing Jan. 11-12 in Homestead.

The challenge involves a request from the owner of the nuclear facility, Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL), to increase temperature limits for heat sink water, which was granted by the NRC in 2014. The challenging body is the Citizens Allied for Safe Energy (CASE), which alleges the NRC did not take into consideration any potential environmental impacts from increased temperatures in aquifers. The NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) heard arguments regarding this issue in January and March 2015, and accepted the aquifer contention for consideration out of four raised by CASE.

The ASLB will conduct the new hearings on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11-12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Hampton, Fla.

The public is welcome to attend the hearing, but public comments will not be taken at the hearing. Only witnesses and representatives from CASE, NRC and FPL will be providing testimony. Public comment may be submitted through limited appearance statements to the NRC secretary and the chairman of the ASLB by mail.