BLUE RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE LEAGUE
PO Box 88 ~ Glendale Springs, North Carolina 28629 ~ Phone (336) 982-2691 ~ Fax (336) 982-2954 ~ Email: BREDL@skybest.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 31, 2009

CONTACTS:
Louis Zeller (336) 982-2691 office, (336) 977-0852 cell
Louise Gorenflo (931) 484-2633
James Dougherty (202) 488-1140

GROUP TAKES BELLEFONTE FIGHT TO A HIGHER COURT

Yesterday the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a Petition for Review in the US Court of Appeals of the Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Alabama. The League seeks judicial review of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reinstatement of construction permits for two nuclear reactors, the so-called Bellefonte 1 and 2.

The League’s petition relies in part on a statement from a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who voted against the Bellefonte Construction Permit. In January Commissioner Jaczko wrote, “There is an inherent danger in ignoring this obvious fact. Licenses exist for a purpose. We use them to fulfill our statutory mandate of protecting the public health and safety.”

Local residents supporting the League’s petition criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s action. Louise Gorenflo, of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team in Chattanooga, said, “NRC’s mission is to protect public health. But they’re bending over backwards to accommodate TVA and ignoring their role as regulators.”

The League’s Science Director, Louis Zeller, said, “TVA has cannibalized its original plant, rendering it useless. The off-again, on-again history of this plant, the uncertain management, and the unprecedented reinstatement add up to a situation which is both dangerous and illegal.”

James B. Dougherty authored the March 30th petition to the court. This month the League hired Mr. Dougherty to work with them on the Bellefonte challenge.

The Bellefonte construction permit was first issued in 1974; construction was halted twice, in 1985 and 1994, before the permit was withdrawn in 2005. Since then, salvage operations have removed valuable components such as stainless steel pipes.

-end-

More info.: Petition for Review | NRC's voting record | BREDL's Bellefonte webpage