COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION
Update 5 pm July 18, 2024:
PLYMOUTH – Holtec Decommissioning International said they are disappointed following the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s final determination denying their permit modification request that would have allowed them to discharge wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay.
The following is the statement from Holtec officials:
“We are disappointed by the decision by MA Department of Environmental Protection to deny our application to modify the Pilgrim nuclear site surface water discharge permit. Treated water has been discharged within safe limits since the plant began operations in 1972 and today’s denial will continue to delay the decommissioning and economic reuse of the Pilgrim lands. We will continue to evaluate all disposal options for the treated wastewater and the effect this decision has on our timeline to fully decommission the facility.”
The following is the original story:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has denied the permit modification sought by Holtec Decommissioning International that would allow them to discharge around 1 million gallons of wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Cape Cod Bay.
They said that the Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary and discharge would violate the Ocean Sanctuaries Act.
It is the final determination by MassDEP, issued after several public hearings and a public comment period bringing over 1,000 comments.
The following is the full statement from MassDEP:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today denied the permit modification sought by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the former Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay. Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary as defined under the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act, which prohibits the dumping or discharge of industrial wastes into protected state waters.
Pilgrim stopped generating electricity in May 2019. As part of its decommissioning of the plant, Holtec requested that MassDEP modify Pilgrim’s state Surface Water Discharge Permit to authorize Holtec to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of treated wastewater from the facility into Cape Cod Bay.
MassDEP reviewed the Holtec application, and after consultation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, determined that Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary. The Ocean Sanctuaries Act prohibits the “dumping or discharge of commercial, municipal, domestic or industrial wastes” into ocean sanctuaries. The water that Holtec proposes to discharge qualifies as industrial wastewater, and therefore, the proposed discharge is prohibited.
MassDEP issued its final determination after holding a public hearing and public comment period and conducting an extensive review of the more than 1,000 comments received. The final determination and the public comments are available online.
MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
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