Pilgrim Nuclear

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has committed to provide a speaker to review relevant cancer studies at a future meeting of the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens' Advisory Panel.

Staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will not be speaking Monday as planned.

The finding marks a victory for opponents of the water discharge, but it's only a recommendation until the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection reviews the ruling and issues a final decision.

Likely topics of discussion include water contamination, the role of host communities, and the storage of spent nuclear fuel, which will continue at Pilgrim indefinitely.

The company that owns the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is responding to questions from a state panel about how Pilgrim treats radioactive water inside the plant to reduce pollution.

Attorneys cross-examined nine witnesses in the dispute over whether the owner of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Holtec International, can discharge radioactive water from the plant into Cape Cod Bay as part of the decommissioning.

Documents and procedures in the appeal are similar to a court case. Each side will have a chance to cross-examine witnesses who submitted written testimony.

Local activists hope to stop the evaporation of radioactive water from the nuclear plant, but the company that owns the plant says the activists are fear-mongering.

Demolition of the reactor building at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is scheduled to begin in 2031, but that timeline assumes two big things.

The nonbinding question, brought by petition, directs town governments to call on state officials to stop Pilgrim from evaporating industrial wastewater into the outdoor air.