NEW NUKES for Georgia???

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PO Box 8574
Atlanta, GA 31106
404-378-4263
nukewatchsouth@mindspring.com

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ACTION CENTER | vogtle eis comments

"STOP VOGTLE!" Harvest the Wind

YOUR COMMENTS NEEDED ON THE VOGTLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ~ COMMENT DEADLINE NOVEMBER 24

The 1970 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides for PUBLIC INPUT to be collected and considered in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on major hazardous projects like TWO NEW REACTORS PROPOSED FOR VOGTLE. The EIS is required to "analyze all possible environmental impacts of the proposed project" including socioeconomic impacts, and alternative choices. Please take this opportunity to comment on the record about the DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL EIS FOR VOGTLE UNITS 3 & 4. You may comment via email — a handy email letter is available below to use for quick action.

>>> CLICK HERE FOR INSTANT ACTION <<<

BACKGROUND Southern Company and its main subsidiary Georgia Power are seeking to build two additional reactors at the Vogtle reactor site in Burke County, Georgia. The privately owned companies have been lobbying behind the scenes at every level of government to promote U.S. taxpayer giveaways to build new nuclear reactors and are now first in line to receive $8.3 billion in tax-funded loans. Despite marketing hype about advancements in nuclear technology, the proposed reactors are even less safe versions of the antiquated nuclear technology already deployed around the country. While energy debate has centered on nuclear and other old, polluting energy sources, alternative energy and efficiency are already transforming the energy landscape and promising a clean energy future for all.

HANDY EMAIL ACTION LETTER!

The handy email action letter below was researched and written by experts to help you make the most of this great opportunity to go on record with your input to the nuclear debate. You may edit the letter as you wish. There are many resources and links on nonukesyall.org to help you get more information about the VOGTLE controversy.

I am submitting these comments to the record on "NUREG 1947:  Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Combined Licenses (COLs) for Vogtle Electric Generating  Plant Units 3 and 4" in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

For the reasons stated below, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) should:
1) Deny Southern Company and its subsidiaries additional limited work authorization (LWA) for further construction related to proposed, unneeded, and still-unlicensed reactors on the Vogtle site in Georgia.
2) Issue a finding of LARGE environmental impacts for the proposed nuclear reactors and the conclusion that off-shore wind is the preferred alternative to nuclear.

LIMITED WORK AUTHORIZATION
Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor design has unresolved safety issues likely to impact the outcome of the licensing review as well as the final cost of the proposed reactors. Containment failure in an accident and analysis of impacts from a direct airline strike are unresolved safety issues of concern even to the NRC license review staff. These factors are likely to affect financing for, and the viability of, the proposed project. Therefore, it is premature to authorize any further work to the Vogtle site.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The draft EIS fails to analyze the continuance of an historic 10-year drought already impacting the Savannah River Basin. The Savannah River is currently the fourth most polluted body of water in the U.S. The two reactors at Vogtle already withdraw over 68 million gallons of water each day, more than the combined daily usage of Atlanta, Savannah and Augusta.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Escalating costs for massive reactor projects which will take the better part of a decade to complete strain taxpayer resources in a time of historic recession. The financing of the project with taxpayer, and Georgia ratepayer, funds should be analyzed for socioeconomic impacts. The cost for nuclear reactors must be compared and contrasted with cheaper costs and quicker build-time of shovel-ready wind and solar projects. Recent reports by DOE and Oceana Institute highlight the potential for offshore wind and Georgia is particularly well suited as is Georgia Power which already holds offshore rights from Georgia.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Impacts on the community living directly adjacent to reactors already at the Vogtle site are LARGE. The Shell Bluff community is in the emergency planning zone of the reactors, and yet its residents do not enjoy emergency fire, police and health protection. This under-served community does not have a grocery store, yet could be permanently dislocated following an accidental radiation release from either the existing, or proposed, reactors at Vogtle. This environmental justice issue must be acknowledged and analyzed in the EIS.

DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENT
The draft EIS is based on a reactor design which has not been granted a license. The Westinghouse AP1000 reactor was recently issued a Notice of Violation by NRC review staff for submitting an unrealistic assessment of impacts from a direct airplane strike. The AP1000 also has a basic design defect,  in an accident, the so-called "shield building" would funnel radionuclides directly to the environment as shown in the Gundersen report. Either of these issues is sufficient to conclude that the environmental impact from an accident would be LARGE.

COMPARISONS AND ALTERNATIVES
Table 7-1 compares only three energy types: coal, oil and nuclear. The table must be revised to compare also wind, solar, conservation and efficiency. In the likelihood that NRC does not feel qualified to make the assessment on alternative energy, an outside contractor should conduct the study. The study should include the DOE and Oceana reports as well as IEER's Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free report. As stated above, the cost savings and benefits of readily available alternatives must be contrasted wtih long-range, high-risk speculation on new reactor build. Georgia's excellent potential for offshore wind must be incorporated into the EIS.

Thank you for considering these points in the Vogtle Environmental Impact Statement. Please notify me of final EIS publication.

References:
Post Accident AP1000 Containment Leakage, FaireWinds Associates, April 2010; The Water-Energy Connection: Georgia Facts & Figures, SACE, 2008; Untapped Wealth: Offshore Wind Can Deliver Cleaner, More Affordable Energy and More Jobs than Offshore Oil, Oceana, 2010; Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the U.S.: A Strategic Work Plan for DOE, 2010; Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy, IEER, 2007; Solar and Nuclear Costs — the Historic Crossover, NC WARN, 2010; Health Risks of Adding New Reactors to the Vogtle Nuclear Plant, PHRP, 2007

Respectfully submitted,

CUT AND PASTE ~ Additional Points to Customize Your Message

~ Not all of the water withdrawn is returned to the river, much of it is lost as water vapor, a greenhouse gas, a point which is not analyzed in the draft EIS.

~ The water that the reactors return to the river will be hotter than the water which was withdrawn.

~ Two-thirds of the heat generated in the nuclear reactor will not be turned into electricity, but will be vented to the local environment as waste heat contributing to drought conditions. This environmental impact has not been analyzed in the draft EIS.

~ Health studies suggest cancer and death rates have risen in Burke County since Vogtle reactors 1 and 2 started operating.

Your letter will be signed with the information you provide below:

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NO NUKES Y'ALL!

"To the village square
we must carry the facts
of atomic energy.
From there must come America's voice."

ALBERT EINSTEIN

~~~~~~

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REFERENCES

POST ACCIDENT AP1000 CONTAINMENT LEAKAGE: An Unresolved Safety Issue
by Arnold Gundersen

UNTAPPED WEALTH: Offshore Wind
Can Deliver Cleaner,
More Affordable Energy and More Jobs than Offshore Oil

CREATING AN OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY:
A Strategic Work Plan for DOE

CARBON-FREE AND NUCLEAR-FREE:
A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy
by Arjun Makhijani

SOLAR AND NUCLEAR COSTS — THE HISTORIC CROSSOVER:
Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy
NC WARN

HEALTH RISKS OF ADDING NEW REACTORS TO THE VOGTLE NUCLEAR PLANT

THE WATER-ENERGY CONNECTION:
Georgia Facts
& Figures
SACE

DOWNLOAD MAP OF GEORGIA WIND POTENTIAL

NEW NUKES for Georgia???

NO THANKS!!!

CLICK HERE

Educating and activating the grassroots to create a nuclear-free future

~

PO Box 8574 Atlanta, GA 31106 404-378-4263 nukewatchsouth@mindspring.com

NO NUKES Y'ALL!

ACTION CENTER | vogtle eis comments

"STOP VOGTLE!" Harvest the Wind

>>> CLICK HERE FOR INSTANT ACTION <<<

HANDY EMAIL ACTION LETTER!

Your letter will be signed with the information you provide below:

NO NUKES Y'ALL!

"To the village square we must carry the facts of atomic energy. From there must come America's voice." ALBERT EINSTEIN

~~~~~~

FREE STICKERS!

Cool stickers FREE with FREE membership in Nuclear Watch South!

~~~~~~

REFERENCES

Educating and activating the grassroots to create a
nuclear-free future

PO Box 8574
Atlanta, GA 31106
404-378-4263
nukewatchsouth@mindspring.com

"To the village square
we must carry the facts
of atomic energy.
From there must come America's voice."

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Cool stickers FREE with FREE membership in
Nuclear Watch South!