As Cape Codders Rally Against Radioactive Dumping, Attorney General Gets on Board
Healey Says No to Radioactive Dumping; Rally in Wellfleet Celebrates Electoral Wins in the Several Towns; Legislative Efforts on Beacon Hill
In a recent campaign swing through Cape Cod, Attorney General and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor Maura Healey vowed to prevent Holtec from dumping any irradiated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay from Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.
“We’ve come a long way on this issue, and I’ll be damn sure, in whatever capacity I serve, that we’re not going to have radioactive waste dumped down here,” Healey said, in an interview with WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station, on Tuesday, June 14th, while meeting local business owners in Dennis.
Attorney General Healey affirmed the view of local attorneys and activists that ample statutory and regulatory authority exists for her office to halt the proposed radioactive dumping by Holtec.
“I've been really clear about that, and I will continue to be clear about that, and will continue to hold Holtec accountable and make them live up to the conditions of the agreement,” Healey told WCAI’s Jennette Barnes.
Healey’s comments echo some earlier statements from her office. At the same time, this is the first occassion she has been this explicit and open about her intentions to prevent any dumping, whether as Attorney General or as Governor. Critically, the Attorney General’s Office probably has a strong legal chance of stopping the proposed dumping, according to seasoned legal observers.
Two of Healey’s rivals — Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston), a rival to her left for the Democratic nomination, and Geoff Diehl, currently leading the polls in the race for the GOP nomination for Governor — have spoken at previous rallies organized by Save Our Bay, a broad community coalition of environmentalists, fishermen, realtors, activists, Native people, and concerned citizens from throughout the South Shore, Cape Cod, and beyond (full disclosure: I am a member of Save Our Bay and have spoken at several rallies).
( Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz addresses a Save Our Bay Rally prior to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Meeting in Plymouth, May 9th, 2022; photo credit — J. Benjamin Cronin. )
Healey, despite several invitations, has not yet spoken at a Save Our Bay rally, and there have been increasing notes of dissatisfaction in discussions about both the AG Office’s conduct in this matter, and the Attorney General’s campaign, among concerned local activists and citizens.
Many of those same voices were cautiously optimistic that Healey’s recent public statement will mark a change in approach by the Attorney General’s Office.
( Massachusetts Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Maura Healey, at right, with Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine), at left, on June 16th. Photo credit — The Committee to Elect Maura Healey. )
Wellfleet Rally Keeps The Pressure On
Healey’s comments came the same day as a rally held by Cape Cod Downwinders at Mayo Beach in Wellfleet.
( Cape Codders rally to oppose dumping in Wellfleet, June 14th, 2022; photo credit — Diane Turco. )
The rally, which brought together a broad coalition of residents, activists, and public officials, including Rep. Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown) celebrated the fact that all of the Towns of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as Duxbury and Scituate on the South Shore, have passed either Town Meeting Articles or ballot questions at the Spring Town Elections opposing Holtec’s proposed dumping of irradiated wastewater.
This resounding statement of the great democratic will of the people of Southeastern Massachusetts, it would appear, is increasingly being heard in the halls of power.
Ann Rosenkranz, of West Tisbury, was clear, in a statement released prior to the rally:
"Island residents joined the public outcry to oppose Holtec's reckless plan to discharge one million gallons of wastewater with radionuclides into Cape Cod Bay. The residents of Martha's Vineyard have nearly unanimously opposed Holtec's wastewater dump plan in their town elections and annual town meetings.”
Rosenkranz continued: “It is long past time for the entire citizenry to rise up, speak out and demand an end to the contamination of our water, air, soil and food supply, and our bodies by the businesses that prioritize their profits over the safety and livelihood of the public, and indeed, the planet."
Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, likewise opposed Holtec’s proposed dumping.
“Holtec must not be allowed to use Cape Cod Bay as its dumping ground simply because it is cheaper for the company to do so. Cape towns will be left dealing with the consequences of such an action, which has the potential for catastrophic and long-lasting impacts to our environment and public health, as well as to local fisheries, tourism and other aspects of our coastal economy,” said Gottlieb, in a statement prior to the rally.
Diane Turco, Director of Cape Cod Downwinders, a longtime activist, and a friend of The Plymouth County Observer, emceed the rally. Turco sought to hold Holtec CEO Kris Singh accountable for some of the statements he made on the May 6th Congressional hearing on nuclear decommissioning held at Plymouth on May 6th, by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. William Keating (D-Bourne).
“At Senator Markey's May 6 hearing, Holtec CEO Kris Singh stated he would follow what stakeholders say. Well, over 90% of the Cape and Martha's Vineyard, Duxbury, and Scituate voters have clearly spoken. NO Dumping. We do not consent to this irresponsible plan that will damage our communities, the economy of our area, and the fragile marine environment,” said Turco in a statement prior to the rally.
“Holtec must follow its promise and remove dumping from their plan immediately. Until that happens, Holtec WILL DUMP into our bay. So join us today and say, NO WAY! NOT IN OUR BAY!"
Efforts on Beacon Hill
Meanwhile, in the legislature, the two bills filed by local legislators — H. 4444, submitted by Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury) and Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston), and S. 2791, submitted by Sen. Su Moran (D-Falmouth) — appeared to have little prospect of passage, according to sources familiar with Beacon Hill.
However, the legislative route to halt the dumping remains promising, with two potential avenues of advance — the first would involve Sen. Moran’s amendment to the Massachusetts Senate’s version of this year’s budget (Amendment 577), which would hold nuclear plant “owners and operators responsible for the cost of safety oversight and management,” according to information from Sen. Moran’s office.
The second avenue is Gov. Baker’s economic development bill, which is known to be important to Baker personally and likely to pass. Though the bill has yet to be formally filed, knowledgeable sources indicated it will likely include a moratorium through 2025 of any discharge of radioactive material into the bay, and will impanel a statutorily-created panel that will examine the environmental and economic impacts of dumping.
Rep. Peake is expected to help shepherd this aspect of the economic development bill through the House. Peake, as an assistant majority leader in the House, has played an increasingly prominent role in the leadership of the lower House since the appointment of former majority leader Claire Cronin (D-Easton) as the Biden Administration’s Ambassador to Ireland.
Both the Senate budget amendment from Sen. Moran, and the relevant sections of the economic development bill, face a cautiously optimistic outlook on Beacon Hill, according to an informed observer.
Whether through legislation or action by the Attorney General’s Office, the people of the South Shore, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and beyond, are clear — the great democratic will of our communities stands firmly to opposed to any dumping in the Bay.
Great coverage, beautifully done!
Might be worth pointing out that Moran's characterization of her budget amendment is a bit overblown: Amendment 577 "...'would hold nuclear plant “owners and operators responsible for the cost of safety oversight and management', according to information from Sen. Moran’s office."... In point of fact the amendment merely establishes a higher minimum on the $$ Holtec owes annually to the MDPH radiation division for oversight of the ISFSI. But hooray for the amendment. And hooray for all that happened in Wellfleet! And hooray for putting all of this in context!