BREAKING: MASSDEP ISSUES TENTATIVE DENIAL TO HOLTEC ON WASTEWATER

MassDEP Says Discharge Would Violate Ocean Sanctuaries Act; Markey's Office Confirms;

(BOSTON) Sen. Ed Markey's office has confirmed that MassDEP issued a tentative finding denying Holtec's request to modify its permit to allow discharge of ~1.1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

MassDEP, according to Markey's Office, has ruled that the proposed discharge violates the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act (M.G.L. c. 132A, secs 12A-16J and Sec. 18). There will now be a period of comment and a public hearing on the matter on August 28th.

Sen. Markey issued the following statement:

“This is a good day for environmental justice. MassDEP’s decision to deny Holtec’s permit modification request is a win for the environment and for all of the people, businesses, and organizations that rely on Cape Cod Bay’s reputation for clean and safe water. When Holtec took over the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in 2019, the company promised this community an open and transparent decommissioning process—a promise Holtec’s CEO repeated to me in a hearing I chaired in Plymouth in 2022,” said Sen. Markey.

“In the years since, Holtec has fallen woefully short on this commitment—particularly with regard to its plans to discharge one million gallons of radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay, despite vehement opposition from local stakeholders. I applaud MassDEP for following the science, upholding the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act, and heeding local concerns in its decision to rightfully deny Holtec’s request.”

Without a modified NPDES permit, Holtec cannot proceed with its proposed discharge. Nor can the US EPA issue a permit if the state government does not (40 CFR 124.53).

More will be forthcoming at tonight’s NDCAP meeting in Plymouth at 6:30 p.m.