Urgent: Call State Senators to Halt Holtec

Amendment to Economic Development Bill Would Put Temporary Moratorium on Dumping

Dear Readers:

I wanted to alert you to a very urgent matter before the Legislature on Beacon Hill in terms of preventing Holtec from dumping any irradiated wastewater from Pilgrim Nuclear Station.

         For complicated reasons, the legislative solution to this issue looks to be via an Amendment – Amendment 63, “Economic Impact” – to the Economic Development Bill, S. 3018. The Amendment that has been put forward by Sen. Susan Moran (D-Falmouth). 

 Amendment 63 would put a moratorium on any dumping of irradiated wastewater into our bays prior to the report of a Commission appointed by the Commonwealth to examine the impacts of any proposed dumping – including the economic impacts – on industries like fishing and aquaculture, real estate, and hospitality and tourism, to name just a few.

      It is critical that this Amendment pass, so I have put the contact information of the critical Massachusetts Senators below, with a suggested script from a friend with Beacon Hill experience (Mark DeCristoforo of the Mass. Seafood Collaborative).

      This is not a sure thing, and they only issued the amendment last night and are voting tomorrow, so time is of the essence. Please be polite, and simply express your support for Amendment 63 to S. 3018, i.e., for no dumping in our bays.

Thanks to everyone, and I hope you are all enjoying the summer!

KEY MA SENATORS:

1) Senator Karen Spilka, Senate President (617) 722-1500

Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov

2) Senator Bruce Tarr, Minority Leader (617) 722-1600

Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov

3) Senator William Brownsberger, President Pro-Tempore (617) 722-1280

William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov

4) Senator Cynthia Creem, Majority Leader (617) 722-1639

Cynthia.Creem@masenate.gov

5) Senator Michael Rodrigues, Ways & Means Chair (617) 722-1114

Michael.Rodrigues@masenate.gov

https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator

SUGGESTED SCRIPT

Hello. My name is ___________(NAME) from ___________(TOWN) and I am calling to ask that you to co-sponsor and support Amendment 63 – “Economic Impact” to the Economic Development bill, S. 3018

This amendment would put a temporary moratorium on Holtec’s plan to discharge nuclear waste from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant into Cape Cod Bay. It would require a commission study the economic effects said dumping would have on the local economy, including, but not limited to, the commercial fishing, real estate, and hospitality industries.

The amendment would not abrogate, undermine, or preempt any federal law or federal agency rules. This economic study is well within the purview of state government.

There is robust support behind this amendment, and its implications. Almost every Select Board on the South Shore and Cape Cod have expressed written support to keep nuclear waste out of the Bay, and every area legislator – from the State House to the US Capitol, including Congressman Keating and Senators Markey and Warren – oppose dumping.

Again, my name is ___________(NAME) from ___________(TOWN) and I am calling to ask that you to co-sponsor and support Amendment ### to the Economic Development bill, S. ####.

Thank you.