For Immediate Release: February 7,
2008
Beyond Nuclear * Citizens for Alternatives to
Chemical Contamination
Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes * Don?t Waste Michigan
Huron Environmental Activist League * Michigan Environmental Council
Contact: Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear, (240)
462-3216
Kay Cumbow, Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, (810)
346-4513
Michael Keegan, Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, (734)
770-1441
Citizen Groups Warn
Attorney General Cox
About Enron-like Atomic Shell Game
Lansing, MI ? Six environmental groups sent a
letter yesterday to Michigan?s Attorney General, Michael Cox, urging him
to investigate the corporate restructuring of Mississippi-based Entergy
Nuclear, which owns and operates the Palisades nuclear reactor in Covert,
as well as bears responsibility for the high-level radioactive wastes
stored at the former site of the Big Rock Point nuclear reactor in
Charlevoix. Entergy is seeking permission from the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) to spin off Palisades and Big Rock Point ?
and several additional reactors in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont ?
as limited liability holding companies. To keep our
posting
The Clarion Ledger in Mississippi recently quoted Entergy CEO J.
Wayne Leonard as saying "the [nuclear] plants in Michigan and the
Northeast had been ?the real cash cow? driving Entergy's earnings growth
over the past nine years."
"As it laughs all the way to the bank, Entergy is playing a shell
game with the radioactive risks of a rust bucket reactors and waste
storage at Palisades, and seven other reactors" said Kevin Kamps of
Beyond Nuclear, a national watchdog group based in Washington, D.C.
"This smells like an Enron sequel, with a radioactive
twist."
"Incredibly, Entergy?s first name for this corporate restructuring
was SpinCo," said Michael Keegan of the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free
Great Lakes in Monroe. "It couldn?t be more appropriate, as Entergy
spins a web of illusory holding companies and legal gimmicks to shield
itself from the catastrophic risks Palisades, Big Rock Point and other
reactors pose to the Great Lakes and State of Michigan."
The coalition urged Attorney General Cox to "open up the process for
the maximum public scrutiny and understanding, as capitalization has
direct implications for Entergy's ability to assume its share of
liability for any nuclear accidents under federal law."
"Our review of this proposal indicates a very complex and
potentially conflicted restructuring of the Entergy entities," said
Kay Cumbow of Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination in
Brown City. "This restructuring will have ramifications of control,
ownership, liabilities, and ultimately, potential conflicts of
interest."
"We request that your office look into this matter at once, as there
could likely be serious financial and safety ramifications for residents
of the State of Michigan," said Toledo attorney Terry Lodge, counsel
for Don?t Waste Michigan in its on-going struggle against the recent,
controversial twenty-year license extension at Palisades, as well as the
reactor?s sale from CMS/Consumers Energy to Entergy.
The environmental coalition also urged Attorney General Cox to consult
with the Attorneys General of Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont on
this Entergy Nuclear spin off of reactors in those states.
The environmental groups have sought an extension from the NRC in order
to submit comments and consider formal intervention.
A copy of the environmental coalition?s letter to Attorney General Cox is
attached.
--30--
Entergy Corporation submittals to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Entergy Corporate Restructure Application" December 5,
2007
ML073440039