( – promoted by JulieWaters)
I’m beginning to feel like a slack-jawed teen from all of this smirking (emphasis added):
Entergy asks court for OK to continue operating Vermont Yankee, as it waits for license approval from Public Service Board
by Alan Panebaker | March 16, 2012
http://vtdigger.org/2012/03/16…
Entergy again asks judge to prevent state from shutting down VY
By BOB AUDETTE, Reformer Staffreformer.com
Updated: 03/15/2012 05:46:54 PM EDTBRATTLEBORO-“In documents filed in federal district court in Brattleboro on March 14, Entergy again asked a judge to issue an order forbidding the Vermont Public Service Board from shutting down Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon.”
http://www.reformer.com/localn…
“Again”? Yep. My my, seems to be a tone of desperation coming from the ivory towers at Entergy Louisiana corporate, amongst the piles of emptied champagne bottles still waiting to be carted out to make room for more.
Oh, puleeze! Pretty, pretty pleeze…don’t shut our nuclear waste-leaking dirty bomb down!
Double whammy:
“At the same time[..]submitted a request to the PSB that it go along with a conclusion reached by both the Vermont Attorney General and the Vermont Department of Public Service that under state statutes Yankee can continue to operate while Entergy’s application for a certificate for public good for continued operation is pending.”
Appears AG & a few others jumped the gun:
“In hearings held earlier this week, members of the PSB stated they don’t necessarily agree with the AG’s conclusion.”
No problem, they might just have to defy the State of VT:
“The PSB thus raised the very specter this Court sought clearly to avoid in its Decision: namely, that Vermont would require VY to cease operation on March 21, 2012, causing the shutdown of VY…” wrote Entergy’s attorneys in the documents filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont. “If Federal District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha doesn’t grant Entergy’s request by March 21, when the current CPG expires, Entergy will be forced to either cease operations “or to operate in defiance of the PSB’s opinion,” they wrote.
So, they really think Judge Murtha was merely trying to prevent VT from shuttering VY? I thought he ruled primarily that the legislature could not inject itself into decisions solely within the purview of the NRC, namely safety. However preserving the role of the PSB for consideration of the CPG. Looks like they expected a mere NRC-like rubberstamp before the photo-op. I’m surprised they didn’t include the PR & photo team which may lose jobs along w/the “More than 600 plant employees.”
More frantic freaking:
“Entergy is also asking for all the parties to meet with Murtha on Monday “because of the urgent circumstances created by the rapidly approaching (deadline), together with the (PSB’s) continued questioning of Vermont Yankee’s ability to operate past (March 21) …”
Monday? Wow, that’s two days hence. Quite alot to ask, they basically said ‘It needs to be done NOW.
Hopefully they’ll be told to suck this one up too.
PSB chair sure doesn’t seem to be cottoning to these criminals or their thuggish legal team:
“Any (CPG) issued by the Board shall limit the cumulative total amount of spent fuel stored at Vermont Yankee to the amount derived in the operation of the facility up to but not beyond March 21, 2012,”said Chairman James Volz, reading from the statute.
“That language was not struck by the (federal) Court,” added Voltz.
The Public Service Board took the arguments under advisement and the parties have until Friday, March 16, to file supporting documents.
Stay tuned!
We really love Vermont, ‘cept when you force us to defy your laws. And pollute your resources.
You quoted the brief as saying Entergy might be forced to “operate in defiance of the PSB’s opinion.”
That’s almost as bad as the prospect of citizens expressing themselves outside the gates, which has some townspeople seeing Red (see comments at vtdigger).
Wait. No it’s not. In fact, the very idea of operating a nuclear power plant in defiance of an order from the Public Service Board is outrageous. If nothing else, however, it makes for some fun daydreaming. What would you do if you were Governor and that scenario played out? I know they’re tired from serving in Iraq & Afghanistan, but this sounds like a job for the Vermont National Guard.
In any case, it’s nice to be reminded about what Entergy really thinks of the rule of law. It’s great if you win, but not so good if you lose.
I & my husband have had a few discussions about this very topic. I’ve also imagined how this could play out. Surround the complex w/chain link & padlocked chains, not allowing anyone to enter except for designated nuclear personnel who would begin the shutdown? That’s alot of metal. Surround the plant w/law enforcement & crime scene tape? That’s alot of tape.
I asked “what if they won’t leave?” my husband said it would be up to law enforcement to serve notice but if it turned into a scenario where there was a standoff, ultimately it would be the National Guard that would be called in.
I’ve heard Velco could shut the power off & disconnect them from the grid but seems mighty complicated.
Citizens have a right to peacefully protest & conduct civil disobedience, however I don’t think corporations & businesses have the same right although Romney adamantly declares ‘corporations are people too’: