VERNON -- New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes wants bordering states that are within the emergency evacuation zones of nuclear power plants to have more oversight and communication with the nearby power plants.
Hodes is having his staff look at existing rules and regulations between state and federal agencies to see if bordering states can play more of a role in decisions made about nuclear power plants.
"States should be involved with the NRC and they should have a say in health and safety issues," Hodes said at a press conference outside the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. "What goes on at Vermont Yankee affects the health and safety of the people I represent across the river and we should have a voice in those issues."
Hodes made the announcement after spending more than an hour insides the gates of Vermont Yankee, getting an update on the ongoing tritium leak that is releasing radioactive water into the environment.
Last year, when Vermont Yankee was dealing with its collapsed cooling tower, Hodes said the communications between the plant and his state were unacceptable.
Hodes, and state Sen. Molly Kelly, D-Keene, who represents the towns across the Connecticut River, demanded more communication from Entergy last year and both lawmakers said Monday that information to their offices on the recent tritium leak has been detailed and timely.
"Accountability is the No. 1 issue," Kelly said. "We have an
Hodes also said, after his tour, that he believes Entergy is working as hard as it can to find the source of the tritium leak, which has shown rising amounts of the radioactive material is each test.
Still, Hodes said neighboring states that can be as affected by a nuclear mishap should have a greater role in regulating the power plants.
And he said plants around the country should be required to provide the same detailed information that the legislatures in the plants' home states receive.
"We represent the folks in towns across the river in New Hampshire and their public health and safety are our first concern," Hodes said. And while the state has been receiving updates on the tritium problem, Hodes said he wants the information to "go further."
Throughout the press conference, Hodes repeatedly said that his staff was only in the initial stage of drafting legislation.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has most of the oversight of the nation's nuclear power plants, and Hodes said he understood that New Hampshire's options for more involvement in Yankee's operations could be limited.
He said he hoped the draft copy of the proposed legislation would take less than a few months to release.
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.
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