This decision from NRC concludes the last state petition on the consumption of the decommissioning funds and therefore putting an end to the last appeal which was had been unresolved by the federal agency.
The official of Vermont, almost a year ago, had called for a "robust, comprehensive and participatory review" of the ways where in Entergy Vermont Yankee administrators spend funds for the decommissioning trust fund of the shut-down plant.
However, the NRC's ruling discharges Vermont's dare to the supervision of the federal trust fund. Said decision was recently issued on Thursday.
The verdict was derived from the allegation the Entergy spends down the federal trust fund for activities irrelative to the decommissioning.
The commissioners noted: "Moreover, our ongoing oversight of Entergy's compliance with our regulatory structure provides reasonable assurance that sufficient funds will be available to decommission Vermont Yankee in accordance with our regulations"
Aside from the said ruling, the NRC has also decided to order an environmental assessment which focuses on Entergy's expediting of trust money for long-term management of spent nuclear fuel. It was likewise a pretty small success for the state.
Kyle Landis-Marinell, a Vermont Assistant Attorney General who also has a connection with the issue said, "While we are disappointed that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied our request for a hearing (on trust fund spending), we are glad that they ordered further environmental review."
Upon the December 2014 shutdown of Vermont Yankee, the use of the federal trust fund has constantly been a subject of disagreement between Entergy and the state.
Since the said shutdown, Entergy has been using the trust fund for its regular spending. Its levels, on the other hand, have been inconsistent because of the market performance.
Last Thursday night, Entergy reported at a meeting in Vernon that the fund had reached to $574.9 million by the end of September.
That same day, Marty Cohn, Vermont Yankee's Spokesman said: "Based on our preliminary review, we are pleased with the decision by NRC commissioners in the matters brought forth by the state of Vermont regarding the use of the decommissioning trust fund."
"We do not see any need to change the way we are cost-effectively utilizing the decommissioning trust fund to safely and efficiently decommission Vermont Yankee," he furthered
Entergy Corp. is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations in the Deep South of the United States. It is headquartered in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Join the Conversation