Pilgrim Watch Fukushima Contention Denied

The three-judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel handling the Pilgrim nuclear power plant license renewal proceeding has denied a motion from the Pilgrim Watch organizing seeking the submittal of a late-filed post-Fukushima contention.

The contention, filed Nov. 18. 2011, requests a new Severe Accident Mitigation Analysis (SAMA) for the Pilgrim plant (as part of a review of its license renewal application) in light of the Fukushima accident last March.

In a 46-page statement, the ASLB denied the motion because it "fails to meet the criteria for late-filed, or non-timely, contentions in such proceedings, as well as the admissibility criteria."

The ASLB has denied several of Pilgrim Watch's contentions since the re-licensing process began more than four years ago.

Pilgrim Watch has the option of appealing the ruling to the five-member, presidentially appointed Commission that oversees the NRC.