The Associated Press, Burlington Free Press
August 3, 2007

BRATTLEBORO -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says there are no environmental reasons not to extend the license of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant for 20 years, but officials have safety questions about the proposal. The NRC says it is delaying its final decision on whether to approve the plan by Vermont Yankee owner Entergy Nuclear to keep the plant operating until 2032. The NRC is expected to issue its environmental impact statement for Vermont Yankee today.

A final decision on the relicensing request is expected in November. "The NRC staff concluded that all environmental impacts from a license extension for Vermont Yankee would be small," NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said. Entergy spokesman Larry Smith said the NRC wants additional time to study 24 safety systems at the plant, but it was not a reason for concern. "They're just asking for additional information, and it's all relevant to relicensing," he said. "It's a back-and-forth process," he said, adding that the delay in a decision would be expected. Vermont Yankee provides about one-third of the electricity used in Vermont.