WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Environmental group readies for round two against nuke plant (Waterford-AP) _ An environmental group opposing the restart of the Millstone nuclear power plant is preparing to go back to familiar surroundings _ a Hartford courtroom. Nancy Burton, a lawyer for the Long Island-based Fish Unlimited, said Monday plant owner Northeast Utilities is operating with an expired federal environmental license. The group is now preparing a lawsuit calling for the shutdown of the three-plant complex. The group lost a court battle last month to stop the restart of Millstone 2. "This (lawsuit) is directed against all three plants," said Burton. She said she will file the lawsuit in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday. All three plants were taken off line nearly three years ago due to safety concerns. In the past year, Millstone 2 and 3 gained federal approval to restart. Millstone 1 is being decommissioned. Burton contends Millstone's environmental permit that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the Island Sound expired two years ago. The permit falls under the Federal Clean Water Act and is administered in Connecticut by the state Department of Environmental Protection. "Without it, they can't operate," said Burton. Millstone spokesman Joseph Pillittere said Monday the company believes it has a valid federal discharge permit. The company agreed last year to pay a $1.2 million fine for an illegal discharge. DEP officials said at the time it was one of the largest fines ever levied in the state for an illegal water discharge. Fish Unlimited along with several other plaintiffs tried to block the restart of Millstone due by arguing that it is responsible for the dramatic decline of winter flounder in Niantic Bay. But a Hartford judge ruled that overfishing _ and not the power plant _ was to blame. Millstone 3 is currently shut down for refueling and is expected to be out of service for another month. Millstone 2 won federal approval last month to restart and is back on line. (Copyright 1999 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Environmental group readies for round two against nuke plant
(Waterford-AP) _ An environmental group opposing the restart of the Millstone nuclear power plant is preparing to go back to familiar surroundings _ a Hartford courtroom.

Nancy Burton, a lawyer for the Long Island-based Fish Unlimited, said Monday plant owner Northeast Utilities is operating with an expired federal environmental license. The group is now preparing a lawsuit calling for the shutdown of the three-plant complex.

The group lost a court battle last month to stop the restart of Millstone 2.

"This (lawsuit) is directed against all three plants," said Burton. She said she will file the lawsuit in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday.

All three plants were taken off line nearly three years ago due to safety concerns. In the past year, Millstone 2 and 3 gained federal approval to restart. Millstone 1 is being decommissioned.

Burton contends Millstone's environmental permit that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the Island Sound expired two years ago. The permit falls under the Federal Clean Water Act and is administered in Connecticut by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"Without it, they can't operate," said Burton.

Millstone spokesman Joseph Pillittere said Monday the company believes it has a valid federal discharge permit.

The company agreed last year to pay a $1.2 million fine for an illegal discharge. DEP officials said at the time it was one of the largest fines ever levied in the state for an illegal water discharge.

Fish Unlimited along with several other plaintiffs tried to block the restart of Millstone due by arguing that it is responsible for the dramatic decline of winter flounder in Niantic Bay. But a Hartford judge ruled that overfishing _ and not the power plant _ was to blame.

Millstone 3 is currently shut down for refueling and is expected to be out of service for another month. Millstone 2 won federal approval last month to restart and is back on line.

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