BOSTON – State Representative Kathy LaNatra announced that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today denied the permit modification sought by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the former Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay. Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary as defined under the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuaries Act, which prohibits the dumping or discharge of industrial wastes into protected state waters.
“I am thrilled with the MassDEP’s decision to deny Holtec’s request to dump over 1 million gallons of wastewater into Cape Cod Bay,” said State Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “Cape Cod Bay is the lifeblood of the economy of both the South Shore and Cape Cod. People live, work and play on the water and on its shores. The plan to dump nuclear wastewater into the bay is yet another attempt by Holtec to ignore the pleas of residents in the area in an attempt to maximize their profits over the health of Cape Cod Bay. Today’s decision is the culmination of a lot of hard work by myself and my colleagues in the State Legislature, and shows what can happen when Federal, State and local officials work together towards a common goal of protecting the health and safety both of the residents that we serve as well as the environment that they, and generations to come, rely upon. I want to thank the MassDEP, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and all officials involved in this decision.”
Pilgrim stopped generating electricity in May 2019. As part of its decommissioning of the plant, Holtec requested that MassDEP modify Pilgrim’s state Surface Water Discharge Permit to authorize Holtec to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of treated wastewater from the facility into Cape Cod Bay.
MassDEP reviewed the Holtec application, and after consultation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, determined that Cape Cod Bay is a protected ocean sanctuary. The Ocean Sanctuaries Act prohibits the “dumping or discharge of commercial, municipal, domestic or industrial wastes” into ocean sanctuaries. The water that Holtec proposes to discharge qualifies as industrial wastewater, and therefore, the proposed discharge is prohibited.
MassDEP issued its final determination after holding a public hearing and public comment period and conducting an extensive review of the more than 1,000 comments received. The final determination and the public comments are available online.
MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.