Vermont utility regulators question accuracy of statements by nuclear plant officials

Vt. utility regulators question nuke statements

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Public Service Board is sharply questioning sworn statements made by the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant about underground piping at the facility.

In an unusual opening statement before a hearing on Wednesday, PSB Chairman James Volz said that it appeared Entergy Nuclear “may have provided false information for an extended period of time.”

The board has told Entergy it would need to go back through its application for a 20-year license extension and correct any inaccurate information.

The hearing comes nearly three weeks after it was announced that radioactive tritium was found to have been leaking at the Vernon facility, possibly from underground piping officials had said did not exist.