Media Advisory: Turkey Point Licensing Hearing
Federal Regulators to Hear Arguments Opposing Proposed New Nuclear Reactors in Homestead, Florida
Press conference hosted by diverse organizations to challenge license application to build new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point near Biscayne National ParkWhat: This week concerned citizens and environmental organizations in South Florida will present their arguments before federal regulators regarding Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) proposal to build two additional nuclear reactors at the existing Turkey Point plant adjacent to Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. A press conference will be held with additional organizations that also believe that federal regulators should reject FPL’s proposal to build the new reactors due to the effects it would have on communities located near the plant, customers’ electric bills, the environment, water supply and public health and safety. Why: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Atomic Safety Licensing Board, will hear arguments on Friday, November 19 from concerned citizens and environmental organizations opposing FPL’s request for a federal license to build two new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, adjacent to Biscayne National Park. The purpose of the administrative hearing is for the Board to determine whether the organizations sufficiently raise legitimate concerns, warranting future hearings. The public is welcome to attend but will not be permitted to present public comment to the Board. Press Conference: Intervening parties and additional concerned citizens and organizations, including the National Parks Conservation Association, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Tropical Audubon Society, Save it Now, Glades!, Sierra Club Miami Group, South Florida Wildlands Association, 1Sky Florida and others will host a press conference onsite, which is not part of the official administrative hearing process. Who: National Parks Conservation Association and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy along with local citizens from the Miami area have legally challenged FPL’s federal license application citing serious environmental and public health issues this expansion poses. The Everglades Law Center and Emory University School of Law’s Turner Environmental Law Clinic are representing the concerned parties. CASE/Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc. and the Village of Pinecrest have also petitioned to intervene. When: The hearing will take place on Friday, November 19, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; the press conference will take place at 12:00 p.m. for 30 minutes with a Q&A session to follow. Where: City of Homestead City Hall, 790 North Homestead Boulevard, Homestead, FL 33030. Click here for directions. The 12:00 p.m. press conference by the intervening parties and additional concerned citizens and organizations will be held near the entrance to Homestead City Hall. Additional Information: View the NRC scheduling order here and details for the 11/19 schedule here . * Contact information continued:
Alison Zemanski, National Parks Conservation Association, 202.454.3332
Kahlil Kettering, National Parks Conservation Association, 954.961.1280
Sara Barczak, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, 912.201.0354
Richard Grosso, Everglades Law Center, 954.770.9237
Laura Reynolds, Tropical Audubon Society, 305.666.2842
Mark Oncavage, Sierra Club Miami Group, 305.251.5273
Barry White, CASE/Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Inc., 305.505.9011
Rhonda Roff, Save it Now, Glades!, 954.347.2335
Matthew Schwartz, South Florida Wildlands Association, 954.634.7173
Andrea Cuccaro, 1 Sky Florida, 786.925.1151 # # #