COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Holtec, who have been working to re-open the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township, are facing a federal lawsuit from multiple environmental groups.
Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, and Michigan Safe Energy Future are contesting an exemption request from Holtec to reverse the shutdown of Palisades years ago.
After being shut down, Palisades became the first power plant in American history to be restarted.
But the environmental groups argue that the NRC has created fake regulatory pathways to allow the restart.
Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear’s radioactive waste specialist, told News Channel 3 that the reopening process has been rushed and is irresponsible, as well as illegal.
“They are risking a large-scale nuclear catastrophe on the scale of a Chernobyl or a Fukushima,” Kamps said.
Kamps also claimed the power plant has outdated, deteriorating machinery and equipment that Holtec and the NRC have not accounted for, including steam generator tubes.
Kamps said the sleeving, plugging, and unplugging of the tubes was completed while they were challenging it.
“They make their decisions, they carry out their actions while the proceedings are still unfolding,” he said. “It’s messed up.”
In a statement to News Channel 3, Holtec said the NRC’s decision to approve Palisades’ reopening was thorough:
The NRC’s approval to reauthorize power operations at Palisades followed a rigorous, independent review under the agency’s existing regulatory framework. As we move toward the plant’s historic restart, our top priority is ensuring the plant is prepared to return to long-term safe and reliable generation. Bringing Palisades back online is a milestone for Michigan and the nation, returning 800 megawatts of safe, reliable, and carbon-free baseload energy to the grid while creating hundreds of high-quality jobs and strengthening regional energy security. We’re grateful for the strong bipartisan support from our federal, state, and local partners, as well as the surrounding community. Our focus remains on safety, compliance, and the successful completion of this historic project.
The lawsuit has been brought to the Western District of Michigan, and Kamps expects it to be heard in front of a judge in Kalamazoo.
The NRC told News Channel 3 it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Environmental groups sue Holtec, NRC over nuclear plant reopen