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Entergy Nuclear is pleased to announce that the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant has received its renewed State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit renewal and a Water Quality Certification (WQC) for the 20-year Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-issued renewed license. Concurrently, the New York Department of State Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) issued its consistency determination for the renewed NRC license. The WQC and CZMA determination reflect New York State’s acknowledgement of the important role of the FitzPatrick plant to the New York power supply and the absence of adverse aquatic impacts associated with its operations.
Early last week, Entergy Nuclear and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) reached agreement on the terms of FitzPatrick’s SPDES permit and WQC. That agreement reflects Entergy’s commitment to upgrade screening mechanisms designed to foster the return of entrapped fish to Lake Ontario, and NYSDEC’s acknowledgement of the need for more study before additional technology is considered for the station. A NYSDEC administrative law judge approved the resolution.
“We are extremely pleased with this resolution and thank elected officials, community leaders, citizens of the community and Entergy employees for their support of the expeditious approval of the SPDES permit and WQC,” said Site Vice President Pete Dietrich. “It goes without saying that we are committed to environmental stewardship; we therefore appreciated the cooperative working relationship with the NYSDEC staff, and look forward to continued work with them in our efforts to safeguard environmental resources, to advance Climate Change solutions and to advance the continued reliability and affordability of the New York energy supply.”
A public hearing conducted before NYSDEC was held on July 15, in Scriba, NY. The meeting was an opportunity for members of the public to state their views on the station’s renewed SPDES permit and WQC. New York Assemblyman Will Barclay; several Oswego County officials, including County Administrator Philip Church; Chairman of the Legislature Barry Leeman; and County Sheriff Reuel Todd spoke in support of prompt issuance of the renewed SPDES permit and WQC. Also speaking in support of Entergy were Paul Santore, 16th district county legislator; Morris Sorbello, 23rd district county legislator; Oswego Mayor Randy Bateman; Scriba Town Supervisor Ken Burdick; Planning Board Chairman James Wellington; Kern Yerdon, IBEW Local 97 business representative; and other trade union representatives who provide valuable resources to the plant. Entergy employees and citizens of the community also spoke. These speakers underscored Entergy’s commitment to safe and reliable operation, the station’s many environmental and economic benefits, and the importance of the plant and employees to the community. In addition to the verbal statements, written comments were submitted by State Senator Daniel J. Aubertine; Gavin J. Donohue, President and CEO of Independent Power Producers of New York;
Michael Treadwell, Executive Director, Operations Oswego County; and many other community leaders and representatives.
Coincidentally, a coastal consistency review conducted by the New York State Department of State under the New York Coastal Management Program was completed, and a concurrence with consistency certification was issued.
FitzPatrick expects its license renewal as early as August, extending the station’s current 40-year license, and its commitment to the community and New York to 2034.
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