Dominion Nuclear North Anna
Louisa County, VA

May 2008: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and its Virginia chapter the People’s Alliance for Clean Energy have filed to halt construction of a third nuclear reactor at the North Anna nuclear power plant. The petition raises eight major issues: Dominion lacks a realistic radioactive waste plan, Unit 3 would be located on top of a geological fault, the plant’s cooling system will violate water quality standards, the plant will not adequately limit radioactive emissions to the atmosphere, uranium is an unreliable fuel source, the license would violate the protections of due process and equal protection, irradiated fuel would remain on site, and the plant would be a target for terrorist attacks.

Lou Zeller, the League’s legal representative, said that Dominion covered up evidence of a geologic fault in the 1970’s and now they want a variance because they cannot meet safety standards. Zeller said, “Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on us.”

The League plans to press the seismic issue and other safety and environmental problems created by the proposed third reactor.

Elena Day of PACE said, “New nuclear reactors at North Anna would be irresponsible because the water situation is critical. The growing population in this area and the ongoing drought will only exacerbate the situation.”

The petition to intervene was filed on May 9th with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Read the Petition | Read Press Release

Help Stop Nuclear Power in Virginia!
Do You Live 50 miles from the North Anna Nuclear Plant?

Dominion-Virginia Power has submitted an application to add a third nuclear power plant at its North Anna Nuclear Station in northern Virginia. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is challenging this permit for health and safety reasons. If you are within the 50-mile zone, you may join in this effort.

Deadline: May 9, 2008

North Anna 50-mile map and factsheet | Declaration of Standing
FAQs about Legal Declaration of Standing | BREDL Membership Form

League files Motion for Delayed Deadline in North Anna nuclear license

On April 28, 2008 the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a legal motion with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to postpone deadlines for the North Anna Power Station construction and operation license. Dominion Virginia Power plans to add a third nuclear reactor at its plant in central Virginia.

Unless a new deadline is granted, the public will have had only three weeks to review the necessary documents to intervene in the licensing process.

Federal administrative procedures require that the time be no less than 60 days. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is ignoring its stated goal of providing "ample opportunities for members of the public." We know that there are fundamental safety questions which must be addressed. A previous Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision on North Anna said these safety issues are "unresolved." The public needs time to investigate. For these and other reasons, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed this motion.

Read April 28 Legal Motion

Jan. 2, 2008: On Friday, December 28th, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a petition against the Virginia's approval of a water permit for the North Anna nuclear power station (NAPS) located near Charlottesville.

The League's petition states: The Board's re-issuance of this Permit was in violation of Virginia's State Water Control Law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System, as well as other laws and regulations governing water quality. Specifically, state and federal laws and regulations require regulation of and limitations on thermal pollution discharges into Virginia's waters. There was ample evidence presented to the Board and DEQ as contained in the record which demonstrated that thermal pollution discharges from NAPS into Lake Anna are causing and contributing serious harm to the lake and to Virginia citizens' use and enjoyment of that natural resource. Despite the mandate under state and federal law and the record evidence of the thermal pollution problem in Lake Anna from NAPS, this Permit contains virtually no limits at all on thermal pollution. For the reasons stated in this Petition for Appeal, BREDL asks this Court to suspend and set aside the Permit and to remand the Permit to the Board and DEQ for further proceedings consistent and in compliance with federal and state water laws and regulations.
BREDL Press Release | View Appeal

Dec. 5, 2007: Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and the People’s Alliance for Clean Energy have filed a Notice of Appeal to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regarding reissuance of VPDES (Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit for Dominion-North Anna Power Station. BREDL Press Release | Notice of Appeal

Aug. 02, 2007: BREDL comments to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on the NPDES permit for North Anna nuclear power station. Excerpt: "Unless and until the DEQ can assure that thermal discharges from Dominion-Virginia Power’s North Anna plant will not exceed the maximum hourly temperature changes in Lake Anna, it cannot issue a VPDES permit." Read Lou Zeller's Comments

April 19, 2007: BREDL Limited appearance statements before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the matter of the Dominion Nuclear North Anna, LLC Early Site Permit. - The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Unless must assess the impact of terrorist attacks on radioactive fuel storage at Dominion-Virginia Power's North Anna nuclear power plant and provide for protective measures. Recent decisions by the US Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court hold that environmental impact statements for nuclear facilities should explicitly address potential environmental consequences of intentional destructive acts; that is, acts of sabotage and terrorism.

July 25, 2006: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has posted a national forecast of new nuclear reactor licensing activities for 2006 - 2008. The NRC issues updates on nuclear power reactor licensing issues every six months. These reports are available on their website at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/related-documents.html

March 16, 2006: Nuclear Power Licensing Factsheet - One-Step Licensing of Nuclear Plants Short-circuits Safety

Oct. 25, 2005: Problems with Dominion Nuclear North Anna's Early Site Permit and the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act | Read BREDL's Oct. 25 letter to Virginia DEQ | View Map Attachment to letter Dominion-Virginia Power is attempting to mischaracterize the permit in an attempt to limit the scope of the state's required coastal zone review. Dominion states that the existing power plant and the proposed nuclear site permit (ESP-Early Site Permit) are not located within Virginia’s Coastal Zone. However, North Anna Power Station is, indeed, within the Virginia coastal zone which includes Spotsylvania County‘s portion of Lake Anna. Dominion downplays the permit's impacts. But activity permitted by the ESP would include major construction including clearing and grading for roads; construction of warehouses, utilities and concrete mixing plants; excavations for facility structures; sewage treatment plants; and intake and discharge structures, water lines, and cooling towers. Finally, Dominion’s certification is inconsistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires consideration of cumulative impacts and connected actions. The ESP permit and the pending Combined License are “connected” actions as defined in the Council on Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR 1508.7. Background: NOAA Coastal Zone Management Federal Consistency webpage

Sept. 01, 2005: Read BREDL letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission On February 17, 2005 at a Nuclear Regulatory Commission public hearing, a man who identified himself as an employee of Dominion-Virginia Power falsely accused the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League of misusing public health data. His allegations not only have no basis in fact, they do nothing to alter our conclusion that deaths increased significantly after Dominion's nuclear reactors began operation. In this letter the League demonstrates why the allegations are false and asks the NRC for further investigations into death and disease in the communities around the North Anna nuclear power station.

March 01, 2005: BREDL comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for North Anna Early Site Permit (.pdf)

Feb. 17, 2005 Rally and NRC Public Hearing: Action Alert and more details. RALLY AGAINST NEW LICENSING for NUKES at NORTH ANNA, Thursday, February 17, 2005, 6:00 pm Louisa County Middle School, 1009 Davis Highway, Mineral, VA. This rally precedes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) hearing scheduled for 7:00 pm concerning a site permit for two new reactors at North Anna nuclear power station in Louisa County in Central VA.

June 26, 2004: North Anna information slides in .pdf. (First new reactors in 25 years, Facts about North Anna, What's wrong with nuclear power and proposed expansion?, Timeline for expansion) (.pdf)

May 03, 2004: BREDL, NIRS, Public Citizen contentions filed before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board regarding Early Site Permit application for North Anna Nuclear Power Plant site, Louisa County, VA (.pdf)

April 9, 2004: Pictures taken at the March 25, 2004 rallies in Louisa County and Charlottesville, Virginia which were held in support of the BE SAFE Anti-nuclear Days of Action. PACE, People's Alliance for Clean Energy, organized the events with help from the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown and to prevent new nuclear plants from being constructed by Dominion Virginia Power on Lake Anna. View Pictures

March 24, 2004: Factsheet: Three Mile Island 25 years later, TMI facts - Three Mile Island VA ? (.pdf)

March 24, 2004: Factsheet: Nuclear Waste transport to Nevada? - Don't Bet the Farm on it (.pdf)

Feb. 27, 2004: Factsheet: North Anna - New Nuclear Power Plants in Virginia? (.pdf)

Jan. 26, 2004: BREDL, NIRS, Public Citizen Opposition to Dominion Nuclear's Application for new Adjudicatory Process filed before NRC (.pdf)

Jan. 02, 2004: BREDL, NIRS, Public Citizen Hearing Request and Petition to Intervene filed before NRC (.pdf)