Critics of Vermont Yankee say the most recent problems with the nuclear plant’s
cooling tower show a disturbing pattern of poor management and lax state oversight.
But
state officials say they’re not getting the cooperation they need from the
plant’s operators.
While the collapse of a water cooling tower at Vermont Yankee last month produced riveting news images, commentator Philip Baruth has been far more interested in the language arising from the event.
Federal inspectors are looking closely at Vermont Yankee’s cooling towers after one of the structures collapsed two weeks ago. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to make sure that the problems that caused the collapse are not affecting one tower that’s used as part of the plant’s safety-related system.
Governor Jim Douglas says his administration will ask tough questions about why the Vermont Yankee plant suffered two mishaps in the past week-and-a-half. He says he’s especially concerned about inspections at the plant.