On June 16, Keene congressman Paul Hodes blasted the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its failures at the tattered Vermont Yankee nuclear power reactor, and called on the NRC to order Entergy, the Louisiana company that owns the reactor, to shut Yankee immediately.

In a formal complaint to the NRC, whose members are appointed by the nuclear industry funded President Obama, the Keene congressman demanded “public answers for the lax oversight that has allowed Vermont Yankee to continue operating despite a safety record featuring frequent, repeated radioactive leaks.”

“Families in the emergency planning zone have lost faith in regulators that time and time again allowed Vermont Yankee inspections to miss radioactive leaks. A thorough investigation must be done to audit the safety of this failing plant, and it needs to [be closed and] remain closed until this check is completed.”

“Less than one month ago, Vermont Yankee underwent security and safety inspections as part of a scheduled reactor shutdown. At the time of the scheduled shut down, I called on the NRC to keep the plant closed until all leaks at the plant were located, repaired, and cleaned. Since denying my request, two newly discovered leaks have further put into doubt the ability of both plant owners and government regulators to verify the safety of the nearly 40 year old nuclear plant.”

Hodes’s Keene office at 29 Center Street is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. More information is at www.hodes.house.gov