News and Opinion

Protesters arrested at Vermont Yankee headquarters

By Vermont Guardian staff

Photo by Sarah Lavigne

posted November 7, 2005

BRATTLEBORO — About a half dozen protestors were arrested Monday for blocking access to the corporate offices of Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee.

More than 60 people attended the protest, which took place early Monday, and was organized by a group of mothers from the region. About 30 police officers were at the rally.

Dan Keller, of Wendell, MA, who watched his wife, Nina Keller, get arrested, said his family attended the protest because he believes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not listening to the concerns of residents who live near the Vernon-based nuclear power station. Nina Keller’s daughter, Clara Keller, said she was proud of her mom for getting arrested.

A company spokesman refused to address the protestors, who were corralled into a “free speech zone” in a parking lot across the company’s headquarters.

Brattleboro Police Chief John Martin attempted to act as a liaison between the protestors and Entergy, but despite his efforts six protestors crossed the road and were arrested for trespassing on Entergy property.

The police presence and free-speech area — with a podium — were put in place “to keep everyone safe” and with the hope it wouldn’t turn into a media circus, according to Larry Smith, a VY spokesman.

VY officials did not meet with protestors because it “it wasn’t the proper thing to do so in that particular situation,” Smith said. He added that VY is doing its job looking after the safety of the general public.

The protestors said the NRC is foisting the uprate on an unwitting public, essentially using them as guinea pigs by exposing them to potentially more releases of radiation.

The group issued a slate of demands, asking that:

• State legislators support alternative, renewable and safe energy sources to replace nuclear with clean energy.
• A full, independent safety assessment be undertaken at VY before the reactor is permitted to restart with super-enriched fuel.
• An evacuation plan that respects and acknowledges the vulnerability of the reactor community, tested biannually, and including a radius of 50 miles to protect not only those within the existing 10-mile radial zone.
• An environmental impact assessment that includes testing grass, milk, soil and water, as well as a comprehensive public health study, before the uprate or relicensing is allowed.

http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/112005/YankeeProtest.shtml