Possible discharge of nuclear wastewater into Cape Cod Bay

Posted

At press time the Cape Cod Salties Sports Fishing Club plans to hold a community forum on the possible discharge of nuclear wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant into Cape Cod Bay.  The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Yarmouth Senior Center, West Yarmouth, Mass. The forum will be followed by an effort to engage anglers and fishing associations to sign on to a position letter opposing the possible discharge.

In a letter to Gov. Maura Healy, P. Jonathan Ungerland II, president of the Cape Cod Salties, said, “As you’re likely aware, Holtec International, the current operator of the Plymouth Nuclear Plant (and overseer of its decommissioning) has openly and publicly discussed the potential release of radioactively contaminated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. This is totally unacceptable to our club of concerned and informed members, on many levels.”

Ungerland said, “Our guest speaker at the forum, Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders, will provide important updates and pertinent educational content on the issue. For information and a primer on the Holtec issue, visit https://www.capedownwinders.info/about-4-1.”

Representatives from regional fishing associations that would be affected by such a discharge, including leaders from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Associaton as well as residents and political representatives, were expected to attend the form.

 

Putting the brakes on Holtec

A Dec. 14 article in www.WickedLocal.com by David Smith reported that in a December letter, James Chow, deputy director of the EPA Region 1’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, said any moves to release water before a new permit is issued would subject the company (Holtec) to fines and possible criminal charges.  

He also told the company it needed to provide 90 days written notice to the agency if it planned any such discharges. 

“Advance notification would allow EPA to take all appropriate action to ensure that federal law is being duly observed,” the letter said. “To be clear, this notification/reporting obligation should not be interpreted by Holtec as authorizing such discharges.” 

For additional information and follow up actions anglers and fishing organizations can take,  contact Jonathan Ungerland, president of the Cape Cod Salties Sports Fishing Club at pjungerland@gmail.com .

 

Surf scenarios seminar series

Surfcaster’s Journal is teaming up with The Saltwater Edge, Middletown for a ten-week Zoom seminar series on surfcasting with Surfcaster’s Journal managing editor Jerry Audet.

The series includes six live Zoom instructional seminars and four live Zoom interview sessions, plus pre-recorded multi-part foundational seminars. Each session is two to four hours long. Seminars are Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., starting Jan. 11 and running until April 5. The cost is $99 for the entire series, or $16 each.

Sessions can be re-screened until April 19. For details on the series and to register visit www.indeepoutdoors.com/seminarseries .

 

Where’s the bite

Saltwater and freshwater licenses: Anglers are reminded to renew their licenses for salt and fresh water for 2023. Saltwater licenses renew annually on Jan. 1 in coastal states; most coastal states have license reciprocity. For example, if you have a Rhode Island license you can fish in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine.

For freshwater licensing information and a list of trout stocked ponds in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife/freshwater-fishing/freshwater-fishing-faqs; and in Massachusetts visit www.mass.gov/freshwater-fishing-information .

 

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.