Maine Gets Tough on Power Plant Closing.

• Position: Brief Article

The Maine Legislature has passed two companion bills that give the state some of the strictest radioactive cleanup standards in the nation for "decommissioning" a nuclear power plant.

"This is a big deal because the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been unable to reach an agreement on the background level of radiation that can remain when the site is released for other uses," says Senator Sharon Treat.

The decommissioning process, which will be put into action for the Maine Yankee Nuclear Plant, reduces the radioactivity levels in the land, water, buildings and equipment to standards that allow the property to be used again. It also protects the public from residual radiation hazards.

The NRC oversees the process of closing down nuclear plants. It currently is watching the decommissioning of 18 power reactors in 10 states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine...