Resolution Opposing Site Certification and Operating Licenses for the Construction and Operations of Nuclear Reactors 6 & 7 at the Florida Power and Light Turkey Point Nuclear Plant, Homestead, Florida

Whereas, Florida Power and Light Company is applying to obtain site certifications and operating licenses to construct and operate two nuclear reactors of 1,117-MWe each at its Turkey Point nuclear power generating facility on Biscayne Bay; and

Whereas, Sierra Club Energy Resource Policy states: "Although nuclear power produces less CO2 than fossil alternatives, nuclear power is not safe, affordable, or clean with currently available technology and practice." and

Whereas, Sierra Club Energy Resources Policy further states: "The Sierra Club will continue to oppose nuclear power unless these deficiencies are eliminated." and

Whereas, construction and operations of the proposed nuclear reactors threaten to degrade water quality and damage the marine ecosystems of Biscayne National Park; and

Whereas, operations of the proposed nuclear reactors threaten to degrade air quality with excessive chlorides, industrial contaminants, and emerging pollutants of concern (EPOCs) affecting Biscayne National Park, Biscayne Bay, protected coastal wetlands, farms, and populated communities; and

Whereas, Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park provides habitat for many threatened and endangered species including the West Indian manatee, eastern indigo snake, piping plover, American crocodile, peregrine falcon, Schaus' swallowtail butterfly, least tern, and 5 species of sea turtle; and

Whereas, new rock mines, specifically proposed for the construction of the nuclear reactors, threaten private wells and municipal wellfields with salt-water intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer; and

Whereas, construction and operations of the proposed nuclear reactors will degrade ecosystems and viewscapes of Everglades National Park with a new transmission corridor, three sets of transmission towers, and high voltage transmission lines inside the Park's current boundary; and

Whereas, construction of the proposed nuclear reactors will involve filling wetlands with limestone to a height of 25.5 feet above sea-level, additional new onsite and offsite facilities, new roads and bridges, new rock mines, new pipeline corridors, new transmission line corridors, and new electrical substations, all of which threaten to degrade valuable restoration benefits of several Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects; and

Whereas, long term nuclear waste transportation, storage and disposal problems remain unresolved; and

Whereas, imminent dangers from sea-level rise will produce known and unknown health and safety hazards directly related to the operations of the proposed nuclear reactors; and

Whereas, the construction and operations of the proposed nuclear reactors will result in no reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) unless fossil-fuel burning plants are permanently taken out of service; and

Whereas, Sierra Club Energy Resource Policy states: "The path to a sustainable energy future starts by promoting energy conservation, tapping the enormous resource of energy efficiency, directly reducing dependence on non-renewable fuels and maximizing the benefits of renewable energy"; and

Whereas, the exorbitant costs of construction, operations, and maintenance of the proposed nuclear reactors will obstruct Sierra Club's goal of achieving a sustainable energy future;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, the Sierra Club strongly opposes the site certification and the construction of nuclear reactors 6 & 7 at the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant, Florida; and

Be It Further Resolved, the Sierra Club strongly opposes operating licenses and operations of nuclear reactors 6 & 7 at the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant, Florida.

Approved by the Sierra Club Florida Everglades Committee
Drew Martin, Chair
August 31, 2009