By Christy Goodman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 21, 2008

A coalition of environmental organizations filed legal challenges this week against the proposed third nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs.

The group told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the problems with UniStar Nuclear Energy's application to build a reactor at the Lusby site include the concurrent review of the reactor design and the license application; the storage and disposal of radioactive waste; and foreign partnerships involved in the project.

"We are basically trying to point out the inadequacy of the application itself. The issues we are raising will demonstrate that this is both an economically and environmentally bad deal for Maryland," said Allison Fisher, energy organizer for Public Citizen's Energy Program.

Julia Clark, a spokeswoman for the Southern Maryland Citizens Alliance for Renewable Energy Solutions, said UniStar's application does not consider "the cumulative effect" of 11 nuclear reactors now within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and their effects on residents' health and the environment.

"We welcome these and other expected comments from the public and look forward to addressing them within the regulatory process," said Maureen Brown, a spokeswoman for Constellation Energy, which is a partner with a European energy company in UniStar. "We believe we have picked the safest and most secure new nuclear technology that exceeds federal standards for safety and the protection of the public as well as enhancing U.S. energy security."

The agency will review the filings in the next months and determine whether they are legally admissible, said Scott Burnell, an NRC spokesman. No final conclusions on the entire application are expected until 2012. The state is also reviewing the proposal.