Watershed Council Says Nuclear Reactor Has Dangerous Discharge

An environmental group says the permit allowing the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to discharge warmed water into the Connecticut River is based on flawed science.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council held a news conference Wednesday to release new consultants' reports that it said back up its claims.

The Vernon reactor is allowed to discharge water taken from the river and used to cool the plant back into the Connecticut as long as water temperatures do not exceed 85 degrees.

Vermont Yankee officials say they've been staying below that limit, but the Watershed Council says the new data raise questions about that.

The state of Vermont is in the midst of reviewing a proposed new permit for Vermont Yankee's warm water discharge.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press