By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-975905.mp3
Washington, D.C. – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders spoke to Attorney General Eric Holder and top officials at the Justice Department after discovering and berating Nuclear Regulatory Commission members over a secret vote to ask the Justice Department to side with Entergy Corp. in its lawsuit against Vermont. On Thursday Sanders issued a press release stating "....the U.S. Department of Justice has no plans to intervene in a legal fight over the fate of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor at this time." But DOJ Spokesman Charles Miller, who refused to be recorded, told WAMC on Friday morning that there is "no determination as yet" and they will continue to "monitor the situation". Senator Sanders was unavailable on Friday. In an e-mail, Spokesman Michael Briggs said ".....our understanding is that the Justice Department has no plans to intervene at this time, and the Senator is confident that the department will see no reason to in the future." Vermont Governor Peter Schumlin is confident that the Justice Department will not intervene......
Vermont Public Interest Research Group Executive Director Paul Burns says any inaction by the Department of Justice is good news.....
Vermont Law School Assistant Professor of Energy and Administrative Law Don Kreis......
Entergy's suit claims the state is improperly trying to close the nuclear plant based on safety issues.