Page 173 - Beyond Decommissioning

154 Beyond Decommissioning

The Fort Greely base was closed down in 1995 as part of a US-wide base closure
and realignment program. It came back to life several years later, however, and since
2003, the site has hosted a number of US Ground-Based Midcourse missile
interceptors.
One special challenge of decommissioning SM-1A is that the steam plant formerly
powered by the nuclear reactor is still in use, although powered by a diesel-fired power
plant. This condition is similar to Fort St Vrain’s (USNEWS, 2018).

6.2.1.3 Shoreham NPP, NY, USA
Shoreham was a BWR located at Long Island, NY. The plant was built in 1973–84
and soon faced considerable public opposition, especially after the 1979 Three Mile
Island accident. There were large protests and local antinuclear groups fiercely
opposed the plant. Indeed, the plant was born under an evil star, as its entire
history shows.
In 1983, it was stated by many parties that the island could not be safely evac-
uated following a severe accident. TheNYGovernor ordered not to approve any
emergency plan—so eliminating any chances for the plant to operate at full power.
Construction was completed in 1984 and the licensee received federal permission
for low-power tests. Following continuing protests, the licensee agreed with the
NY state in 1989 not to operate the plant; in return, the local residents were
charged with the plant’s installation cost. In 1992, the plant ownership was ceded
to a new licensee (established for the only goal of closing and decommissioning the
plant). The nuclear part of the plant was dismantled in 1994 but most structures
remain.
There were some attempts to reuse the remaining structures and the site. A gas
turbine plant (100 MW) was installed in 2002 onsite utilizing the existing switchgear.
In 2004, the Long Island Power Authority installed two 50-kW wind turbines.
Regardless these achievements, the Shoreham redevelopment remains incomplete.
Over the past 24 years since Shoreham was closed, ideas for its reuse have been
flocking by the dozen. Some suggested a ferry terminal. Others felt that a nonnuclear
power plant would be more suitable to the site. Other ideas included a marina with
restaurants, a boatbuilding factory, a museum, or an educational facility. Others yet
proposed to demolish the buildings and set up a 24-ha waterfront park. Because of
reciprocal vetos or simple inertia, no decisions were taken. The property is zoned light
industrial, so it ought to be re-zoned for housing. The only use that is out of the ques-
tion is another nuclear plant because this is legally forbidden. To this day, the build-
ings are idle and vacant. Local residents still pay off the debts incurred in constructing
and shutting down the nuclear plant.
One of the latest proposals for redevelopment is mentioned here as one example.
Actually this is not a new idea as it has been proposed from time to time. The site’s
straight shoreline and underused waterfront would be fit for a multi-faceted port. This
concept will also offer the opportunity to link Long Island to New Haven via ferry
service in under an hour. To use this opportunity, the new structures should not only
serve a cargo port, but a multi-faceted port that includes passenger ferries: this