A study conducted by the University of Miami conclusively found that the contaminated water being used to cool the Florida Power & Light (FPL) plant is leaving the canal system intended to contain it, and entering the bay.
The pollution "is threatening South Florida's drinking water supply and Biscayne National Park,” the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) asserted.
In 2013, the plant increased their output by 15%, causing the canals with the cooling water to run much higher than they previously had. On top of this, the plant was cleared by nuclear regulators to run the canals at 104 degrees, making them the hottest in the nation, the Herald reported.
"This study confirms that FPL miscalculated the impact uprating Turkey Point’s reactors to generate more power would cause," Laura Reynolds of SACE told Common Dreams on Tuesday. "They continue to make record profits while our water supply gets loaded with at least 600,000 pounds of salt daily and our national park is polluted and drinking water is threatened."
“The lack of state enforcement has enabled matters to reach a point where a state administrative law judge recommended rescission of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s administrative order on Turkey Point, finding their actions inadequate,” Rodríguez wrote.
“In light of continued issues and this recent evidence of potential threats to public safety and the environment, I respectfully request that the US Environmental Protection Agency take action to protect the public under powers granted your agency by the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act or other legal authority. State regulators have, unfortunately, failed to adequately do so and I ask for your agency’s direct involvement.”
