Commentary: Shoreham and the Environmentalist Guerrillas

Late last month, the people of New York State got quite a bargain: the Shoreham nuclear-power plant on Long Island, complete and almost ready to run, a certified $5.3-billion value for only one dollar.

If you wonder why the plant’s owner, the Long Island Lighting Company (Lilco), was willing to sell at such a discount, the answer can be found in that phrase “almost ready to run.” All Shoreham lacks is an operating license, for which it has been waiting since its completion in 1984. It doesn’t have an operating license because the State of New York and its creature, Suffolk County, have refused to take part in developing the emergency-evacuation plans that are a requisite to securing the license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Earlier this year, it looked as if the NRC had finally lost patience with the persistent nonfeasance of the local authorities and would grant the license without their participation; but this relief came too late.

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SAMUEL McCRACKEN

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Late last month, the people of New York State got quite a bargain: the Shoreham nuclear-power plant on Long Island, complete and almost ready to run, a certified $5.3-billion value for only one dollar.

If you wonder why the plant’s owner, the Long Island Lighting Company (Lilco), was willing to sell at such a discount, the answer can be found in that phrase “almost ready to run.” All Shoreham lacks is an operating license, for which it has been waiting since its completion in 1984. It doesn’t have an operating license because the State of New York and its creature, Suffolk County, have refused to take part in developing the emergency-evacuation plans that are a requisite to securing the license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Earlier this year, it looked as if the NRC had finally lost patience with the persistent nonfeasance of the local authorities and would grant the license without their participation; but this relief came too late.