Bill would increase state fee on plants; Funds to cover plans for emergencies

The bill, which has the support of Gov. Ed Rendell, would raise the annual fee the owners of Three Mile Island and the state's other plants pay to $900,000 a year, up from $600,000. It is the first increase in the fee in 14 years.

Most of the money, $550,000, would go to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for monitoring plant safety and radiological conditions. The remaining $350,000 would go to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for planning and equipment, said Joe Pittman, a spokesman for state Sen. Don White, R-Indiana, primary sponsor of the bill.

State police would also be paid a $500-per-vehicle fee to escort trucks hauling radioactive materials, $1,000 for rail cars.

A similar bill is scheduled to be introduced in the state House by Rep. Thomas D. Tigue, D-Luzerne.

"We are constantly reminded of the importance of being prepared," Rendell said, noting the effects of last week's flooding. "The activity to coordinate our preparedness efforts has increased substantially since Sept. 11, 2001, and this legislation would allow us to continue to expand our efforts."

There are 64 nuclear plants in the U.S. Each pays a fee to its host state for developing and maintaining emergency plans to be used if there is an accident such as the one that damaged the Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island. The fees vary, ranging from $200,000 per site to more than $3 million, according to an informal survey conducted in 2003 by the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry group.

About 16 plants pay $1 million or more, said Steve Kerekes, a spokesman for NEI.

"We view it as part of fulfilling our responsibility to assure public health and safety," he said.

Ralph DeSantis, a spokesman for AmerGen Energy, the operator of TMI and a subsidiary of plant owner Exelon Nuclear, said the company supported the measure. Exelon owns three plants in Pennsylvania -- TMI, Peach Bottom and Limerick in Montgomery County.

The new fees would cost the company $900,000 more a year.

"The funds... that come out of it will help our communities be better prepared for all types of emergencies," DeSantis said.

PEMA would see about $750,000 more annually to help with planning, equipment and training, said John Comey, executive assistant to the director. The length of time since the last fee increase caused financial problems for the agency, especially in light of additional planning required since Sept. 11, 2001, he said.

"We've been working very closely with the nuclear industry," Comey said. "They know it's a hardship."

Pittman's bill represented a consensus between the industry, the state agencies, counties and state police, he said.

Eric Epstein, chairman of the watchdog group Three Mile Island Alert, called the bill a step in the right direction. But he called on state officials to require the industry to do more.