MIAMI — Miami Waterkeeper’s advocates continued their legal fight challenging the federal government’s extension of the Turkey Point nuclear power plant’s operating license.

On Wednesday, the Coral Gables-based nonprofit organization announced Attorney Rachael Curran filed a petition to initiate an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

In a statement, Curran, who represents Miami Waterkeeper in the appeal, said the nonprofit was asking the court to ensure that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy, “meaningfully evaluates and mitigates, as required by law, the real risks” of extending operations at the Turkey Point facility from 2032 through 2053.

Rachel Silverstein, the chief executive officer of Miami Waterkeeper, highlights that the Turkey Point nuclear plant and its cooling canals, on the edge of Biscayne Bay, sit atop the Biscayne Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for millions in South Florida.

“The NRC’s decision to allow this risky nuclear license extension to remain does not resolve the serious environmental risks posed by operating this facility for decades longer, like ongoing groundwater contamination into our drinking water supply, and operating into an era of climate risks like sea level rise, high temperatures, and stronger storms,” Silverstein said.

The Florida Power & Light Company reports that Turkey Point generates “enough power to supply the annual needs of more than 900,000 homes.“ It has been in operation since 1972.

For more information about Miami Waterkeepers’ efforts, visit this page.

Related document: The 96-page petition filed

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Miami Waterkeeper challenges feds’ approval of Turkey Point nuclear plant’s operating license

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Andrea Torres