Ballot Questions Seek to Stop Radioactive Release

Ballot questions in Cape Cod towns this month, if approved by voters, will urge the governor to stop radioactive water evaporation over Cape Cod Bay.

What is happening with Holtec?

02 May 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – Thousands of gallons of radioactive water are evaporating from the former Pilgrim nuclear power plant on Cape Cod Bay in Plymouth as part of the Holtec-led decommissioning process. In response, 16 towns – mostly on Cape Cod – have put forth a ballot question in May asking the state to take action to stop this.

Why is water evaporating?

Decommissioning has been underway for six years; last year Mass DEP stopped Holtec’s move to release radioactive water into the bay. The company says it cannot prevent the water from evaporating into the atmosphere, and that it poses no harm to the public or the environment.

The current volume of waste water is estimated at about 844,000 gallons, down from more than 1 million gallons a year ago. Holtec is appealing last summer’s Mass DEP decision, with a decision expected around the end of this year. If it prevails, it plans to discharge the water into the bay, but in the meantime the evaporation continues. Holtec’s position is that evaporation is legal and poses no harm.

What is on the local ballot?

Cape Downwinders, an organization that has been critical of the plant since it was in operation, campaigned to put the citizen petition questions on the ballot, asking the governor to stop the evaporation. The group has also made appeals to the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel, a group meets monthly to advise the governor about plant shutdown activities. The Downwinders – and the ballot questions – argue that the gaseous evaporation is comparable to a water release and that both actions violate the Ocean Sanctuaries Act.

In Orleans, for example, the ballot question concludes:

“Therefore shall the people of the Town of Orleans direct the town government to communicate with Governor Maura Healey … to employ all means available to ensure that the law is enforced and to ensure further that Holtec immediately cease the gaseous discharge of the radioactively and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater at Pilgrim …”

Is the water harmful?

Holtec says the radioactive levels show no harm, but not everyone agrees. Some opponents cite public health while others point to potential environmental and economic impacts.

No studies have definitively identified specific harm from radioactive water in the bay. However, Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of Association to Preserve Cape Cod, points out that the Mass DEP decision did not depend on proof of harm. He contends, and Mass DEP agreed, that the law prohibits any industrial waste discharge into a designated ocean sanctuary such as Cape Cod Bay.

What economic impact could this have?

State Senator Dylan Fernandes – in whose district Pilgrim is located – points out that whether or not the discharge is safe for humans, the economy may be harmed by the public perception of radioactive water, with direct impact on fisheries and tourism.

“You have some real marketability issues if other people have fear around swimming in Cape Cod Bay because they know that nuclear wastewater is being dumped there or fear over eating oysters or other types of shellfish because they know they may have filtered nuclear wastewater,” he said. “Those are legitimate commercial concerns that businesses have. This isn’t just any business industry, this is literally the foundation of our entire economy.”