The Office of Nuclear Safety

Since 1972, Maine Yankee has produced electricity in Wiscasset, Maine. In 1986 the Maine legislature passed legislation creating the State Nuclear Safety Inspector, a full time position located at the plant. This position works closely with the State Nuclear Safety Advisor and NRC officials to monitor plant activities. In August of 1997 Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company decided to permanently shutdown the reactor and begin decommissioning activities. In 1998 the Maine legislature passed legislation to fund an additional technical position at the plant. This was to help the State Inspector with the increase activity expected during the decommissioning, regarding contractor oversight and environmental surveillance of the site. In April of 2000 the Maine State Legislature passed the most stringent Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning regulations [public law chapters (739) and (741)] in the nation. These new standards required the site to be cleaned up to no more than 10 millirem per year to the average member of the most exposed group of people who could inhabit the site. There is also a separate requirement that any dose from groundwater be limited to no more than 4 millirem/year.

Aerial view of the Maine Yankee plant Movie of Turbine Bldg demolition

The State Nuclear Safety Inspector, Patrick Dostie, can be reached by phone at 207-287-6721 or by e-mail by clicking on his name.

State Nuclear Safety Advisor, Charles Pray, of Maine's Office of the Public Advocate

Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants (NRC)

Maine Yankee Home Page

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The Office of Nuclear Safety