The Office of Nuclear Safety

Starting in 1972, Maine Yankee 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. 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 increased 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 former Maine Yankee plant       Movie of Turbine Bldg demolition

The State Nuclear Safety Inspector also completes monthly reports to the Maine Legislature, since the June 29, 2008 adoption of 22 MRSA subsection 666, that can be found here: (with all attachments)

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future

Information on High Level Waste

Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants (NRC)

Maine Yankee Home Page

Maine Department of Environmental Protection Maine Yankee page