Protecting Miami Communities

A case study by Friends of the Earth detailing a legal victory where the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ordered a full environmental review of the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant before allowing a 20-year license extension.

• The Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, located near Miami, Florida, has contaminated the Biscayne aquifer for over 40 years and produces radioactive waste. The Florida Power & Light Company sought to double the plant's license length without a proper assessment of climate change impacts, such as sea level rise, major storms, and cooling water issues, which could lead to nuclear exposure or contamination.
• Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Miami Waterkeeper challenged the license renewal by citing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations and pointing out flaws in analyses regarding groundwater impacts, endangered species, and sea level rise. Although the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board initially rejected these contentions, the NRC eventually reversed the decision.
• The NRC's requirement for a full environmental review prevents the plant from operating for an additional 20 years without assessment. This decision is viewed as a victory against a precedent that allowed nuclear units to operate for decades beyond their original lifespan, which is particularly risky as aging units are more prone to environmental harm and the accumulation of nuclear waste.

APA

Fox, A. (2022). Protecting Miami Communities. Friends of the Earth. https://foe.org/victory-stories/protecting-miami-communities/

Chicago

Fox, Audrey. Protecting Miami Communities. Friends of the Earth, 2022. https://foe.org/victory-stories/protecting-miami-communities/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fox |first1=Audrey |title=Protecting Miami Communities |publisher=Friends of the Earth |date=7 April 2022 |url=https://foe.org/victory-stories/protecting-miami-communities/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fox2022protecting, author = {Fox, Audrey}, title = {{Protecting Miami Communities}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://foe.org/victory-stories/protecting-miami-communities/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }