BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) – Massachusetts officials want federal regulators to hold separate proceedings on proposals to extend the operating licenses of Vermont Yankee and another nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Mass.

Entergy Nuclear, the owner of the plants, has asked federal regulators to review the two license renewal applications together.

But the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and lawmakers have written to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, requesting that the two requests be considered individually.

“Having separate proceedings will allow the NRC to fully assess the specific characteristics of each plant. These matters are far too important to be merged into one review process,” wrote Alice Moore, head of the public protection division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

Entergy is seeking a 20-year extension of Vermont Yankee’s license, which is set to expire in 2012. It has also requested an extension of the Pilgrim nuclear reactor’s license. The Massachusetts plant is similar to the Vermont plant and the two started operating around the same time.

Three Massachusetts legislators and the Plymouth town manager also wrote to the NRC.

“As the host community for Pilgrim, we believe that it is essential for the Plymouth-based NRC safety and environmental review teams to focus on those characteristics specific and unique to Pilgrim,” Plymouth Town Manager Mark Sylvia wrote.

The NRC hasn’t responded to Entergy’s request.

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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer

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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer

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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer

AP-ES-02-17-06 1936EST