Protestors Oppose Shearon Harris Nuclear Waste Expansion

The plant has four pools for storing nuclear waste. Pools A and B are almost full, so CP&L has received permission to open pools C and D.

CP&L says the storage space is critical and the pools are safe, but protestors disagree.

"It would be the largest storage site for the most dangerous material on earth. It would be the largest storage site in the nation," says one protestor. "We've got prominent experts who say an accident there could impact an area the size of North Carolina or much larger."

A CP&L representative says, "We're comfortable that all the technical questions have been answered, all the safety-related questions have been answered and really are eager to move forward and continue to serve our customers."

Shearon Harris plans to open the pools on or around July 2.

Orange County -- which is located near the plant -- is petitioning the U.S. Court of Appeals to block the opening.

Sen. Edwards wrote a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Friday saying he is watching the situation and asking them to do so as well.