In a legal maneuver that bars state officials from deleting or tampering with any documents related to Vermont Yankee, lawyers for Entergy have placed a so-called “litigation hold” on the entire Vermont Legislature and much of state government.
In a confidential letter delivered to lawmakers Friday, Assistant Attorney General Kyle Landis-Marinello warns elected officials to leave untouched any Yankee-related documents. The requirements are “serious and sobering,” according to the letter. Lawmakers could face “harsh sanctions,” he says, if the orders are flouted.
The litigation hold applies to both paper and electronic documents, including correspondence, e-mails, Word or Excel files, photographs and video and audio recordings. Documents dating as far back as 2001 are subject to the order.
“E-mails may be the most difficult category of information to preserve, so you should identify relevant e-mails and prevent them from being lost or destroyed,” the letter says.
The hold also affects “anyone who has engaged in paid or unpaid contractual work or consultation for or on behalf of your office in any matter, docket, or communication involving Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee LLC or Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc.”
Also affected by the action are the Department of Public Service, the governor’s office, the Public Service Board, Agency of Natural Resources and office of the Attorney General.