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CORTLANDT, N.Y. The long process of relicensing the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plants in Buchanan will likely see definitive action in 2012. A hearing in front of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is set for the summer of 2012. The licenses for Indian Point Reactors Number 2 and 3 are set to expire in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Environmental agencies, such as Riverkeeper and Clearwater, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have come out against the relicensing of the plants. The latest contentions filed by Clearwater assert that if a disaster occurred that necessitated residents to evacuate from the 10 mile evacuation zone, minorities, low-income residents and many elderly would be disproportionately affected.
The various institutions that serve what are called potential environmental justice communities, they have various different levels of preparation. Some of them really know what to do, for example, know where to bring the children that are in day care," said Clearwater Environmental Director Manna Jo Greene. "But its going to be especially challenging for nursing homes where people are infirm or bed ridden, hospitals, as well as, of course, prisons. Sing Sing is the closest major prison to Indian Point and the evacuation plan for Indian Point is to shelter in place."
Entergy Nuclear, the company that owns the Indian Point Power Plants in Buchanan, began the relicensing process in 2007, hoping for a 20 year extension of the plants original licenses. Evacuation plans are actually outside the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards scope when considering the extension of a license, according to Clearwater, but the board must consider environmental impacts, including environmental justice impacts.
The contention filed by Clearwater on Dec. 22 includes eight direct testimonies, nearly all of which are from people living in the community surrounding Indian Point Power Plants. The contention includes 44 documents all together, from resumes of those testifying to reports prepared by expert witnesses.
Michael Edelstein, professor of environmental psychology at Ramapo College of New Jersey, testifies that evacuation plans prepared by Westchester County specify many special populations could shelter in place. Sing Sing prison in Ossining and the Montrose Veterans Hospital in Cortlandt are considered special populations, according to emergency plans prepared by Westchester County around 2008.
It is not at all clear to me that the authors did any study of the issues Sing Sing raises. I am informed by Clearwater that the NRC Staff did not disclose the New York State or the Westchester County Emergency Plans," Edelstein testified. "Without these basic documents I cannot see how the NRC Staff could even start to assess what the impact of a radiation release would be on Sing Sing."
Sing Sing is a maximum security prison, which houses about 1,700 inmates. Edelstein also testified that if the prison were to shelter in place, there would be a higher likelihood for social disruption and violence.
Officials with Indian Point are not deterred from this latest relicensing challenge,however.
Were still in the process. I dont think anyone can predict when that will happen with any great precision, said Jim Steets, spokesperson for Entergy Nuclear. Were fully committed and very confident well be able to obtain a license. We know what the regulations are, we have a demanding regulator."
Steets also said that things are going pretty much as we expected, we knew it would be a challenge.
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