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Experts Testify At Indian Point Hearing

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – The Indian Point nuclear power plant has made legally enforceable commitments based on state-of-the-art science to ensure that its operation will be closely monitored throughout the 20-year period of renewed licenses, experts testified at hearings that ended Thursday.

Indian Point Nuclear Plant

Indian Point Nuclear Plant

Photo Credit: File photo

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, meeting in Tarrytown, heard testimony this week by technical experts from Westinghouse, Structural Integrity Associates and Entergy.

“Indian Point has operated safely for more than 40 years, delivering enormous benefits such as reliable, price-stable and non-greenhouse gas-emitting power generation, day-in and day-out,” said Fred Dacimo, vice president of operations license renewal for Entergy. “The fact that Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff has spent 37,000 hours over eight years reviewing and inspecting Indian Point’s application should be reassuring to everyone that all aspects of the license renewal process have been thoroughly examined, and that the facility will continue to operate at the highest levels of safety and reliability.”

Indian Point, located in Buchanan, has cleared most of the major milestones leading to renewed licenses, including:

  • Safety Evaluation Report – NRC staff issued a report concluding there is nothing to preclude Indian Point from safely operating through the 20-year license renewal period.
  • Final Environmental Impact Statement – NRC staff issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement concluding there are no environmental issues precluding license renewal.
  • Timely Renewal, Unit 2 – In September 2013, Indian Point Unit 2 began operating under Timely Renewal, which extends the initial 40-year license while the license renewal process continues. After exhaustive reviews, the NRC staff determined that all safety commitments at Unit 2 had been appropriately implemented. Indian Point Unit 3 will enter its Timely Renewal period December 13 at the end of its initial 40-year license period.
  • Previous Atomic Safety and Licensing Board ruling – In November 2013, the ASLB panel ruled in Entergy’s favor on eight of nine Track 1 contentions. Entergy demonstrated it has comprehensive plans to manage the effects of 20 years of continued operation on equipment including electrical cables and underground piping.

It is expected that the license renewal process will take several more years before a final determination is made by the full NRC.

Indian Point supplies about 25 percent of New York City’s and Westchester County’s electricity, and 11 percent of New York State’s power. 

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