NRC Chairman Tours Indian Point, Deems it Safe

Following his tour of the in Buchanan, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Gregory Jaczko said IPEC currently meets safety requirements set forth by the commission and is operating safely and securely.

“We believe based on all the information we have now that Indian Point continues to meet all of our standards and operates safely and securely,” Jaczko told the dozens of reporters at Tuesday's press conference. “Where we identify problems we will work to get those fixed in a timely manner.”

Rep. Nita Lowey and Rep. Eliot Engel, who have both criticized Indian Point’s safety and security, joined Jaczko on the tour.

The two representatives raised concerns over relicensing requirements, asking the nuclear plants seeking relicensing be subject to the same requirements as new plants; inadequate evacuation plans; seismic data and safety should an earthquake occur; general security; spent fuel rods and Indian Point’s exemptions from certain NRC regulations.

Jaczko told the press the NRC is currently considering 12 applications for new nuclear plants and continues with that process, despite the recent disaster in Japan.

Lowey, Engel and the media asked why the NRC recommended Americans in Japan within a 50-mile radius of the Fukushima. power plant evacuate after the plant exploded on March 11, but Indian Point’s evacuation plan only requires those who live within 10 miles to evacuate in the case of an emergency. Jaczko said the recommendation following the Fukushima explosion was very specific to those circumstances and that in the “unlikely event” that safety at Indian Point is threatened the NRC would consider the appropriate recommended evacuation radius in that circumstance.

Jaczko explained that the commission has appointed a task force of top experts to study and review the Fukushima disaster in order to draw lessons from that catastrophe and to consider any regulatory changes that may be necessary.

A handful of members of the Close Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, who had been escorted off Entergy property to the front gate before the conference began, briefly shared their concerns with Jaczko as he exited the property. 

Watch the video of the press conference above.

Read the full copy of Rep. Nita Lowey’s remarks below:

In Event of Disaster, Evacuating 20 Million People Within
50-Mile Radius of Indian Point Would Be Near Impossibility

BUCHANNAN, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today delivered the following remarks following a tour and security briefings at Indian Point Energy Center with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory Jaczko:

“I would like to thank Chairman Jaczko for coming to New York to see Indian Point for himself to gain firsthand knowledge of the unique challenges of this nuclear facility.  I appreciate the tour and briefings today.

“The safety and security of New Yorkers are my top priority, and must be the top priority of the NRC. 

“As I have repeatedly stressed to Entergy and NRC, I continue to have serious concerns about several specific issues related to Indian Point.

1. Relicensing standards: Aging nuclear power plants should be held to the same high standards that new plants are required to meet.  Rep. Engel and I have introduced a bill requiring NRC to consider all factors, including terror threats, seismic risk, population density and evacuation concerns in relicensing decisions.

2. Exemptions: Indian Point has requested and received exemptions from NRC regulations, including insulation on electrical cords and fire safety.  NRC should disclose the exemptions Indian Point has received so compliance, health, and safety information is public at relicensing.

3. Seismic Data: New data shows Indian Point is located at two fault lines, which increases the threat of an earthquake.  NRC should evaluate the probability of a leak in the spent fuel pools and the loss of power as a result of a seismic event.

4. Security: Indian Point has a history of security lapses and inadequate training of security forces, including security guards falling asleep on the job and guards being under the influence while on duty.  The safety and security of New York residents is too important for careless actions.

Finally and most importantly, evacuation: Each of these issues is critical to the safety of Indian Point, but even responsible operation of a nuclear facility does not make a region immune from danger.  The NRC advised Americans to evacuate within a 50-mile radius from the Japanese reactors.  In the event of a catastrophic failure at Indian Point – due to natural disaster, terrorist event, or some other factor – evacuating 20 million people within a 50 mile radius of Indian Point would be a near impossibility.  It would be reckless and irresponsible for relicensing to go forward with an evacuation plan that we know to be inadequate.

“I will continue working to ensure the security of all New Yorkers.”