Report: Indian Point Threatens Drinking Water

By Dave Lucas

Albany, NY – A new study by an environmental advocacy group says the drinking water for more than 11.3 million people could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at the Indian Point Nuclear Facility. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas has details.

According to the new report, "Too Close to Home: Nuclear Power and the Threat to Drinking Water," the drinking water intakes for 11.3 million people in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are within 50 miles of Indian Point - the distance the Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses to measure risk to food and water supplies. The report also shows that Indian Point threatens drinking water supplies for more than twice as many people compared to any other nuclear facility in the nation.

This report includes new information showing that Indian Point Nuclear Facility is among the most hazardous nuclear plants in the nation because of it's threat to drinking water supplies. Similar to the disaster at Fukishima Daiichi, an accident at Indian Point could contaminate drinking water for millions of New Yorkers. The report will show the number of people whose drinking water could be contaminated if radiation escaped to various distances from Indian Point.

Indian Point Communications Manager Jerry Nappi tells WAMC that, unlike Fukishima, Indian Point has "back ups to its back ups" to prevent a similar event. David VanLuven, director of Environment New York, counters Indian Point has a long history involving leaks and accidental releases of radioactive material. Jerry Nappi stresses that safety is priority one at Indian Point, which supplies 200 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to New York City and Westchester County. Nappi says Indian Point works with surrounding communities in preparing emergency plans and conducting safety drills which are evaluated by the Federal government.

The Environment New York report recommends that the United States move to a future without nuclear power by retiring existing plants, abandoning plans for new ones, while expanding energy efficiency and the production of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for the permanent closure of Indian Point, which is up for relicensing. Parent company Entergy and the NRC say the plant is safe - Independent experts in charge of New York's electric grid say shutting down Indian Point without a suitable replacement would lead to rolling blackouts in the lower Hudson Valley.