[ RadSafe ] FW: Indian Point leaks briefing

[Johnston, Thomas]

FYI

 

Thomas P. Johnston

Radiation Safety Officer

New York Medical College

Valhalla, NY 10595

914-594-4448 office

914-594-3665 fax

914-557-5950 mobile

tom_johnston at nymc.edu

 

Subject: FW: Indian Point leaks briefing

 

Impact of Radioactive Leaks at Indian Point to be Examined 

Roundtable, Town Meeting Set for Friday, March 2 at Pace University 

 

PLEASANTVILLE-Elected leaders, public officials and nationally-renowned
scientists will gather on Friday, March 2 at Pace University's
Pleasantville campus to examine the implications of ongoing radioactive
leaks at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. 

 

Sponsored by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc, Pace Academy for the
Environment and the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC), the
technical briefing and a later town meeting are free and open to the
public, which is encouraged to attend to learn more about the
radioactive leaks and their potential impacts upon groundwater, the
Hudson River, and public health. 

 

Federal, state and local officials from all levels of government are
expected to participate, including members of New York's Congressional
delegation, representatives from 11 lower Hudson Valley counties,
relevant state agencies, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and local
municipal leaders. This month members of the New York Congressional
Delegation re-introduced legislation in the U.S. House of
Representatives that, if passed, would require an Independent Safety
Assessment (ISA) at the Indian Point nuclear power plant, including
in-depth review of Indian Point's safety and mechanical systems, spent
fuel pools, and radiological emergency evacuation plans. Senator Hillary
Clinton (D-New York) recently proposed similar legislation in the U.S.
Senate.

 

U.S. Representative John Hall (D-Dover), a co-sponsor of the House bill
calling for an independent safety assessment at Indian Point, is
expected to participate in the March 2 roundtable discussion. "Indian
Point is the nation's most problematic power plant in the nation's most
densely populated corridor," said Hall, in a Feb. 16 article appearing
in the Westport News. "With 8 percent of the population of the United
States within a 50-mile radius of the plant, our bill forces the NRC to
give this plant the special attention it requires. This bill will force
Entergy to do what it takes to run Indian Point safely or they won't be
able to run it at all." 

 

Experts in hydrology, geology, public health, ecology and regulatory
issues will explain the most current information available concerning
Strontium 90 and other radioactive isotopes discovered leaking from the
aging nuclear power plant located in Buchanan, New York and operated by
the Entergy corporation. What was initially described as a "slightly
radioactive leak" amounting to "less than a pint a day," when it was
first discovered in September, 2005, has since grown to an " underground
area [of] contaminated water that is 50 to 60 feet deep.  There is also
another area, or underground plume, that is about 30 feet wide by 350
feet long," according to Don Mayer, director of special projects for
Entergy, quoted in an Oct. 9, 2006 New York Daily News article.   "One
area is predominantly leaking tritium and the other Strontium-90," Mayer
said. 

 

Questions arise about drinking water supplies, both for nearby
groundwater supplies and for municipalities in the lower Hudson that
take their drinking water from the Hudson River.   "Tens of thousands of
gallons of water are leaching out into the ground, ...most of it is
going into the river. It's a serious problem," said Phillip Musegaas, a
policy analyst with the Riverkeeper. 

 

"Understandably, people are wondering what effect radioactive isotopes
found in the groundwater under the plant may or may not have on their
drinking water.  Additionally, Clearwater wants to know what, if any,
potential impacts the leaks may be having on fish and other aquatic
species living in the River.  That's why we are bringing together
elected officials with experts who can provide the best scientific
information available for a well-rounded and informative discussion,"
said Manna Jo Greene, environmental director at Clearwater, who will
facilitate the roundtable discussion.  

 

Mark Jacobs of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition stressed the need
for the public, as well as elected officials, to attend in order to
explore and understand the intricacies involved. "Come find out what can
and should be done about the unceasing leaks coming from Indian Point.
An unknown number of leaks, leaking for an unknown period of time,
polluting unknown locations in unknown quantities is just too many
unknowns," said Jacobs. 

 

The session will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Wilcox Gymnasium of Pace
University's Pleasantville campus with a technical briefing and
roundtable discussion that is scheduled to last until 5 p.m. An evening
roundtable panel and town meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. for members of the public who may be unable to attend the earlier
meeting. Although there is no cost to attend, advanced registration is
strongly encouraged via e-mail: katy at clearwater.org or by calling:
845-454-7673 x116.