FROM:RIVERKEEPER
Contact:Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper
347-880-2222

For Immediate Release
4-26-2007

Riverkeeper Applauds Governor Spitzer for Calling for
Independent Safety Assessment at Indian Point
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New York’s Top Elected Officials Increase Pressure on NRC to Conduct
Comprehensive Evaluation of Aging Nuclear Plant

(Tarrytown, NY) Today, Riverkeeper applauded Governor Eliot Spitzer for making a formal request of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dale E. Klein to complete an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) of the Indian Point nuclear power plant. Governor Spitzer made his request by letter and issued an announcement with the backing of New York’s Congressional delegates including Representatives John Hall (D-NY), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) who introduced legislation in February that would require an in-depth review of Indian Point’s vital safety and mechanical systems, spent fuel pools, and radiological emergency evacuation plans. In addition, Senator Clinton (D-NY) reaffirmed her commitment to an ISA yesterday at the Oversight Hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Riverkeeper has been leading the efforts to bring an Independent Safety Assessment to Indian Point before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission makes a determination on Entergy’s anticipated May 2007 application for a twenty-year license extension for both of its operating nuclear reactors.

“Riverkeeper commends Governor Spitzer for calling on the NRC to conduct a thorough review of the Indian Point plant,” said Riverkeeper’s president Alex Matthiessen. “As New York’s top elected official, Governor Spitzer has the standing and clout to secure a commitment from the NRC to conduct an ISA on the most accident-prone nuclear plant in the nation. Given Indian Point’s proximity to the 20 million people who live in and around New York City, and the fact that the beleaguered facility has an emergency shutdown rate six or seven times the national average among nuclear reactors, it’s clearly time for a stepped up review,” Matthiessen concluded.

Recent safety issues at Indian Point, including a drop in Indian Point 3’s safety rating due to an unacceptable number of unplanned shutdowns, a fire at the transformer yard, a new radioactive leak at Indian Point 3, and Entergy’s failure to comply with Senator Clinton’s amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that required back-up power to Indian Point’s emergency notification system, have only heightened concerns over the plant’s ability to operate safely under a twenty-year license extension.

“While Indian Point continues to show its true age, our elected leaders are banding together to bring about the most comprehensive and independent safety assessment afforded by the NRC,” adds Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper’s Indian Point Campaign director. “There is simply no reason an ISA should not be granted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It’s time they step up to the plate and serve the public – not the interests of Entergy.”

About Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper is a member-supported, not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Hudson River and the watershed areas that provide drinking water to New York City and parts of four upstate counties by tracking down and stopping polluters. Since 1983, Riverkeeper has investigated and brought to justice hundreds of environmental lawbreakers. For more information, please visit www.riverkeeper.org.

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