In conjunction with the State of New York, local municipalities, and the Public Utility Law Project, Riverkeeper has reached a provisional agreement with Holtec International and its subsidiaries (Holtec) regarding the decommissioning and cleanup of the Indian Point nuclear power facility in the Lower Hudson Valley. The joint proposal is subject to approval by the New York State Public Service Commission. If approved by the PSC, the agreement would transfer ownership of the nuclear power facility to Holtec, which would be responsible for the swift, complete, and safe decommissioning and remediation of the facility and site.
We believe this is the most comprehensive agreement in the nation regarding decommissioning, providing strict State oversight of Holtec, a robust financial assurance package, and commitment to complete environmental remediation. It backstops inadequate NRC oversight with robust state oversight and ensures the public will stay informed about how the decommissioning is progressing. It also allows the decommissioning to start promptly, so that we can now look forward to a new productive use for the Indian Point site within 15 years.
This joint proposal regarding the proposed license transfer is intended to comprehensively address the many concerns about Holtec. Under the agreement, Holtec is required to adhere to a slew of financial and administrative provisions, including:
In exchange for Holtec’s commitment, the New York Office of the Attorney General, Riverkeeper, the Town of Cortlandt and the Hendrick Hudson School District will withdraw their appeals of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval of the license transfer, which are pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Riverkeeper believes the oversight and financial conditions in this agreement will protect New Yorkers and create a solid foundation for the decommissioning process, and is proud to be part of its formation. For this reason, we are willing to accept the proposed license transfer despite our many concerns against the license transfer to Holtec and the NRC’s lax oversight. However, we also recognize that this protection only exists so long as the joint proposal is properly executed. Riverkeeper remains committed to fulfilling our role as a signatory to ensure Holtec’s promise of a safe, efficient, and thorough decommissioning and site remediation under this agreement becomes a reality. We will continue to watchdog the implementation of this agreement and expect to be a member of the Decommissioning Oversight Board.