By Dan Murphy
Instead of listening to the public, Holtec, the owner of the Indian Point power plant in Westchester, has decided to speed up their planned dumping of contaminated waste in the Hudson River in 30 days, three months earlier than a planned August dump. The decision may be a plan to beat the State of New York in passing a law that bans this practice.
As Riverkeeper has pointed out, there are other options to dumping in the now clean and beloved Hudson River that Pete Seeger worked most of his life to make pristine.
Riverkeeper identified four options to dumping in the Hudson:
I- Hold the wastewater on site. Although no definite holding time was discussed at the meeting, storage on site was. We believe an initial 12 year period would be appropriate. After 12 years, tritium’s half-life (the radioactive isotope) will have cut its activity by 50%. During this 12-year period we would like Holtec to explore separation of the tritium, solidification, and any other options that emerge.
II- Transfer the wastewater to out-of-state sites. The danger of transporting radioactive waste on our roads and railways increases the risk to millions of people as accidents have and will occur in an uncontrolled environment. Even if safe transport is successful, transferring the problems of radioactive waste to other communities is not fair or equitable.
III-Allow for evaporation of the wastewater. Evaporation methods for the wastewater are a poor option as after the evaporation is absorbed into the air the contaminants will fall back to the ground, covering a much wider footprint that could include schools, parks and residential areas. A consensus emerged during the DOB meeting rejecting this option.
IV-Discharge the wastewater in the Hudson River. This is the method the plant used while it was still operating. We believe it is time to take a precautionary approach and end the practice of dumping radioactive wastewater into the Hudson.
After Holtec’s annoucement, which they were required to give the public 30 days notice before dumping again, was blasted by State Senator Pete Harckham, Assemblymember Dana Levenberg and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
State Senator Pete Harckham said, “While we have been in the middle of communications with Holtec centered on finding alternatives to dumping millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River, its decision to expedite this action from August to May is simply an act of bad faith and corporate arrogance. It is no wonder that the communities along the river and even beyond continue to be outraged by Holtec’s handling of Indian Point’s decommissioning.
“Holtec’s agreeing to allow the state to test the radioactive wastewater as it travels to the Hudson is a small concession gained by our state agencies but not a solution to the problem. The point is that the DOB, residents and business owners should not be put into a ‘last to know’ position when it comes to dumping radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River. Holtec continues to pursue a course of action with scant acknowledgment of our communities’ concerns about this critical issue.”
State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg said,
“Yesterday, Holtec informed the Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight board that they intend to speed up their plan to begin discharging radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River as early as May. I am grateful to the Decommissioning Oversight Board and Riverkeeper for insisting that Holtec give us 30 days notice before any planned discharge into the river. Holtec’s timing shows profound disrespect for our community, particularly as we are approaching the season when so many are turning to the river for fishing, swimming, boating, and so much more. This is the number one issue constituents write to me about – I have heard from hundreds of community members who are opposed to Holtec’s plan. Many municipalities, including Westchester & Rockland counties, have passed resolutions opposing this plan and supporting the efforts of Senator Pete Harckham, myself, and a bipartisan coalition of state legislators to increase the state’s power over its own waterways. It is clear that the decision to move faster than planned is an attempt to sidestep the efforts of state representatives to explore alternatives.
“My constituents are already overburdened with the negative environmental externalities left behind by industrial infrastructure, and we should not be treated like pawns in this process. What we need is a partner who will work with us to facilitate a safe and just decommissioning of this plant, in a way that respects the surrounding communities. The people of my district have made it clear that this conversation should not be one-sided; Holtec should not be the only participant driving the schedule. What is efficient for Holtec may not be what is in the best interest of our communities and our natural resources. There are other paths forward, as we have seen play out in other states. We deserve a robust conversation about how to proceed, centered on respect for the river itself and the people who live, work, and play here.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “The announcement by Holtec to expedite this plan, in the midst of ongoing discussions with State officials, community stakeholders and local municipalities, is an outrageous one. The impacted communities have far too much at stake for any treated water dumping to occur on a timeline quicker than what was expected. It is a mistake for Holtec to act before full public vetting of all options and acting without convincing residents and local governments why the other options have been overridden for consideration. Through the Indian Point Decommissioning Board, which the County has a seat at the table on, the County is requesting an exact list of all elements and components which will be tested for. I am urging Holtec and all parties involved to suspend their current plans, and to hold continued conversations on this decision and any subsequent actions that may be taken in order to ensure that residents of and visitors to our beautiful, scenic riverfronts are best protected.”
