ALBANY, New York, November 5, 2007 (ENS) - The question of whether to renew the operating license of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Facility on the Hudson River for another 20 years merits a full environmental review by federal authorities, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, DEC, said in comments filed Wednesday with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The agency filed comments jointly with the state Attorney General's office and on behalf of all New York State executive agencies as part of the Indian Point license renewal process established by the commission.

The current licenses for Indian Point Unit 2 and Unit 3 expire in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The owner, Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., submitted a license renewal application in April requesting authorization to operate each 1065 megawatt pressurized water reactor an additional 20 years. A final decision is not likely before 2009.

Entergy's Indian Point nuclear power facility on the Hudson River. (Photo courtesy Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

The Indian Point facility is located on the east shore of the Hudson River, in Buchanan south of Peekskill, in Westchester County. The nuclear facility generates 2,140 megawatts of electricity for customers in Westchester County and New York City.

Situated 24 miles north of the Bronx, 20 million people live within the 50 mile radius where the greatest damage would occur in the event of an accident or deliberate attack.

The primary federal environmental law - the National Environmental Policy Act - the facts of this case, and the unique location of Indian Point, in such close proximity to New York City, require a full and comprehensive review of all adverse impacts, the DEC said in its comments.

Among the environmental concerns are discharges of up to 2.5 billion gallons of heated water per day into the Hudson River and the impact on aquatic life, effects on endangered species and on groundwater. Drawn in through three intake structures on the shoreline of the Hudson River, this water is used to cool the nuclear reactors.

Also, DEC said the assessment must cover accidental releases, possible terrorist attacks and evacuation plans, as well as the long-term storage of spent fuel.

Instead, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has stated that it will employ what is known as a Generic Environmental Impact Statement, GEIS, when evaluating Entergy's application.

But the state environmental agency contends that option is "insufficient," warning that among other things, "a GEIS would forgo a site-specific review of issues relevant to Indian Point."

The state agency says the GEIS "which has not been updated in over 11 years, is legally stale and is therefore void."

"A large radioactive release triggered by a terrorist attack on or accident at the facility could have devastating health and economic consequences, rendering much of the Hudson River Valley, including New York City, uninhabitable," according to the local Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization seeking a shutdown of Indian Point.

Riverkeeper filed formal comments with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in October, urging the agency to conduct a comprehensive environmental review of Indian Point that addresses storage of nuclear waste, the continued fish kills caused by Indian Point's use of Hudson River water, and the "potentially catastrophic environmental and public health impacts" that would be caused by a terrorist attack or accident at Indian Point.

On April 26, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer formally requested that the commission conduct an Independent Safety Assessment at Indian Point.

His call was backed by New York Congressional delegates, including Representatives John Hall, Maurice Hinchey, Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey, and Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, all Democrats.

Senator Clinton introduced legislation in February that would require an in-depth review of Indian Point's safety and mechanical systems, spent fuel pools, and radiological emergency evacuation plans.

To read the full comments submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, go to: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6061.asp.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.