ML050260384

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LTR-05-0039 - Ltr. James W. Tuffy Re Annual PR-I Checklist Pertaining to the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
ML050260384
Person / Time
Site: Indian Point  Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 01/24/2005
From: Diana E
Orange County, NY
To: Tuffy J
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, State of NY, Emergency Management Office
References
LTR-05-0039
Download: ML050260384 (3)


Text

-4 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed:Jan 24,2005 15:40 PAPER NUMBER: 5-D0539 LOGGING DATE: 01/24/2005 ACTION OFFICE:

Cl . EDO 2

AUTHOR: Edward Diana DEDH DEDM AFFILIATION: NY AO DEDR ADDRESSEE: James Tuffy NSnta r

SUBJECT:

Annual PR-I checklist pertaining to the Indi: in Point nuclear power plants P-1 ACTION: Information DISTRIBUTION: RF LETTER DATE: 01/14/2005 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: Made publicly available in ADAMS via SECY/EDO/DPC NOTES: cc: Chairman Diaz FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: DATE SIGNED:

EDWARD A. DIANA

,), County Executive Orange County Government Center Goshen, New York 10924 Tel: 845-291-2700 Fax: 845-291-2724 January 14, 2005 Mr. James W. Tuffy, Director New York State Emergency Management Office Building 22, State Campus Albany, New York 12226

Dear Mr. Tuffy:

I am writing to inform you that the County of Orange will not sign the annual PR-I checklist pertaining to the Indian Point nuclear power plants.

As you know, the PR-I checklist that Orange and other counties are required to submit at this time each year merely verifies our compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements regarding nuclear-emergency preparedness.

Although our team of top-notch emergency personnel and dedicated volunteers has fulfilled and even exceeded all the FEMA requirements for 2004, we believe that the issues identified in the Witt Report, commissioned by the Governor in March, 2003, are valid and need to be addressed.

After carefully analyzing the Witt Report, we believe it would be irresponsible to submit the PR-I report given the substantial concerns identified in the Witt Report and its conclusion that the regional plan is inadequate to protect the public.

Preparedness standards set by FEMA and practiced by the local teams rely too heavily on procedural compliance rather than the reality of an emergency. The Witt consultants in their report agree that such an approach amounts to a major flaw in our planning efforts to effectively protect the public. We can dramatically increase the margin of safety by focusing instead on performance-based outcomes and "real life" situations.

My colleagues in our neighboring counties and I believe that security at Indian Point, as well as all other nuclear facilities, should be federalized and placed under the jurisdiction of the newly created Department of Homeland Security.

We believe that the Department of Homeland Security is the appropriate agency to oversee security at nuclear power plants because its mission is to protect the public from terrorist and other threats. The NRC's mission, on the other hand, is to regulate civilian use of nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety.

We look forward to substantial changes. We look to federal and state authorities and the utility company to account for issues of terrorism and develop a plan with the counties that can identify ways to meet the objections and concerns in the Witt Report.

We stand ready to cooperate with the state and federal authorities to make the necessary changes to improve the safety of the plant and the regional plan. And we recognize the tremendous responsibility that remains on our shoulders to protect the public.

Edward A. Diana Orange County Executive cc: Honorable George E. Pataki, Governor Honorable Alan Seidman, Chairman, Orange County Legislature Honorable C. Scott Vanderhoef, County Executive, County of Rockland Honorable Robert J. Bondi, County Executive, County of Putnam Honorable Andrew J. Spano, County Executive, County of Westchester Richard A. Meserve, Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, FEMA Nils Diaz, Chariman Nuclear Regulatory Commission EAD/SG E