ML12272A341
| ML12272A341 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 09/18/2012 |
| From: | Jonathan Brown - No Known Affiliation |
| To: | NRC/SECY/RAS |
| SECY RAS | |
| References | |
| RAS E-1323, 50-247-LR, 50-286-LR, ASLBP 07-858-03-LR-BD01 | |
| Download: ML12272A341 (2) | |
Text
,I SE _. 3 23 Jane Brown PO Box 143 Rosendale, NY 12472-0143 ianemail40000-yahoo.com 845-658-3010 September 18, 2012 Office of the Secretary, Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
SUBJECT:
INDIAN POINT I'm writing to urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny Entergy's application for a 20-year license extension for the two operating nuclear reactors, IP-2 and IP-3, at the Indian Point Energy Facility in Buchanan, NY.
Previous Breakdowns: The plant has a history of multiple transformer explosions, a major steam pipe rupture, clogged cooling system intakes, repeated siren failures - and is a sitting target for terrorism.
No Place For Waste: When the plant was first licensed, it was widely believed that the federal government would open a national waste depository at Yucca Mountain. That option is no longer under consideration and there is no other repository on the horizon. Indian Point is now storing 1,500 tons of highly-radioactive spent nuclear waste on-site, and would add an additional 1,000 tons if the plant is relicensed for another 20 years.
Fuel Pools Overload: The plant's spent fuel is highly radioactive and contains about three times the radioactivity as Fukushima's spent fuel pools. Indian Point spent fuel assemblies are densely packed into severely over-crowded fuel pools that are housed in totally unprotected metal storage buildings and are already leaking radioactivity into the Hudson River.
Other Threats: There is increasing evidence of earthquakes and tornadoes in the region and the increasing likelihood of extreme weather, terrorist attacks and pool fires. In August 2011, New York experienced the effects of an earthquake, Hurricane Irene, and a tornado all in one week. Any such occurrence at Indian Point will trigger a "nuclear accident" from which evacuation of the population will not be possible.
Approximately 20 million people live or work within 50 miles of Indian Point. The plant is located in the most densely populated region of the country and identified as one of the most dangerous nuclear plants in the nation, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) itself. Over the years we have witnessed serious nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, and most recently at Fukushima. Indian Point will be next. It is inevitable.
I Page 2, Jane Brown, Indian Point Unforseen Costs: A nuclear accident or leak will take a serious toll on residents, on farms, on national morale, and on the economy. Lawsuits will cripple all parties that allow the plant to remain in operation. In light of the highly-publicized warnings, all parties will have known or ought to have known about the impending dangers.
Relicensing Indian Point defies logic, especially when safer, cleaner alternatives are available RIGHT NOW.
Preferred Options: Nuclear power is being replaced by energy efficiency and renewables, repowering and improved storage and transmission capability. Governor Cuomo's Energy Highway is currently addressing ways to bring excess power, including 4,000 megawatts of wind in the western part of the State, to the greater NY metropolitan area. In January 2012, the NYS Assembly Committee on Energy concluded that there is more than enough power to allow Indian Point to close without overburdening ratepayers or threatening reliability standards.
Thank you for accepting comments.
Yours truly, ane Brown ianemail4000@yahoo.com cc: Administrative Judge Lawrence G. McDade c/o Anne Siarnack, Law Clerk Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, Mail Stop T-3F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001