New York lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban radioactive waste from being discharged by Holtec International, the owner of the Indian Point Energy Center, into the Hudson River. The EPA classifies around 200 miles of the river as a superfund site. During a recent forum about the implications of Holtec’s possible actions, physicist Dr. Helen Caldicott described some of that waste, including tritium…
The state bill was introduced by Hudson Valley State Senator Peter Harckham. It would fine violators 25-thousand dollars a day if caught dumping radiological agents into New York State waters. Second-violation fines would increase to 50-thousand dollars a day, but the Minority Leader of the Rockland County Legislature says that’s chump change. Clarkstown legislator Lon Hofstein says the Legislature unanimously passed a memorializing resolution this week that calls on the state to increase those fines against Holtec for any actions that pollute the river…
The bill is under review in the State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. Thus far, Holtec International has worked closely with state agencies to ensure a safe process, based partly on the joint proposal to decommission Indian Point. Dr. Diane Turco, with Cape Downwinders, says elected officials need to stand up for their constituents…
One alternative to dumping the waste could be to leave it in tanks onsite, so radioactive agents are then safer to remove. Another would be to include transferring it to out-of-state sites and possibly allowing the wastewater to evaporate.