Indian Point 1 was shut down in 1974 because its emergency core cooling system was outmoded. Spent fuel was removed by 1976. Unit 2 and 3 were completed in 1974 and 1976. The original 40-year license for Indian Point Unit 2 expired in September 2013 and the license for Unit 3 is set to expire December 13. Entergy is still allowed to keep operating the reactors until NRC decides on the renewal application.
Local movements opposed to the plants have cited the their gargantuan water needs which total 2.5 billion gallons a day, its proximity to New York City and other population centers and a maze of newly discovered earthquake faults running underneath the plant. Entergy counters that attacks on the safety of the plant are "irresponsible" because it has, in their words, "run safely for the past 30 years" and has received millions of dollars in safety upgrades.
New York's Director of State Operations Jim Malatras sees it differently. He says, "The NRC should, on an expedited basis, deny Entergy's application for relicensing of the Indian Point Facilities," According to him, operating the plants so close to the city for another 20 years "puts too many New Yorkers at risk."
PAUL DeRIENZO lives in New York City and contributed this article to ThisCantBeHappening!, the new independent, uncompromised, five-time Project Censored Award-winning online alternative news site at www.thiscantbehappening.net
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