White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <I>Adam in Albany</I>: Indian Point Poses a Threat to Westchester.

WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY: By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. January 25, 2003: After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Westchester families have become acutely aware of the potential harm we all face due to the presence of the Indian Point nuclear facility. Unfortunately, as a recent report made clear, we are not adequately prepared for a terrorist attack on our community.

New study shows flaws

On January 10, I was present at the Greenburgh Town Hall – discussing a recently released, 550-page report issued by James Lee Witt associates pertaining to Indian Point’s plan of evacuation in the event of a radiation leak. It comes as no surprise to me that the state-commissioned, five-month-study preformed by Witt Associates concluded that the current response system is not adequate. I’ve been saying this for some time.

The study suggested that evacuation plans should include a component to deal with the unique implications of a terrorist attack. Such unexpected attacks proved possible as the September 11th highjackers, using the Hudson River as a path to New York City, flew over the Indian Point nuclear facility.

Why the existing plan won’t work

Nuclear plants are already required to develop an evacuation plan in conjunction with counties covering a 10-mile radius to evacuate people who may be in the path of a radiation leak. However, these plans don’t reflect the risks associated with terrorist attacks we now face.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's emergency scenario for nuclear plants deals with accidents that develop over several hours or days and last only a few hours before the situation is controlled. As a result, the current plan calls for the limited evacuation of small zones directly in the path of any radioactive "plume" escaping the plant – other residents are expected to stay in their homes unless they are explicitly told to evacuate. In addition, schoolchildren would be bused in shifts to relocation centers outside the zone, where parents would be expected to meet them.

Planning problems for Indian Point are more serious because of the large population concentrations near the plant and inside the critical ten-mile radius, let alone the large population just outside the ten mile zone. Yet, the evacuation plan, regardless of an unforeseen attack, does not seem to be anchored in reality. The plan assumes that people will do what emergency planners expect them to do, rather than acting in accordance with what they believe to be their best interests.

The plan does not realistically anticipate parents ignoring the call to stay away from local schools or the result of shadow evacuations, in which thousands of people would flee without being told, creating traffic on our already crowded roadways. Hospitals also question their ability to maintain reasonable staff in contaminated areas. We need to recognize the panic that is likely to ensue in the event of a terrorist attack at Indian Point.

Realizing potential danger and choosing a safer energy supply

I was pleased to hear the governor wants to make the war on terrorism a priority in his State-of-the-State address. If he’s serious, he must consider New York’s share of our nation’s 103 nuclear power plants as potential targets of terrorist attacks – and incorporate this type of scenario in evacuation plan proposals.

We cannot gamble with the lives of our loved ones. If there is no plan good enough to protect our families, the best action to take would be to close the plant down.

Westchester’s need for power won’t disappear and we need to look into cleaner and safer power sources. The governor mentioned making New York a national leader in renewable energy usage. I agree that we need to invest in new forms of energy – which are safer to operate and easier on the environment. Alternate forms of energy will also stimulate new industry – creating more jobs with safer work environments.

In the meantime, I will work to ensure our community’s safety and continue to attend hearings and discussions related to Indian Point – including an upcoming hearing that will be held by several Assembly Committees to further discuss the inadequacies of the evacuation plans for Indian Point. We all must work together to ensure that public safety is reasonably and realistically protected in case of an emergency.

Note: WPCNR's ADAM IN ALBANY is District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley's weekly report from Albany. It also appears in the Lewisboro Ledger, SuburbanStreet.com, Politicsny.com, and The Harrison Report. Assemblyman Bradley may be reached at bradley@assembly.state.ny.us.


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