“LOWEY STATEMENT ON SPENT FUEL POOL LEAK AT INDIAN POINT”

Nita M. Lowey

Serving Westchester and Rockland Counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         CONTACT: Julie Edwards

September 20, 2005                              202-225-6506

 LOWEY STATEMENT ON SPENT FUEL POOL LEAK AT INDIAN POINT

  WASHINGTON , DC – Today, Indian Point operator Entergy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the discovery of a leak in one of the spent fuel pools at the Indian Point 2 nuclear plant.  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) issued the following statement:

 “The leak at Indian Point illustrates once again that this facility is not safe for the residents of our region.  The fact is the NRC and Entergy wouldn’t know of this leak at all if there had not been construction in the area of the leaking pool.  Clearly, both the systems to contain and detect radiological material are failing at this facility.

 “I’m also outraged that Entergy left the public in the dark about this leak for over a week.  Secrecy and radioactive material just don’t mix.  If we can’t trust Entergy to inform the public about leaks at Indian Point, how can we trust them to maintain safety and security standards that will protect the community?

 “Indian Point must be decommissioned for the health and safety of all New Yorkers before a larger, more dangerous problem that can not be hidden from the public, surfaces.”