PSR Event: Tues, Oct 18th at 10:30 am in Westchester County, New York
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Oct 17, 2016 •
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Media Advisory for Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) Hosts Tour for Health and Disaster Preparedness Professionals of Siting of Spectra AIM Pipeline Adjacent to Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
On Tuesday, October 18th at 10:30 am, Physicians for Social Responsibility will be hosting a tour for health and disaster preparedness professionals of the siting of the Spectra AIM pipeline adjacent to the Indian Point nuclear power plant. Tour will be followed by a press conference featuring Dr. Irwin Redlener, Director of National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Earth Institute at Columbia University and Paul Blanch, a nuclear power expert.
What: Tour of siting of Spectra AIM pipeline adjacent to the Indian Point nuclear power plant followed by press conference.
Where: Tour begins at 11th Street and Highland Avenue in Verplanck in Westchester County, New York and proceeds to Broadway heading toward Bleakley Avenue. Tour followed by press conference which will be held at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library at 185 Kings Ferry Road, Montrose, NY 10548 (1.2 miles – 4 minute drive heading south on Broadway to 6th St. Left onto 6th St, continue onto Kings Ferry Road )
Time: Tour begins at 10:30 am. Press conference begins at 11:45 am.
Who: Dr. Irwin Redlener, Director, National Center of Disaster Preparedness at Earth Institute at Columbia University, Paul Blanch, nuclear power expert, PSR and other health professionals.
Background:
Construction of the Spectra AIM gas pipeline adjacent to the Indian Point nuclear power plant is nearing completion and operation onNovember 1. The pipeline is a large 42″ wide, high pressure gas pipeline that is sited only 105 feet from critical safety structures at the Indian Point nuclear power facility. According to safety experts, a pipeline rupture at that location could result in a nuclear catastrophe endangering millions of New Yorkers who live within the 50-mile impact radius.
Event hosted by Physicians for Social Responsibility, a member organization comprised of medical professionals who have been advocating for public health and safety for over 50 years.
*Please note for the start of the tour, cars should park along Highland Avenue near 11th street in Verplanck in Westchester County, New York.
Feel free to contact Shannon Gearhart, MD, MPH, with any questions or for additional information.
Shannon Gearhart, MD, MPH
Physicians for Social Responsibility/New York
Past President
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The Spectra AIM pipeline is a large 42″ wide, high pressure gas pipeline that is sited a mere 105 feet from critical safety structures at the Indian Point nuclear power facility. According to nuclear and pipeline safety experts, a pipeline rupture at that location could result in a nuclear catastrophe worse than the Fukushima nuclear disaster posing an unacceptable risk to more than 20 million people who live within the 50 mile impact radius in the New York tri-state region, the most densely populated area in the nation. A pipeline rupture at that location poses a serious threat to millions of people even if Indian Point is shut with more than 40 years of highly radioactive spent fuel stored on site.
Nuclear and pipeline safety experts’ affidavits reflect their statements in various hearings, official meetings, testimonies, letters, reports and in other documents in the record.
In his affidavit* Mr. Kuprewicz stated, “My extensive experience in pipeline rupture investigations, spanning many decades, indicates that Entergy, the NRC, and others making statements that a 42-inch pipeline rupture can be quickly isolated and implying that the pipeline operator can quickly remotely recognize and isolate the pipeline rupture within minutes (such as shutdown in three minutes) are misleading and downright false. A transient pipeline rupture analysis for the proposed 42-inch, 850 psig MAOP pipeline in the vicinity of IPEC needs to be properly performed, subject to independent verification of key assumptions, and gas pipeline rupture possible impacts to IPEC reviewed to confirm that such a rupture event near IPEC and its associated key facilities would not prevent the facilities from safely shutting down and/or place the public at great risks.”
In a separate affidavit** Mr. Blanch stated, “The NRC has underestimated the probability of a gas line accident impacting the Indian Point nuclear plant by at least a factor of 1000. Moreover, the NRC and Entergy have failed to provide any supportable documentation that Indian Point can safely shut down the plants in the event of a gas line rupture, and Entergy has no emergency procedures in place at Indian Point to respond to a gas line rupture. The blast radius from a gas line rupture would likely encompass the entire Indian Point site, disabling all vital equipment required to prevent core damage and major radioactive releases to the environment…It is my expert opinion that once gas is introduced into the AIM pipeline there will be a grave and imminent danger to the surrounding area and residents. The consequences of a nuclear event at Indian Point may impact millions of lives in the Hudson Valley and New York City and cause social and economic impacts in the trillions of dollars range. It is my professional expert opinion that a transparent and independent risk analysis must be conducted consistent with NRC regulations 10 CFR Part 50, Regulatory Guide 1.91, and the requirements of DOT/PHMSA 49 CFR §192.935 and ASME B31.8(S) prior to pressurized gas being introduced into the AIM pipeline.”
*To view the Declaration of Richard Kuprewicz, September 21, 2016, click the link below:
**To view the Declaration of Paul Blanch, September 21, 2016, click the link below:
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