By Alberto Gilman
Holtec International has announced that it will not proceed with the discharging of wastewater into the Hudson River following public outcry and concern. State Senator Peter Harckham and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg have introduced a new bill prohibiting the future dumping of nuclear materials into the Hudson River. The Indian Point plant came under heavy scrutiny for its discharge efforts.
The three-unit site located in Buchanan officially closed its doors in 2021 and was acquired by Holtec. Under state and federal permits going back to 1962, the plant does have the ability to discharge materials that have been treated back into the river. It was further clarified that no nuclear or toxic waste was being dumped but instead being treated on-site for future discharge.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer was joined by Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger on Monday, April 17 to voice their concerns for the safety of the residents of the Hudson Valley and the protection of the river. The Hudson serves as a drinking water source and recreational space for many municipalities along it as well as a natural habitat for varying species of plants and animals.
“‘I’m here on behalf of Ulster County communities upstream of Indian Point to express our strong and united opposition to Holtec’s plans to discharge treated radioactive waste into the Hudson River. We will not stand in the face of threats to the health of river ecosystems and to our communities along the river,” said Metzger. “Discharging radioactive waste may be Holtec’s preferred solution, but it is by no means the only solution and I’m calling for secure storage of the contaminated water on the Indian Point site while safer disposal methods are evaluated. Today, we can be grateful for the pause in Holtec’s plan and the opening it creates to discuss and agree on a better, safer strategy.”
“We’re deeply concerned about discharging the water into the Hudson River. In the next couple of weeks you’re gonna see hundreds of people fishing here. Striped bass are starting to run up. I wouldn’t want to eat anything that was exposed to water that was from Indian Point,” said Neuhaus. “There are other options and the bottom line, we want them [Holtec] to explore those other options. It is something that is very important to us. We [county executives] have an obligation to protect our citizens.”
Other elected leaders and officials shared their thoughts on the recent announcement to Holtec’s plan:
“As a drinking water source and world-renown hub for tourism, recreation, and more, the Hudson River is at the heart of our Hudson Valley communities. I am relieved that Holtec has heeded our call and will put a stop to its hastily hatched plan to dump radioactive wastewater into the Hudson this May,” said Senator [Chuck] Schumer. “Without clear information about what’s in the water, and a recent federal violation within the Indian Point treatment system, and a lack of transparency about its plans, Holtec has left our communities in the dark about its proposed release of over one million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson. Our Hudson Valley communities deserve answers from Holtec, the NRC, and other regulators overseeing the decommissioning of Indian Point, and I won’t stop fighting until I get them.”
“Numerous residents and the environment can be negatively impacted by discharging the water into the Hudson River, one time used to cool the Nuclear Reactor at Indian Point,” said Gil Piaquadio, Town of Newburgh Supervisor. “Holtec, the contractor responsible for dismantling the plant, must obtain scientific evidence that the water is not contaminated, followed by a public session to convince residents and local municipalities that there will be no adverse environmental impacts before discharging any water into the Hudson River.”
“This decision was the right call. Advocates and concerned citizens in unison called on Holtec to reconsider their rushed plan and we proved that local communities understand best what will keep them safe. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen again; it’s why I’m co-sponsoring legislation to prohibit such radioactive dumping going forward,” said Senator Rob Rolison (39th District).
“While I’m glad Holtec International has decided to postpone the discharge, I fully support pending State legislation that would ban the discharge of radioactive waste into the Hudson River. So many individuals and organizations have fought to clean-up the river from decades of dumping. It’s important to draw a line in the sand. We must continue fighting to protect this natural resource for future generations. The Town of Cornwall will be taking action next week to pass a resolution in opposition, adding our voices to other municipalities in the region,” said Josh Wojehowski, Cornwall Town Supervisor.