'Deeply Disappointed': Federal Ruling Means Radioactive Wastewater May Be Released Into The Hudson

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A federal court ruling means that plans for decommissioning the Indian Point nuclear power plant could involve releasing radioactive waste into the Hudson River.

The county's highest elected official is now calling on federal regulators to find an alternative that will protect the "health and safety" of communities along the river.

"I am deeply disappointed by the federal court's decision that federal law preempts New York law, allowing Holtec International to move forward with plans that could result in radioactive wastewater being discharged into the Hudson River," Jenkins said in a statement. "This ruling disregards the intent of New York's law, that directed Holtec to use the tremendous amount of decommissioning funds available and use a more expensive method of disposal to protect both people's lives and our environment."

See Also:

• Rally Set To Ban Radioactive Wastewater Discharge In Hudson River
• Lawmakers, Counties Oppose Radioactive Discharge From Indian Point
• Hochul Bans Radioactive Discharges Into Hudson River
• Radioactive Discharge From Indian Point Into Hudson River Postponed

For their part, Holtec, the company contracted to decommission the facility, has insisted all along that federal law, not state or local prohibitions, set the safety standards for handling the radioactive wastewater. The company said the action is both safe and properly permitted. The company has opposed the, now blunted, New York law that prohibited radioactive discharges in the Hudson.

Patrick O'Brien, director of government affairs and communications for Holtec International, said in a statement to Patch that the company was disappointed in the bill's passage "as the scientific facts show that discharge to the river is the safest option for dealing with the processed and treated water."

He said that was supported by the Decommissioning Oversight Board's independent third-party expert and years of environmental monitoring and reporting.

"Radiological discharge is the sole purview of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and we hope the governor's office reviews, concurs and vetoes the legislation based on the assessment that radiological discharge is federally preempted," O’Brien said.

"The treated water is monitored and sampled to ensure that it meets regulatory requirements before it is released and will be a small fraction of the 3 millirem total annual limit imposed by the NRC," company spokesperson Patrick O’Brien told Patch when the plans to release wastewater from the cooling tanks was first announced in 2023.

The county executive, however, said that the Hudson River means too much to the region for it to be put at risk.

"The Hudson is the lifeblood of our region — a source of recreation, natural beauty and economic vitality — and we cannot allow it to become a dumping ground for radioactive waste," Jenkins said. "Westchester residents, and all New Yorkers on both sides of the Hudson River, deserve better."

With the ruling paving the way for the controversial radioactive waste plan to be put in action, the county executive vowed to explore other avenues to stop the possibility of releasing the wastewater into the Hudson.

"I am calling for the NRC to direct Holtec to stop this reckless action, and to protect the health and safety of our communities," Jenkins said, vowing to not to give up. "The fight to safeguard the Hudson River is far from over."