Lowey Urges NRC to Update Indian Point Evacuation Plans

This is a press release from the office of Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland): 
Congresswoman Nita Lowy today urged Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory Jaczko to expand NRC evacuation plan requirements to include areas within 50 miles of a nuclear facility, which would be evacuated in the event of a Fukushima-level nuclear emergency.

Current regulations require evacuation planning for areas located within a 10-mile radius of nuclear facilities.  On March 17, 2011, Bill Borchardt, NRC executive director for operations, stated that if a meltdown on a similar scale as Fukushima happened in the United States, the evacuation zone would extend to 50 miles.  17 million people in parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York City live within 50 miles of the

“Given the geography and transportation infrastructure of the region,” wrote Lowey, “a timely evacuation would be nearly impossible and requires further review by the many federal, state, and local entities that would be involved in such a massive undertaking.”

Full letter:

Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Mail Stop O-16G4

Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

On March 9, 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced that it will begin implementing several enhanced safety recommendations of the Japan Near-Term Task Force.  While I strongly support the NRC’s actions to better secure, monitor, and equip nuclear sites to deal with Fukushima-level meltdowns and gather additional data to shape future risk mitigation efforts, I am very disappointed that the NRC’s actions do not address the alarming deficiencies in evacuation plans for surrounding communities. 

As you know, under rules in force for more than 30 years, surrounding communities, within 10 miles of a plant, must prepare federally reviewed evacuation plans. For citizens living within a 50-mile radius, there is no requirement for communities to create evacuation plans. In the event of a nuclear accident, the NRC operates under the policy that citizens outside the 10 mile radius will stay put until otherwise directed. This policy contradicts the likely scenario that would play out in the event of a Fukushima-level incident. On March 17, 2011, Bill Borchardt, NRC executive director for operations, stated that if a meltdown on a similar scale as Fukushima happened in the United States, the evacuation zone would extend to 50 miles.

The Indian Point Energy Center is built on two fault lines and is located 25 miles outside of New York City’s northern border. A 50-mile evacuation order for Indian Point would include over 17 million people in parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City. Given the geography and transportation infrastructure of the region, a timely evacuation would be nearly impossible and requires further review by the many federal, state, and local entities that would be involved in such a massive undertaking.

A year after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, the Near-Term Task Force presents an opportunity to update our best practices to reflect lessons learned from the disaster.  I encourage the NRC to require evacuation plans that extend to 50 miles so that we can have an accurate assessment of the public safety impacts that a Fukushima-level accident would have on our citizenry.

Sincerely,

Nita M. Lowey

Member of Congress