Reps want NRC to return Indian Point penalty money to local governments

Reps want NRC to return Indian Point penalty money to local governments

White Plains – Congressional representatives Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), and John Hall (D-Hudson Valley), were joined by Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, and County Department of Emergency Services Commissioner Tony Sutton Friday in highlighting what they say are continued safety and structural failings at the Indian Point Nuclear Facility.
“I believe that Indian Point represents an unacceptable threat to our region and should be shut down,” Lowey said. If Entergy cannot get a simple siren system to work, it raises obvious questions about the overall safety at the facility. As their inaction on installing the siren system continues to put our community at risk, it makes sense that the fines for these penalties be used to help protect our communities.”
Lowey and Hall also announced legislation that would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to distribute funds collected as fines for safety violations to counties surrounding nuclear facilities, which are charged with maintaining radiological emergency plans. Currently, all fines paid to the NRC, as with any federal agency, are deposited directly into the U.S. Treasury. Senator Clinton is introducing companion legislation in the Senate.
Hall called it common sense. “Counties are spending many, many hundreds of thousands of dollars on personnel, and time, and machinery and communications equipment, trying to be ready for a possible emergency at the plant. So, if there’s a fine, it would only seem fair that that should go to reduce the local taxes to the people who are paying for it.”
“It is only fair that any future fines levied against Entergy be directed to the counties who expend far more in emergency planning than they receive” said County Executive Spano. “Westchester, for example, has received $412,500 each year for the past ten years, while spending roughly ten times that amount since September 11th. To put this in perspective, the $130,000 fine previously levied, and given to the government is miniscule in terms of importance to the federal treasury, while to Westchester, it would have been used to relieve some of the burden Indian Point places on our taxpayers.”
Riverkeeper applauded introduction of the legislation. “Given the continuing problems with Indian Point’s beleaguered new siren system, radioactive leaks, and unplanned shutdowns, it is only fair that safety violation fines be directed to the communities that bear the burden of Indian Point’s failings”, said Riverkeeper’s Policy Director, Lisa Rainwater.