Ex-NRC Chair: Emer. Plans Won’t Protect Res. from Rad. - Indian Point Nuclear Plant Should Be Closed

[kristopher]

Former NRC Chair: Emergency Plans Won’t Protect Residents from Radiation, And Indian Point Should Be Closed


Gregory Jaczko: Shut Indian Point down
By Roger Witherspoon


The former head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said yesterday that emergency plans for a catastrophic event at the Indian Point nuclear power plant are not designed to ensure that residents will escape unhealthy doses of radiation and it would be best if the plant closes down.

Gregory Jaczko, who led the five-member Commission during the triple meltdown of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station and resigned last year after intense clashes with the industry and the other four Commissioners, said in a wide-ranging interview that:

- Emergency plans for Indian Point only teach officials how to make the best decisions in a bad situation and minimize the extent of contamination for those within 10 miles of the Hudson River site. The plans will do nothing to protect the 21 million people living within 50 miles, including New York City, northern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and western Connecticut.
- With the exception of Allison M. Macfarlane, his replacement as NRC Chair ( http://bit.ly/YsPqgF ), the four commissioners “were brought onto the Commission because they were more interested in looking at the impact of regulations on the industry rather than on the possible impact on the safety of the public.”
- The agency’s risk assessment, which undergirds its regulatory structure and determines what practices are safe, is seriously flawed because of a basic assumption that worst case scenarios cannot happen. As a result, there is little thought given to the consequences of accidents – even though it is certain that some will occur.
- Because the consequences of a meltdown at Indian Point are incalculably catastrophic, it would be best if the plant were closed.

Much more at http://spoonsenergymatters.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/former-nrc-chair-emergency-plans-wont-protect-residents-from-radiation-and-indian-point-should-be-closed/

[madokie]

1. I was going to say I'm glad I don't live too close to a nuclear power plant

then I check and Russellville Arkansas is only about 140 miles away, the way a crow flies that is.