Above Photo: By Andrew Courtney.
At Entrance Of Indian Point Nuclear Plant
Note: The Indian Point nuclear power plant, located just 30 miles from New York City, was forced to shut down on December 14th due to an “electrical disturbance.” This was just days after its operational license expired. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is closely aligned with the nuclear industry, allowed the plant to continue to operate while its application for renewal was reviewed. The shutdown took place just hours after dozens of anti-nuclear activists held a protest, see article below, against Indian Point’s continued operation after its license expired at midnight on December 13. On May 10th a transformer exploded at Indian Point resulting in a large cloud of smoke and alarms that could be seen and heard from across the river. The plant is 40 years old and seeking a license to operate for another 20 years.
Eleven anti-nuclear activists were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after stretching yellow caution tape across the main entrance of New York’s Indian Point nuclear power plant on December 12. The 50 people in attendance were there to protest the decision of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow one of the plant’s two reactors, Unit 3, to continue to operate after its license expires at midnight on Saturday, December 12.
Arrested were Gary Shaw, Judy Allen, Sally Gellert, Ken Okin, CP Colfield, Dan Fullerton, Merle Mceldowney, JK Canepa, Bruce Rosen, Jacki Drechsler and Rick Ufford-Chase.
Protesters arrested at Indian Point
by Mark Lungariello
December 12, 2015
The two reactors at the plant will continue to operate while the Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers an application for new permits.
BUCHANAN – Approximately 10 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct at Indian Point Saturday, after they stretched yellow caution tape across the main entrance of the nuclear power plant.
About 30 protesters rallying for the closure of the plant marched a quarter of a mile with picket signs, then spoke in front of entrance to the plant. Those blocking the entrance were issued a warning before being placed under arrest.
Village police confirmed the arrests but would not verify the number or give further information on those arrested.
The protest was organized by the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that licenses nuclear plants, announced it would allow one of the plant’s two reactors, Unit 3, to continue to operate after its license expires Saturday at midnight.
Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, is awaiting a decision from the NRC to renew its operating licenses for Unit 3 and Unit 2. The NRC has said that the reactors can continue operating while until it makes a decision on the new licenses. Unit 2 is operating under a permit that expired in 2013.
Entergy first applied for renewal in 2007. Indian Point is the only facility in the country whose reactors are operating on an extended permit.