Entergy: Pipeline Poses No Higher Safety Risks to Indian Point

The natural gas pipeline expansion project now underway in Cortlandt does not pose an increased risk to the Indian Point nuclear power plant, says its owner.

Entergy issued a statement to that effect after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina made announcements about the Algonquin natural gas pipeline, calling for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to halt construction while the state does a risk analysis.

The governor, who wants Indian Point closed, ordered the analysis earlier this week.

Entergy responded:

Because a portion of Spectra Energy’s Algonquin pipeline project crosses part of the Indian Point property, we worked with the pipeline owner to add enhanced protective measures like increasing the thickness of the pipe, burying the pipe deeper, adding thicker corrosion protection, and laying protective concrete mats over the pipe in the vicinity of the power plant. We then commissioned an independent, expert analysis of potential safety impacts which could result from a pipeline failure. The independent analysis determined the pipeline, which will be located more than 1500 feet from safety related equipment, poses no increased risks to safety at the plant and experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted their own independent analysis and reached the same conclusion.

Spectra Energy currently operates two existing but smaller natural gas pipelines several hundred feet from Indian Point Unit 3, and those pipelines have been in service for several decades. Previously completed analyses demonstrated there is no potential harm to nuclear safety from either of those pipelines.

We have no comment on any calls for FERC to halt construction.

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