Recap of Entergy's Tuesday Safety Briefing on Indian Point Leak

Today Entergy hosted an informative governmental stakeholder safety update regarding the groundwater investigation at Indian Point. The update was conducted by the expert team of Entergy officials reporting on the investigation being conducted by engineers, scientists, safety experts and NRC representatives who are working on site.

The update was very detailed and made clear there is no threat to the health and safety of the public. There is also no threat or danger to the Hudson River, which borders the plant. Plant personnel stated that they believe that the source of the leak is being isolated. They also confirmed that remediation and prevention measures will be put in place. Safety is always the top priority of all involved and Entergy has been forthcoming and comprehensive in their discussions with those of us who represent the surrounding region.

Entergy first reported the findings of their groundwater tests to stakeholders on February 5th after they discovered elevated levels of tritium in 3 of the 40 monitoring wells on the Indian Point site.

Although the levels were one-tenth of one percent of federal reporting guidelines, Entergy notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, numerous state agencies and identified stakeholders. As a key governmental stakeholder I was kept in complete and constant awareness of the situation and progress of the investigation. Entergy deploys a comprehensive notification system for any and all situations that may arise at the plant.

The information provided at today’s briefing outlined in detail the progress of the investigation. Entergy officials are confident they have identified the probable source of the leak and isolated the area of the plant where the leak originated. The extensive and structured investigation continues with focus on specifically identifying the leak, fixing the issues associated with it and preventing any future incidences. The investigation so far has also seemed to validate that the leak has stopped and tritium levels are stabilized and trending downward.

As Westchester County Legislator and area resident I will continue to keep close communication with those involved with the investigation at Indian Point and responsible for the monitoring of the safety measures in place. The energy produced at Indian Point provides 25 percent of the essential electricity for our area and New York City. The energy is critical to our region but it must be delivered in a safe way. I will continue to keep in close and constant contact with Entergy officials to be sure public safety is protected. In the meantime, members of the public can contact Entergy directly via their hotline: 800-472-6372.

John G. Testa

Westchester County Legislator