Farkas Releases Indian Point Federal Accountability Shutdown Plan

Evelyn Farkas, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Obama, has released policy plans for the federal government to take a more active role overseeing and supporting the people New York’s 17th Congressional District through the decades-long decommissioning of Indian Point Energy Center.

In addition, Farkas announced she will be holding a digital forum to discuss the future of the Indian Point Nuclear Facility on May 13th at 6pm with Dr. Courtney Wiliams, the founder of the Safe Energy Rights Group and a leading advocate for a decommission process for Indian Point that protects the health and safety of all New Yorkers.

Reactor 2’s closing today brings Indian Point one step closer to a full decommission, after serving for decades as a key energy supplier to the lower Hudson Valley and New York City. But through its long history, Indian Point has been faced with controversy. In February of this year, the Inspector General of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released a scathing report detailing the ways in which the NRC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) misled the public about safety concerns with a natural gas pipeline that bisects the Indian Point property.

“Our community requires renewed federal oversight and support during the decommission of Indian Point, both because of the catastrophic nature of a potential failure and because the federal regulatory authorities have not met their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of our community,” Farkas said. “Moreover, with the coronavirus ripping up state and local budgets, it is now paramount that the federal government steps in to ensure the communities and school districts that rely on tax revenue from Indian Point get the support they deserve.”

Farkas’ plans call for ending the revolving door between staff at the NRC and FERC and the industries they regulate, mandating regular independent audits of major regulatory decisions for both agencies, the creation of an independent watchdog authority that incorporates local oversight throughout decommission, and federal funding to create a glidepath for economic stability and revitalization for the communities harmed by Indian Point’s closing, similar to the process used when military bases are decommissioned. Farkas’ full plan for Indian Point and federal regulatory reforms can be viewed on her campaign website (link here).

The daughter of Hungarian refugees, Farkas was raised in Westchester and attended public schools there. For nearly three decades, she has represented the United States defending democracy and advancing human rights in the Defense Department and on the Senate Armed Services Committee staff. In addition to serving as executive director of the WMD Commission, she was a human rights officer in Bosnia and a professor at the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College. She has advised former cabinet secretaries, representatives and senators, including Nita Lowey and Hillary Clinton.

New York's 17th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives is located in the Lower Hudson Valley. It includes all of Rockland County and portions of central and northwestern Westchester County, including Chappaqua, Mt. Kisco, Ossining, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Tarrytown, White Plains, Cortlandt and Yorktown Heights. District residents interested in Farkas' election campaign can visit evelynforny.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more, volunteer or contribute.