Indian Point, Pipeline Foes Hold Vigil at Cuomo's Home in Chappaqua

Combining calls for Indian Point to be shut down with opposition to the natural-gas pipeline being expanded next to the nuclear facility, a group of environmental activists plans to hold a prayer vigil outside the Chappaqua home of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday.

“Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant poses a continuing threat to Westchester County and New York State. Spectra’s AIM Pipeline, which will run only 105 ft from the plant’s critical infrastructure, is an emerging threat that will endanger the plant regardless of whether it is re-licensed. A non-denominational group will gather at the Governor’s home in prayer to urge him to act on these threats and to support him on his journey for climate justice,” said spokeswoman Paola Dalle Carbonare.

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“This is a peaceful event, the organizers point out on their Facebook page, bring a favorite poem or prayer, your musical instrument if you can play one, a song to share, an appropriate message/sign or... just yourself and your best intentions!”

Protesters will meet up at the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco at 4:45 p.m.

The Algonquin pipeline running through Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties on its way to New England is being expanded in a controversial series of projects opposed by local residents and officials as well as opponents of fracked gas. Environmental groups renewed calls for the immediate closure of Indian Point after Entergy reported groundwater contamination at the plant earlier this month.

The Sierra Club, Riverkeeper, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, Scenic Hudson and Physicians for Social Responsibility asked NRC Chairman Stephen G. Burns to order the suspension of plant operations until Indian Point’s safety is thoroughly reviewed by state and federal investigators.

“The NRC shouldn’t ask the public to take its chances when so many questions are unanswered and the stakes are so high,” said Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay in a prepared statement. “Since May 2015, Indian Point has suffered seven major malfunctions, from pump failures to transformer explosions, to radiation leaks, power failures, fires and oil spills. Gov. Cuomo has ordered a comprehensive investigation into these accidents, warning that they demonstrate that IndianPoint can no longer operate safely. Pending completion of the State and Federal investigations, we must close IndianPoint. These mishaps are happening on an accelerated pace. We shouldn’t be asked to wait for the next one.”

Operational problems at Indian Point have been under investigation by the New York Department of Public Service since December 2015. On Feb. 6, Cuomo directed the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health to investigate the cause of leaks of radioactive tritium into the groundwater there. On Feb. 16, he ordered the three agencies to integrate their investigations.

“This radiation leak is just the latest in a series of concerning safety incidents at Indian Point, pointing to systemic failures in the operation and maintenance of an aging plant,” said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan in the same prepared statement.

He called for Indian Point to be shut down until investigations into the safety of the plant are complete.

Marilyn Elie of IndianPoint Safe Energy Coalition’s Leadership Council focused on small incidents in the past year caused by “equipment failures and faulty judgment on the part of staff.”

“How bad does it have to get before the risk is apparent to all?” she said in the same statement. “We are all safer with the plant closed. The lives of 20 million people who live within 50 miles of the reactors are at risk, as are their families, pets and property. Tritiated water is just the tip of the iceberg. This water will invariably carry with it other radioactive isotopes that are found inside of containment, all deadly and all carcinogenic. It needs to be noted that these isotopes are released regularly and routinely in water through the discharge canal that leads to the Hudson River in far greater quantities than seem to be happening now. There is no safe level of exposure to low level radiation and yet we live with this in our community year after year.”