5 Mishaps in 2015: Proof Indian Point Must Close, Says Riverkeeper

Officials at Riverkeeper say the most recent mishap at Indian Point was more proof that the nuclear power plant should not have its operating licenses renewed.

On Dec. 5, a tripped circuit breaker on the non-nuclear side of the plant resulted in power being lost to several control rods -- which caused Unit 2 to shut down automatically. It resumed operation Dec. 8.

SEE: Indian Point 2 Back in Service

This forced shutdown is just the latest in a number of disturbing mishaps at Indian Point in 2015, Riverkeeper officials said:

• In January, a water-system alarm failure nearly caused a shutdown of one of the plant’s reactors.
• In May, insulation failure resulted in transformer explosion and fire that forced the shutdown of Unit 3. The fire and its extinguishing spilled some 3,000 gallons of transformer oil into the Hudson River.
• In June, a mylar balloon floated into a switchyard, causing an electrical disturbance resulting in the shutdown of Unit 3.
• In July, Unit 3 was shut down after a water pump failure.

“Is anyone really surprised that a transformer blew up at Indian Point in May, one of its water pumps failed in July and several of its reactor control rods lost power yesterday? It’s time to admit reality: at 40, Indian Point is simply too dangerous, too old and near too many people. We’ve got to close Indian Point, before it closes us,” said Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay.

The Cuomo administration recently called for the closing of Indian Point. Director of State operations Jim Malatras wrote to members of the Nuclear Regulatory commission last month saying that the commission should “on an expedited basis, deny Entergy’s application for relicensing of the Indian Point Facilities.”

“Allowing Entergy to operate these facilities for another 20 years puts the lives of too many New Yorkers at risk and cannot be justified by Entergy’s present plan to address these defects,” Malatras continued. “Embrittled reactor pressure vessels and fatigued metals on key reactor components … are symptoms of an aging plant for which Entergy’s plans and past performance fall far short. Recently, unplanned shutdowns at the facility, for reasons ranging from transformer fires to unplanned replacement of parts in the reactor head, have plagued the plant.”

SEE: NY Doubles Down on Indian Point Opposition