Op-Ed: Attend Thursday's Indian Point Task Force Meeting

Dear Editors:

I would encourage residents to attend Indian Point Closure Task Force meeting this evening in the Cortlandt Town Hall .The Task Force decisions made at the meeting will have a broad impact on the safety of the region. It is expected that the committee will address the issue of the risk assessment that Gov. Cuomo ordered over two years ago to examine the dangers of gas pipelines in the immediate proximity of Indian Point and never released.

The meeting will begin at 7 pm on April 12th in the courtroom of the Cortlandt Town Hall 1 Heady Street, Cortlandt. Concerned residents insist that Governor Cuomo has put New Yorkers at great risk by remaining silent while the gas has been flowing through the Enbridge/Spectra AIM pipeline at Indian Point for the past 15 months. The risk assessment he ordered in 2016 was supposed to be completed over a year ago. Soon thereafter, gas began flowing through the new 42" diameter high-pressure gas pipeline that traverses the Indian Point property. Closing Indian Point does not eliminate the risk due to the 1,500 tons of highly irradiated spent fuel that will remain on-site.

Even with the knowledge that the co-location of a gas pipeline at Indian Point is a catastrophic danger, putting New Yorkers including most of NYC at great risk, Cuomo allowed all permits to be issued for this project. Still, he has not released the long overdue risk assessment though many elected officials, including some on the Task Force, have requested it and others have Submitted Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for it.

Cuomo has not taken adequate steps to protect us from the risks of a massive pipeline at Indian Point. Scientists, consultants and environmentalists agree that no gas should flow through there. Given Cuomo’s support for expanded gas infrastructure throughout the State, many are skeptical that he will take the necessary steps to address this unacceptable risk.

Although public comments are not permitted during the meeting, a strong showing will press the Task Force into acting in the interests of community safety.

Sincerely,

Rob May
Garrison, NY