Peekskill not in Danger from Indian Point Groundwater, says Mayor

Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina reassures city residents that there is no danger to them from the elevated levels of radioactive tritium found in some groundwater monitoring wells at Indian Point in February.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has had his administration start an investigation into the extent of the release, its likely duration, cause and potential impacts to the environment and public health.

Entergy, the company that owns and operates Indian Point, has set up an information line for the public to call to hear details on the tritium found in groundwater at Indian Point and what they believe to be the source. To contact the Indian Point Groundwater Monitoring Informational Recording, call 1-800-472-6372.

Catalina issued this statement Monday:

As the Mayor of the City of Peekskill, I put the safety and health of our City’s residents first and foremost. Therefore, I have been assessing carefully the news regarding the localized tritium level elevation reported by Indian Point Energy Center.

The operator of the plant, Entergy, has been entirely forthcoming with answers to all questions regarding the elevation, and I can reassure our citizens that they are in absolutely no danger now, nor have they been so at any time. Test results monitored by local N.R.C. officials have reported a level that is 1/10 of 1% of what the federal government requires as a result of these leaks. I can also reassure our citizens that this minuscule trace elevation of tritium - - a substance that is naturally found all around us at low levels - - cannot reach our drinking water and poses absolutely no threat to our citizens or environment.

Indian Point is, rightly, subject to the most stringent of safety standards, and I am confident that they are meeting or exceeding all federal standards to protect the public that they serve. I join Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to ascertain the facts before resorting to hysteria. In perspective, it is clear that this has been a very minor incident and want to assure the public that there is no danger. We will continue to monitor this incident and the testing that will follow and keep you informed accordingly.