Reactions Continue to Indian Point Bolt Problem

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY17-Westchester/Rockland) said yesterday that Entergy’s discovery of problems with bolts inside one of the reactors at the Indian Point Energy Center is one more indication that its operations are not up to par.

“If we can’t trust that the bolts that hold the reactors together are secure, how can we trust that the plant is safe and secure?” Lowey asked.

But Arthur “Jerry” Kremer of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance had a different take: that it shows how careful Entergy is.

“It is important to keep in mind that Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, identified the bolts’ issue as part of an extremely comprehensive inspection and preventive maintenance program," he said in a written statement. "The plant has an excellent safety record and a culture that always puts safety first. We are confident Entergy will diligently and properly address this issue, as they do all potential safety issues.”

Faulty bolts were found inside the reactor at Indian Point 2 as the unit undergoes a 10-year inspection under its Aging Management Program.

Entergy said about 11 percent of the 2,000 bolts had issues; some had degraded, some were missing, some were missing bars meant to hold them in place. Assessing the issue and fixing the bolts is expected to add cost and several weeks’ duration to the scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began March 7.

Here's Lowey's full press release:

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY17-Westchester/Rockland) today said Entergy’s discovery of problems with bolts at the Indian Point Energy Center is one more indication that its operations are not up to par.

“If we can’t trust that the bolts that hold the reactors together are secure, how can we trust that the plant is safe and secure?” Lowey asked. “In the last year, there have been unplanned shutdowns due to various causes including fire and power loss, tritium leaks that threaten public health, and this latest news that bolts in Unit 2 at Indian Point are missing or degraded. These are all indications that this facility simply isn’t operated as safely and securely as it should be. It’s too dangerous for Entergy to let maintenance fall behind at this nuclear facility that is situated in the middle of the most densely populated area of the country just miles from New York City.”

Lowey’s statement followed Entergy’s announcement that 11% of the baffle bolts in the lining of the reactor of Indian Point Unit 2 require further analysis after recent inspection. According to Entergy, this evaluation was part of the facility’s Aging Management Process, which is related to its license renewal process.

“The NRC simply must consider the many lapses in maintenance, operations, and safety when considering Indian Point’s relicensing application,” said Lowey. “While the problems with these bolts may not immediately threaten public safety, they reflect a long history of challenges at this facility that cannot be underestimated when it comes to protecting the surrounding communities.”

Lowey introduced a measure to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to evaluate old power plants seeking license renewals with the same stringent criteria used to license new plants today. She has also proposed requiring NRC to award grants for emergency preparedness when the agency collects safety-related fines from nuclear facilities.