Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-17) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-18) today called on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the licensing of nuclear facilities located within an evacuation area containing a high population. 

Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said, “It is time for the NRC to realize that natural disasters and terrorism are all too real. The terrorists flew over Indian Point on 9/11 going to the World Trade Center. Because of its location, it is too inviting a target. In addition, because it is located near two seismic faults, it is also vulnerable to earthquakes. The condition of the plant should be enough to have it closed, but the NRC seems to be too tolerant of nuclear facilities’ condition in renewing licenses.  The fact that 25 million people could be in grave danger if an incident such as what happened in Japan took place in New York should be ample reason to close a well-maintained facility, much less one with Indian Point’s spotty record.”

“It is unacceptable that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is not required to take into account factors like population, national security, and evacuation plans in determining the relicensing of aging nuclear power plants like Indian Point,” said Lowey.  “In the event of a terrorist event, earthquake, or other natural disaster affecting Indian Point, the entire population of New York City and its suburbs would need to be evacuated.  New Yorkers deserve to know relicensing decisions are made taking these basic factors into account.”

Next week Engel and Lowey will re-introduce the Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2011, which would require the NRC to evaluate aging power plans to be re-licensed with the same stringent criteria used to license new plants.  Lowey first introduced this legislation in 2005.  Specifically, the Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act would:

·         Ensure a nuclear facility not pose an unreasonable threat to persons or the environment, including vulnerability to terrorist attacks;

·         Require adequate evacuation plans for emergency events with approval from Federal agencies and states within 50 miles of the facility;

·         Require that any re-licensing be subject to the same stringent criteria that would be used in an original application for initial construction; and

·         Instruct the NRC to determine whether changes in the size or distribution of the surrounding population have resulted in the facility utilizing a site on which a new facility would not be allowed.

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