Amid News Of New Leaks And Rusted Containment Liners, Residents Rally To Close Indian Point Nuclear Plant

2/15/2002

From: Nuclear Free Hudson, 914-271-8539, Web site: www.closeindianpoint.org or Stephen Kent, 914-271-8539 or 914-589-5988 (cell), for Nuclear Free Hudson

News Advisory:

WHAT: A rally of concerned citizens demanding decommissioning of the Indian Point nuclear plant in the wake of warnings of terrorist attack on U. S. nuclear plants from without and revelations of new dangers from within. News broke yesterday and today (see www.thejournalnews.com) of radioactive water in Indian Point 2's steam generator, and rust patches that may indicate possible breaching of the reactor's aging steel containment dome. Indian Point 2 is the most dangerous of the nation's 103 nuclear power plants, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 22 million people live within 50 miles of the plant. Entergy, the plant owner, insists on continuing to run it, the plant's containment is fine, but meanwhile has petitioned the NRC to delay a scheduled pressure test of the containment dome for five years. An Entergy spokesperson admitted in an interview yesterday the company learned the current steam generator leak a month before notifying local authorities. The rally falls on the two-year anniversary of the worst accident in Indian Point's history. On February 15, 2000, after weeks of small leaks, a steam generator tube ruptured spewing 20,000 gallons of radioactive water and steam. The plant's emergency team was unreachable until hours after the accident, and local municipal officials and the public were not notified until the next day. Scores of New York officials now call for decommissioning the plant to protect public safety, including members of Congress Lowey, Hinchey, Engel and Owen. The Indian Point worker's union plans a "Save Indian Point" counter-rally to undermine the one in support of decommissioning on Saturday, in which workers and management will march to confront demonstrators.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 16 at 12 noon.

WHERE: Riverfront Park in Peekskill, New York, near Peekskill's Metro North train station, with the Indian Point nuclear plant in the background.

WHO: The rally is sponsored by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC), comprised of some 40 civic and environmental groups who advocate decommissioning Indian Point to protect public safety.

For more information call 845-424-8382 and see www.closeindianpoint.org