Indian Point (Nuclear Power Station)

Indian Point is a nuclear power station operating in New York state. The station, which is owned by Entergy, operates two Westinghouse pressurized light water reactors. In November 2006, Entergy announced that it was seeking the relicensing of the plant for 20 years. [1]

Siren problems

In August 2007, the New York Times reported on Entergy's problems with getting its "new $15 million emergency siren system up and running" at the Indian Point nuclear power station in New York. "The sirens are meant to alert residents within 10 miles of the plant of an emergency," explained the Times. But, during testing, "sirens that were supposed to be heard miles away were inaudible in several areas. Alarms that were meant to be tested silently blared unexpectedly, startling residents who had not been warned." [2]

"The system was supposed to be working by the end of January [2007]. Entergy received a 75-day extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But on April 12, three days before the second target date, 31 sirens failed to sound during a test. After Entergy missed the April deadline, the N.R.C. fined the company $130,000." The third deadline was August 24, which Entergy spokesman Jim Steets said the company was "confident we’ll make it." [3]

The siren problems "come in the midst of Entergy’s application to renew the nuclear power plants' licenses for another 20 years," noted the Times. "Indian Point 2's license expires in 2013, Indian Point 3's in 2015." Yet, "the siren problem has no bearing on the relicensing." [4]

On August 31, 2007, the New York Times reported that Entergy "had missed its third deadline for installing the [emergency siren] system and could face fines." [5]

SourceWatch resources

• Nuclear PR
• New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance
• Patrick Moore on Nuclear Power
• Pilgrim (Nuclear Power Station)
• Vermont Yankee (Nuclear Power Station)

External links

Websites on Indian Point

• Entergy's site supporting re-licensing
• Riverkeeper, an environmental group critical of Indian Point
• Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition

General articles

• "Entergy Seeks 20-year License Renewal For Indian Point Energy Center: Rudolph Giuliani and Greenpeace Co-Founder Patrick Moore Lend Support to Relicensing Bid", Media Release, November 22, 2006 .
• Jim Fitzgerald, "Some Indian Point workers afraid to raise safety issues, NRC says", Associated Press, December 21, 2006.
• Noreen O'Donnell, "Leaks make Indian Point hard to defend", The Journal News, May 14, 2007.
• Greg Bruno, "Indian Point's bid for license renewal generates much heat in court of public opinion: Entergy wants to operate Indian Point’s nuclear reactors for another 20 years", Times Herald-Record, June 6, 2007.
• "Buchanan: Indian Point Misses Siren Deadline," Associated Press, August 31, 2007.