Environmental Advocates

Pace Law School Energy Project

September 1, 2000

For Immediate Release

Contact: Edward Smeloff    Kyle Rabin

Executive Director Environmental Advocates

Pace Law School Energy Project  (518) 452-5526 Ext. 240

(914) 422-4221

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Report on Nuclear Accident

Points Out Need for More Nuclear Safety Oversight with Electric Utility Deregulation

Yesterday, the inspector general of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released a report criticizing Con Ed’s management of the Indian Point 2 nuclear power plant located 35 miles north of Manhattan. The report stated that Con Ed lacked a “commitment of excellence” to managing the plant and that a February 15 accident could have been prevented.

The inspector general’s report was also harshly critical of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It noted that senior NRC engineers failed to review documents submitted by Con Ed in 1997. Those documents, if reviewed by an expert, would have revealed that the tube that ruptured at Indian Point had a deep crack that required fixing at the time. The report also noted that Con Ed’s request for a waiver from additional inspections of the damaged equipment in 1999 was reviewed by a junior engineer at the NRC who was discouraged by supervisors from asking too many questions of Con Ed.

Pace Energy Project Director Edward Smeloff stated, “The Inspector General’s report is deeply disturbing. At a time when utilities are under enormous economic pressure to cut costs at nuclear plants, the NRC is showing a laxness in fulfilling its obligation to put public safety first.” The Pace Energy Project joined with the Union of Concerned Scientists and Public Citizen, two Washington based watchdog organizations, in petitioning the NRC in March to prevent the restart of Indian Point 2 until Con Ed replaced the equipment that failed in February and released radiation in the environment.

Mr. Smeloff stated, “We were successful in holding the NRC accountable in this case because several elected officials including Congress members Sue Kelly, Nita Lowey and Ben Gilman and Senator Charles Schumer stood up on this issue. Without that help the NRC may have allowed Con Ed to restart the plant without replacing the steam generators which would have significantly increased the risk of a serious accident at the plant.”

The Pace Energy Project and Environmental Advocates are calling for the establishment of a Public Advocate for Nuclear Safety in New York state government that will have the authority to intervene before the NRC on safety issues at the six nuclear plants in New York. Kyle Rabin, nuclear energy policy project Director for Environmental Advocates stated, “Governor Pataki and the Public Service Commission are encouraging the sale of the state’s nuclear plants to global energy companies that are seeking to maximize profits by owning fleets of nuclear power plants. If this occurs there is a need to balance the power of these organizations with a state advocate who will make safety their top priority.”

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Mr. Smeloff served for 11 years on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento (California) Municipal Utility District which closed an operating nuclear power plant in 1989. Environmental Advocates is one of New York’s leading advocacy groups working on energy and environmental issues.