Activists push Gov. Hochul to sign bill prohibiting dumping of radioactive waste into Hudson River
Activists outside Cortlandt Town Hall Monday demanded that Gov. Kathy Hochul sign a bill that would prohibit the dumping of radioactive waste into the Hudson River – a bill that has been on her desk for about a month.
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Activists outside Cortlandt Town Hall Monday demanded that Gov. Kathy Hochul sign a bill that would prohibit the dumping of radioactive waste into the Hudson River – a bill that has been on her desk for about a month.
The New York State Assembly and Senate passed a bill banning the dumping of radioactive wastewater, but the bill has blocked plans by Holtec International which wants to safely remove radioactive waste from tanks at the recently shuttered Indian Point Energy Center. The result would lead to over 1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater being dumped into the Hudson, which was scheduled for this summer.
"This has been taking place over the course of the plant's operational life, and also this takes place at nuclear power plants all over the country, all over the world," said U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesperson Neil Sheehan. "The idea is they would filter it, treat it and release it only if it met very specific thresholds so the public would not be harmed."
Holtec is pushing for the bill to be vetoed. They say releasing treated wastewater into the river is the best and safest option. The company says the problem of getting rid of the waste will persist if the governor signs the bill.
"It's very, very frustrating, I feel like the real core issues are not being answered," added Stop Holtec Coalition member Tina Volz-Bongar. "I think it's something that they've made their mind up about already. I think they're facilitating Holtec's plan."
Hochul's office says it is still reviewing the legislation.
