Holtec has now postponed the release of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River.  

The plans to release radioactive water from the Indian Point nuclear power plant into the River have been receiving backlash.

The delay also comes after Holtec announced earlier this month it was fast-tracking plans to discard radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River starting next month.

Holtec said earlier Thursday that it is not considering any other options.

State Sen. Pete Harckham released a statement on Holtec's decision saying in part, "This was the right decision to make because all the stakeholders deserve an opportunity to continue our dialogue with the company as it seeks a solution to the stored waste at the Indian Point Energy Center during its decommissioning."

Rockland County Executive Ed Day also released the following statement:

“I’m relieved to hear reports from Federal lawmakers that Holtec has canceled their expedited plan to dump 1 million gallons of toxic waste into the Hudson River in early May.

I applaud Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for the recent stern letter to Holtec sent in opposition to this, following our office reaching out about this issue. 

There is pending New York State legislation to ban the discharging of radioactive waste in the Hudson River, a petition with over 400,000 signatures, and multiple municipalities including the County of Rockland signing resolutions objecting to the move by Holtec indicating clear objection by everyone in elected office including the people of Rockland & Westchester who share this river.

To rush this well ahead of the initial scheduled dumping in August would have been unconscionable and unfathomable considering the unanimous opposition against this.

I continue to urge the EPA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and our State and Federal Elected officials, to continue standing united against the company dumping radioactive waste linked to cancer into our waterways.

Common sense and our taxpaying public demand it.”