Concerns Over Radioactive Spent Nuclear Fuel in New York Communities

Strategic Insights -

The New York State Department of Public Service, led by Interim Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer John B. Howard, has expressed concerns to Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regarding the prompt removal and disposal of radioactive spent nuclear fuel at power plants across the country. The state's worries are particularly relevant to the Indian Point nuclear power plant, north of New York City, which has accumulated 60 years of spent fuel. Despite the site's decommissioning and restoration, the federal government plans to retain a portion of the site to contain the radioactive waste. The Indian Point plants' spent fuel pools currently hold an expanding number of dry storage casks, which pose significant safety and health risks to the surrounding communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian Point nuclear power plant has accumulated 60 years of spent fuel, which poses significant safety and health risks to the surrounding communities.
  • Despite the site's decommissioning and restoration, the federal government plans to retain a portion of the site to contain the radioactive waste.
  • The U.S. commercial spent nuclear fuel inventory was 83,831 metric tons at the end of 2019, increasing by around 2,000 metric tons each year.
  • Radioactive spent nuclear fuel is stored at 76 reactor or storage sites in 34 states, with 76 long-term repositories holding radioactive spent fuel across the country.
  • The federal government has failed to live up to its public trust, statutory, and contractual obligations to take possession of, remove, and store spent and depleted radioactive nuclear fuel.
  • Examples of the federal government's broken promises include the delayed availability of a national high-level radioactive waste repository, which was initially promised for 2007, then 1990, and finally not available until an unspecified later time.
  • Secretary Granholm was requested to commit to taking possession of the Indian Point's accumulated spent nuclear fuel and to provide a precise timeline for removal.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. commercial spent nuclear fuel inventory was 83,831 metric tons at the end of 2019.
  • The spent nuclear fuel inventory increases by approximately 2,000 metric tons each year.
  • Radioactive spent nuclear fuel is stored at 76 reactor or storage sites in 34 states.
  • There are 76 long-term repositories holding radioactive spent fuel across the country.

Sources:

  • 21 Fed. Reg. 3,085 (May 9, 1956)
  • U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Final Environmental Impact Statement
  • U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Final Environmental Statement for Indian Point, Unit 2
  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Final Environmental Statement for Indian Point, Unit 3
  • 42 U.S.C. § 10222(a)(5)(B)
  • 10 C.F.R. § 961.11
  • Nuclear Energy Institute v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 373 F.3d 1251, 1258 (D.C. Cir. 2004)
  • State of New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471, 474 (D.C. Cir. 2012)