Holtec International, the company responsible for decommissioning the Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York, has filed a lawsuit against the state challenging its regulations on the discharge of radioactive materials from nuclear facilities.
The lawsuit contends that the authority to monitor such discharges lies solely with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), not the state of New York. In response to a state law passed in 2023 prohibiting the movement of radiological substances into the Hudson River during decommissioning, Holtec asserts that this legislation has already delayed the completion of Indian Point’s decommissioning by an additional eight years.
The company emphasizes that New York’s failure to adhere to federal law and scientific evidence leaves them with no recourse but legal action. The lawsuit alleges that complying with New York’s law would force Holtec to seek alternative methods for disposing of tritiated water, potentially increasing decommissioning costs, even if the discharge meets NRC regulations.
New York’s concerns regarding Indian Point’s storage of spent nuclear fuel in densely packed cooling pools contributed to the plant’s closure in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight Board, led by New York’s Department of Public Service, plans to continue presenting alternative wastewater removal methods despite foregoing immediate discussion on the matter.
