| Just 24 miles north of New York City, Indian Point | | | | The track record at Indian Point is something less |
| remains in operation as one of the oldest and most | | | | than stellar. In fact, the corrosion problems are tied |
| troublesome of the nation's 103 nuclear power plants. | | | | to a flood that occurred 23 years ago, when 200,000 |
| The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) refers to | | | | gallons of water inundated the building before the |
| Indian Point as the most problematic nuclear facility in | | | | leaking air conditioning pipes were found. During that |
| the country. A few years ago, Patrick Milano, the | | | | flood, the water level rose nine feet around the |
| NRC's project manager for its Office of Nuclear | | | | reactor. Although the leak was repaired, problems |
| Reactor Regulation, gave Indian Point officials 30 | | | | stemming from water damage were ignored, giving |
| days to prove that rusted areas in the steel lining of | | | | rise to the corrosion that plagues the facility to this |
| the containment shell did not pose health risks to local | | | | day. |
| communities and the environment. | | | | On February 15th, 2000, a pipe burst on one of |
| Entergy Nuclear, the owner of Indian Point, had | | | | Indian Point's aging steam generators, sending |
| stated that the rust is the result of leaks inside the | | | | radioactive fluids into the "clean water" system and |
| building and that there were no integrity problems | | | | releasing a small amount of radioactive steam into |
| with the containment structure. The NRC was | | | | the air. Not long thereafter, Indian Point officials had |
| concerned that the rust may have created holes in | | | | to notify the NRC regarding a leak on one of their |
| the steel liner and concrete that could leak radiation in | | | | new steam generators. The exact source of the leak |
| the event of an operational emergency. | | | | was not known at the time they made the report. |
| Pressure tests of the containment shells are required | | | | The persistent operational problems at Indian Point |
| to be performed every ten years at each of the | | | | combined with obvious and longstanding terrorist |
| nation's nuclear power plants. Loss of structural | | | | threats have had the effect of increasing the |
| integrity of the containment shell would cause a | | | | pressure to permanently close the plant. Indian Point's |
| pressure test failure. The fact that Entergy had | | | | survival will depend on whether the public outcry, |
| asked the NRC for a five-year postponement of | | | | which politicians have taken very seriously, is loud |
| Indian Point's pressure tests has not inspired much | | | | enough to compel a closure of the facility. For now, |
| confidence in the facility. The NRC considered | | | | despite the rusting walls and leaking pipes, this ancient |
| granting the extension only if Entergy could convince | | | | Indian continues to generate electricity for |
| inspectors that the rust did not pose a serious threat | | | | consumers. |
| to safe operation of the plant. | | | | |