LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION expressing concern and proposing requirements for
re-licensing of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant II and III by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission

WHEREAS, The radioactive releases from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Plant in the aftermath of Japan's catastrophic earthquake have intensi-
fied fears that a failure at Indian Point Nuclear Plant, with its prox-
imity to New York City, could result in far more loss of lives, long-
term health complications and could precipitate an unprecedented
downturn in the world economy; and
WHEREAS, Scientists at Columbia University's Lamont Dougherty Earth
Observatory found that Indian Point sits on two active seismic zones,
with the risk of an earthquake as high as 7.0 on the Richter scale; the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has refused to consider these find-
ings in its pending decision to re-license Indian Point II and III; and
WHEREAS, The Indian Point Nuclear Plant was listed by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) as the most likely plant in the United
States to suffer core damage from an earthquake; and
WHEREAS, There is consensus among emergency preparedness experts and
the Governor of New York State that the evacuation plan for the 300,000
people in Indian Point's Emergency Planning Zone is unworkable, and that
the inadequacy of the evacuation plan in a fast breaking scenario is
corroborated by the 2003 Witt Report commissioned by former New York
State Governor George Pataki; and
WHEREAS, The United States government recommended evacuation for all
those living within a 50 mile radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Plant and applying that standard to Indian Point would require the evac-
uation in a timely manner of the 20 million people within Indian Point's
50 mile radius, and would render an evacuation highly impractical if not
impossible; and
WHEREAS, While adequate provision of energy is essential to the
region, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has stated if the risk
of an accident at Indian Point is too high, the plant should not be in
operation; and
WHEREAS, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo also reported that replacing the
power Indian Point generates is possible and doable; and
WHEREAS, The NRC's criteria for re-licensing, applied for by Indian
Point owner and operator, the Entergy Corporation, does not include an
Independent Safety Assessment (ISA), consideration of the evacuation
plans, seismic or terrorist events, and many other criteria that are
considered in the building and placement of new nuclear plants; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
oppose the re-licensing of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant II and III
by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission unless the plan undergoes a true
Independent Safety Assessment (ISA), is found to pose no risk to the
immense population that encircles the facility, that emergency experts
from outside the NRC agree that a mass evacuation in the region could
work; that all factors in the vetting process of new reactors are
considered and applied; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a commission be formed to study and recommend the most
efficient, sustainable energy sources to replace what Indian Point
Nuclear Plant generates; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and to The Honorable
Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.