NRC Approves Indian Point’s Shut Down Saving Plan

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced that decommission fund levels (the money needed to decommission both units 1 and 2 when the plant is no longer operating) meet NRC requirements. The Commission notes that Entergy’s current decommissioning plan for Indian Point 1 and 2 would involve placing those units in long-term storage (SAFSTOR) for numerous years before beginning the dismantlement work. This would allow time for more money to accumulate in the decommissioning funds for those units, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said.

The NRC’s finding was based on Entergy’s trust fund balance and plan to not dismantle units 1 and 2 for 60 years, according to The Journal News' Mike Risinit.

Each plant will cost about $482.1 million to close, the NRC estimates.

Risnit reports:

As of Dec. 31, 2011, according to agency documents, there was about $392.4 million in IP 2’s decommissioning account. IP 3 had $521.2 million.

A Riverkeeper official told The Journal News that Entergy’s funds are not inadequate and their plan would lead to radioactive waste dump in the Hudson River.

Entergy spokesman Jerry Nappi dismissed that contention, Risinit reports.

Read the full Journal News report here.