Deal to shut, clean Indian Point plant

ALBANY — New York announced a provisional agreement Thursday to decommission and clean up Westchester’s soon-to-be shuttered Indian Point nuclear power facility.

The deal with energy company Holtec International, which still requires approval by the state Public Service Commission, was first announced by Attorney General Letitia James.

“Once fully approved, this agreement will result in a safer, faster, and more thorough decommissioning process that exceeds stringent federal standards,” James said in a statement. “We will continue to work diligently to see this closure through with an eye toward the safety of millions of New Yorkers.”

Last year, James’ office filed a petition arguing that a Nuclear Regulatory Commission-approved licence transfer from Entergy, which owns the problem-plagued plant, to Holtec violated federal safety rules.

When the petition was thrown out in January, the attorney general responded with a lawsuit.

The new agreement, negotiated by state and Westchester officials, as well as local governments, members of the Public Utility Law Project and Riverkeeper, will lead to a “swift, complete, and safe decommissioning and remediation of the facility and site.,” James’ office said.

Less than half an hour after James’ announcement was sent out, Gov. Cuomo issued his own release regarding the tentative agreement.

“Since my time as attorney general I have been deeply concerned with the safety of the Indian Point nuclear power facility given its proximity to the most densely populated area in the country,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“Shuttering Indian Point was, at one time, one of the main progressive causes in New York, and after years of relentless work, we’ve finally reached an agreement to close it safely and responsibly,” he said.

Under the terms of the deal, Holtec must keep at least $400 million in a decommissioning trust fund for 10 years and put half of the money it gets from the Department of Energy for spent fuel management costs into that fund.

The company must also conduct site restoration and remediation under an order on consent with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which will oversee the hazardous materials cleanup through an on-site monitor.