MINUTES
PRESENT: B. Ryan, S. Swanson, R. Wishnie, M. Kaplowitz, L. Mosiello, G. Oros.
BOARD STAFF:Program Specialist: R. Vega
Secretary: S. Vanderberg.
OTHER: Bill Randolph, Yasyl
Yablonski,
Judy Shepard, Peggy Rush, Carol Schminke, Stan
Jacobs, Susan Gabriele, Jay Mueller, Barbara Jacobs, Tracy Everson, Astrid Church, Mark Jacobs
The meeting was
called to order at
Mr. Ryan recognized Mark Jacobs for the purpose of a presentation relative to the nuclear plants at Indian Point and the evacuation plan. Mr. Jacobs had asked for an opportunity to address the Public Safety Committee as the director of West-Pac.
Mr. Jacobs said he was representing 2 organizations: West-PAC and West-CAN (Citizens Awareness Network), a local chapter of a four-state organization, which has focused on the nuclear plants at Indian Point and is very concerned for the safety of those who live in area surrounding the plants.
Mr. Jacobs outlined a possible emergency scenario involving the nuclear plants which he felt illustrated the ineffectiveness of the County’s Emergency Evacuation Plan. He said the plan had too many problems to fix.
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PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
JANUARY 16, 2001
Mr. Jacobs contends that both FEMA and SEMO have “signed off” on the evacuation plan because the County has not taken issue with it and neither agency has found anything egregiously wrong with the plan. Mr. Jacobs said the County was responsible for the plan and it is his understanding that over the years where a plan has been required in Westchester County, only the County Executive has signed off on it. The County Legislature has not been required to act on it.
Mr. Jacobs sited problems with the evacuation plan which he saw as compelling reasons to close the nuclear plants:
· Local road system is inadequate to handle the tremendous volume of cars and trucks that would be moving out of the evacuation zone
· Serious school evacuation issues including considerable doubt that bus drivers would actually drive into the evacuation zone to pick up school children
· people living within the evacuation zone who know nothing about what they are to do in case of a general evacuation
· hospital patients and prison inmates who will have to remain within the zone during an emergency
· financial disincentives for the owner/operator of the nuclear plants to run totally safe facilities
· danger of radioactive contamination of the water supply for Westchester County and New York City
Mr. Jacobs believes that Con Edison, which owns and operates Nuclear Power Station #2 at Indian Point, is not interested in the safety of area residents. He referred to news stories and reports of shortcuts recently taken by Con Ed to get the Unit 2 back on line.
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PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
JANUARY 16, 2001
Jay Meuller, project coordinator NYPIRG at SUNY Purchase, read a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guideline that says a nuclear reactor should not located in any area where the population averages over 500 persons per square mile within a 20 radius. Re-evaluations of location should be made every 5 years.
Mr. Jacobs suggested that Westchester County consider passing a resolution similar to those passed in Suffolk, Rockland and Putnam Counties regarding the location and operation of nuclear plants in heavily populated areas.
Mr. Ryan thanked Mr. Jacobs for his presentation and for sharing with the Public Safety Committee the concerns that many area residents have with the evacuation plan.
Mr. Ryan said the Committee will continue to gather information pertinent to Indian Point nuclear plant issues. We are working toward an appropriate Committee and Board position on nuclear power stations in this County. The Committee continues to exercise its oversight responsibilities relative to the County government’s response to emergencies at the nuclear plants.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned 10:04 a.m.