As events continue to unfold in Japan, County Executive Robert P. Astorino and his emergency team remain in constant contact with experts and government leaders, including the county executives of Rockland, Putnam and Orange, about the safety of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan.   

Astorino also has been in personal contact with officials at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and with New York State to obtain the latest information.

“With regard to Indian Point, our focus is always safety first. The most important thing we can do right now is gather the facts and do it in a steady, comprehensive way so that we have the best information possible available to us,” Astorino said.

The fact-gathering has involved briefings, conference calls and other contact with Entergy, the company that owns and operates Indian Point, as well as representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governor’s Office, the State Office of Emergency Management and the county’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Nita Lowey and Nan Hayworth.

The county’s information gathering is being coordinated under Commissioner of Emergency Services Anthony Sutton.

Keeping residents informed is a priority of the Astorino administration. The following are some frequently asked questions that Westchester County has been receiving from residents.

Q. Is the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone around Indian Point sufficient in the event of an incident there? If so, why did the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommend that Americans within 50 miles of the Fukushima plant in Japan evacuate from the area?
A. In a recent conference, the NRC reaffirmed that the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) for Indian Point -- and all nuclear plants in the U.S. -- remained in place and was sufficient. The NRC said it was continuing to monitor and assess events in Japan to see if any changes to its planning guidelines are warranted in the future. County Executive Astorino has asked the NRC for a broader explanation of why the NRC chairman recommended a 50-mile evacuation for Americans in Japan.

Q. Have events in Japan changed the NRC’s perception of earthquake risk to Indian Point and other nuclear plants in the U.S.?
A. The NRC provides the following answer:

The NRC continues to determine that US nuclear plants are safe. This does not change the NRC’s perception of earthquake hazard (i.e., ground motion levels) at U.S. nuclear plants. It is too early to tell what the lessons from this earthquake are. The NRC will look closely at all aspects of response of the plants to the earthquake and tsunami to determine if any actions need to be taken in U.S. nuclear plants and if any changes are necessary to NRC regulations.

The NRC has prepared its own list of Frequently Asked Questions about the incident in Japan, including a broader discussion of earthquake and tsunami risk to U.S. plants. It and other information can be found at www.nrc.gov/japan/japan-info.html.


Q. Will radiation from Japan have any adverse impact on the United States and, more specifically, Westchester County?
A. The NRC does not expect the releases of radioactive material in Japan to have any effect on the health and safety of the U.S. population.

The New York State Department of Health has reached the same conclusion and offered the following information:

A number of federal agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are continually monitoring radiation levels of air, drinking water, milk and precipitation across the country. This nationwide monitoring network, RadNet, will alert the agencies to any changes in radiation levels. Additional monitoring sites in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam have also been added in the wake of the evolving situation in Japan. At this time, no U.S. states are expected to experience harmful levels of radiation.

The state Health Department also conducts routine air monitoring for radioactivity and will be able to detect any changes in radiation levels in New York State.

Q. Should I take KI (potassium iodide)?
A. No.
Elevated levels of radiation are not expected in the United States; therefore, there is no reason to take potassium iodide (KI). The NRC also has issued guidance stating that taking KI is not recommended.

KI is a chemical compound that can be used to protect only the thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodine, which is only one of many radioactive materials that may be released from a nuclear power plant. KI is only effective at protecting a person’s thyroid gland from airborne or ingested radioiodine if taken within a relatively narrow timeframe prior to or after exposure. It does not protect any other organs in the body.

KI should not be used as a general health precaution unless high-level radiation exposure is expected and KI ingestion is recommended by health officials.

The county's Health Department has created an in-depth fact sheet answering questions about taking of KI.

Q. What is New York State doing?
A. Gov. Cuomo sent members of his administration -- including Lieutenant Governor Duffy -- to meet  March 23 with senior NRC staff about Indian Point. After the meeting, the NRC pledged to make Indian Point its first and top priority in its review of seismic risk at 27 nuclear plants throughout the country. Also, the NRC has agreed to a review of Indian Point operations, and NRC Chair Greg Jaczko has agreed to conduct a personal site inspection of Indian Point with New York officials.

County Executive Astorino supports these efforts undertaken by the Cuomo administration.