Photo by Andrew Courtney
Eleven anti-nuclear activists were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after stretching yellow caution tape across the main entrance of New York’s Indian Point nuclear power plant on December 12. The 50 people in attendance were there to protest the decision of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow one of the plant’s two reactors, Unit 3, to continue to operate after its license expires at midnight on Saturday, December 12.
Arrested were Gary Shaw, Judy Allen, Sally Gellert, Ken Okin, CP Colfield, Dan Fullerton, Merle Mceldowney, JK Canepa, Bruce Rosen, Jacki Drechsler and Rick Ufford-Chase.
Protesters arrested at Indian Point
by Mark Lungariello
December 12, 2015
Photo by Andrew Courtney
The two reactors at the plant will continue to operate while the Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers an application for new permits.
BUCHANAN – Approximately 10 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct at Indian Point Saturday, after they stretched yellow caution tape across the main entrance of the nuclear power plant.
About 30 protesters rallying for the closure of the plant marched a quarter of a mile with picket signs, then spoke in front of entrance to the plant. Those blocking the entrance were issued a warning before being placed under arrest.
Village police confirmed the arrests but would not verify the number or give further information on those arrested.
The protest was organized by the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that licenses nuclear plants, announced it would allow one of the plant’s two reactors, Unit 3, to continue to operate after its license expires Saturday at midnight.
Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, is awaiting a decision from the NRC to renew its operating licenses for Unit 3 and Unit 2. The NRC has said that the reactors can continue operating while until it makes a decision on the new licenses. Unit 2 is operating under a permit that expired in 2013.
Entergy first applied for renewal in 2007. Indian Point is the only facility in the country whose reactors are operating on an extended permit.
Seth Harrison contributed to this report.