BUCHANAN, NY — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted Holtec Decommissioning International’s request to revise the emergency preparedness plan for the Indian Point Energy Center to reflect the plant’s decommissioning status. These exemptions are consistent with NRC actions at other decommissioning plants. Once Holtec implements the changes, state and local governments can rely on a comprehensive emergency management plan approach (“all hazards”) for offsite emergency response, should an event occur at Indian Point. A 10-mile emergency planning zone is no longer required. Holtec must continue to maintain an onsite emergency plan and response capabilities at Indian Point, including the continued notification of state government officials in the event of an emergency declaration.

After a nuclear power plant has permanently ceased operations and removed fuel from the reactor vessel, the risk of an offsite radiological release is significantly lower, and the types of possible accidents significantly fewer, than at an operating reactor. The NRC staff evaluated and confirmed analyses in Holtec’s request and considered comments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Based on the NRC staff’s evaluation and recommendation, the commission approved the exemptions on October 24. The exemptions and associated license amendments reflecting the changes will be issued in the next few weeks.