Buchanan, NY – The chairman of the nuclear regulatory commission says the 10-mile evacuation zone around nuclear plants is a “planning standard” that could change during an accident.
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Chairman Gregory Jaczko (YAHTZ-ko) was asked why the NRC urged Americans to move 50 miles away from failing plants in Japan if it has a 10-mile standard in the U.S.
He said the situation in Japan was specific to what happened there. He said that in the event of an accident at a U.S. plant, the NRC would recommend an evacuation beyond 10 miles if it was needed.
Jaczko spoke outside the Indian Point nuclear power plant in the New York City suburbs.
He had just toured the plant with two members of Congress who oppose Indian Point’s application for new 20-year licenses.
Why would the chairman of a regulatory agency subject to ex parte rules tour a nuclear facility with two opponents of the relicensing of the plant while he still has an open docket on that matter pending before him? Is he somehow exempt from those rules, or simply doesn’t care?
How are the residents of Monsey/Spring Valley/New Square etc. affected?
The towns are about 10 miles SSW of Indian Point. If there was a release and the wind was blowing that way, there could be contamination.
Remember, though, that “contamination” does not equal “sick” or “dead.”
Avoid the hype, by either side, on this issue. Nuclear plants aren’t perfectly safe (nothing in our world is perfect) but, on the other side, it’s not as simple as “radiation is bad.” Health physics is a complicated field.