The Poughkeepsie Journal on Friday published an editorial calling for the extension of hearing into the relicensing of Indian Point. Here’s an excerpt: We reproduce the editorial in its entirety, as it is so well-reasoned. The hearing process has been tainted – and if one is a proponent of nuclear power, all the more reason to want a transparent and thorough process. At present, it looks like the NRC is afraid of the hearing process. From The Poughkeepsie Journal:

Extend hearings on Indian Point

Question: When is a hearing not a hearing? Answer: When nobody can hear what’s being said.

That’s an accurate description of the ironic scene during the opening morning of testimony this week in White Plains on a possible 20-year extension of the license for Entergy’s aging Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

There weren’t enough microphones provided for witnesses giving testimony, and the hearing judge scolded members of the public who complained they couldn’t hear what was going on, though the judge later made sure witnesses were speaking more loudly and the situation was rectified in the following days. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, whose hearings in White Plains wrapped up Thursday, should schedule another day and have repeat testimony, and court officials should allow reporters to bring in cameras and recorders into the White Plains courtroom where the hearings are being held. Reporters were not allowed this week to bring in cameras or recorders because of a state court ban on these items, despite the fact the proceedings had nothing to do with a criminal matter.

On the first morning, Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz stood in the gallery and implored the hearing judge to arrange for microphones. Later, Kaplowitz described the situation as a “physical muzzling of the proceedings.”

The first day’s microphone mishap and the barring of reporter’s cameras or recorders raise doubts about the commitment of the NRC and its licensing arm, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, to an open and honest process for considering Entergy’s license renewal application for Indian Point.

All this on the eve of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to promote open government and freedom of information laws.

New York’s two senators and four members of its congressional delegation have rightly called for an additional day of hearings to be held on Indian Point’s relicensing. As well, cameras and recorders used by news media allow people who aren’t there to easily see and hear all that goes on, besides what they get in condensed news reports.

Queries deserve responses

Indian Point has 20 million people living within its “peak injury” zone. There have been serious questions raised about its aging reactors, multiple delays and problems in the implementation of a new siren warning system, and calls by local officials for the shutdown of the plant altogether.
There are no decisions expected out of this week’s hearings, which were open to public observation only. Rulings are expected in the next two months. The NRC panel is looking into issues that include whether the area’s population density should affect relicensing, if Entergy has adequate plans for maintaining infrastructure for the next few decades and if earthquake data for the area is current enough.
The Indian Point relicensing procedure is critical, as is the public’s confidence that all is being done to ensure they can follow what is going on.

PoughkeepsieJournal.com editorial: Extend hearings on Indian Point