Nuclear Plants Slammed for No Terror Planning

NEW YORK -- - Evacuation plans for the Indian Point nuclear plants ignore the risk of terrorist attacks and fail to "protect the people from an unacceptable dose of radiation," a safety expert hired by Gov. Pataki has concluded.

James Witt, the former chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said in a 500-page report that the plans are flawed because they are based on regulatory compliance rather than "a strategy ... to protect from radiation exposure."

About 20 million people live within 50 miles of Indian Point, located in Buchanan, Westchester County.

Witt's report stopped short of calling for the plants -- 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan -- to be shut down. But he said the risk is so serious that emergency planning for nuclear plants, in general, should be upgraded "on a national basis."

In response, Pataki urged the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and FEMA to reevaluate their certification standards and "determine if they are strong enough to meet the post-Sept. 11 reality."

Entergy, the company that operates Indian Point, has said they are safe and that a shutdown would lead to energy price spikes. The plants supply seven per cent of New York's power.

"We recognize the post-Sept. 11 world may necessitate making additional changes to the plan," an Entergy spokesman said.

But Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said the Witt report should prompt Pataki to call for an immediate shutdown of Indian Point.

Pataki spokeswoman Suzanne Morris said Brodsky had "no interest in proceeding in a responsible manner. It's clear he will say or do anything to get attention for himself."