The Indian Point Energy Center, located about 35 miles from Manhattan, is a vital resource for clean nuclear power for the New York City area. Many groups, however, are attempting to stop the Energy Center from renewing its license, which if successful, may increase prices for end users in the region.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission last week ordered its staff to redo an accident analysis for the Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York, ruling the original study used incorrect parameters and underestimated the economic impacts of a severe accident (50-247-LR, 50-286-LR).

In early 2014, state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman protested a ruling by the commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board approving Entergy’s severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMA) analysis as part of the company’s application for a 20-year license renewal of Indian Point Units 2 and 3. Both units have been operating under extensions granted by the commission after their licenses expired.

Schneiderman challenged the analysis on several key findings, with the commission siding with his contention that cleanup costs and other economic impacts were underestimated.

“While typically we decline to second-guess the board on its fact-specific conclusions, here the decision contains obvious material factual errors and could be misleading, warranting clarification,” the commission wrote.

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