Independent Safety Evaluation Public Meeting

Reaching Out Beyond the Fence

Even a little drenching rain and the aftermath of an historic U.S. Presidential election did not stop senior managers from the Indian Point Energy Center from running several successful public meetings throughout Westchester and Rockland County in early November. These meetings were a public follow-up discussion of Entergy’s multi-year plan for implementing recommendations outlined in the recently released Independent Safety Evaluation (ISE) report, based upon an extensive safety and security analysis conducted at the twin nuclear power plant site during the summer of 2008.

After 6,000 hours of examining Indian Point top-to-bottom, a group of 12 independent experts in nuclear safety, security, emergency preparedness and public policy – the ISE Panel – concluded that Indian Point is currently operating safely and securely, but made a series of recommendations for ensuring the continued safe operation of the plant.

During his remarks to local residents, environmentalists and government representatives, Indian Point Site Vice President Joe Pollock noted, “…the bottom line to whatever we do at Indian Point, we have to operate safely…to focus on the safe operation of the facility at all times.”

Don Mayer, ISE Project Manager outlined the company’s commitment to bolstering emergency preparedness, implementing additional security, increasing employee resources, addressing employee retention, improving the material condition of the site perimeter and conducting more public outreach through sessions such as the ISE meetings and a soon-to-be released, site-produced newsletter.

Answering a question from a reporter in attendance, Indian Point Communications Manager Jerry Nappi described the ISE report as a”road map for us to become a top-performing plant within the industry.”

Attendees asked questions ranging from updates on the recently completed new siren system to plans for addressing future energy needs for the region.

If you would like to read both the panel’s report and Entergy’s response, go to www.safesecurevital.com and click on your area of interest right from the home page.