Getting Tough

A nuclear watchdog growls

Ever since the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been under intense public pressure to make sure that workable plans exist for evacuating the people who live near one of the 83 American nuclear power plants in case of another emergency. Last week the NRC showed by two tough decisions that it really takes its watchdog role seriously. In a unanimous ruling, the five-member agency voted to shut down by June 9 two troubled reactors that serve metropolitan New York City unless local authorities quickly agree on acceptable evacuation procedures. In a separate action, the agency levied its largest fine ever for a nuclear plant safety violation: $850,000 against New Jersey's Public Service Electric & Gas Co.

The New York case will be closely watched by both friends and foes of nuclear power. If the NRC carries out the threat, it will be the first time that an operating nuclear facility has been ordered closed for lack of an evacuation plan. Said Commissioner John F. Ahearne, a former NRC chairman and a physicist by training: "If we didn't [take action] here, people wouldn't believe we would do it anywhere."

The NRC's deadline for putting these procedures into place passed two years ago, yet only 16 of the 53 American nuclear installations have approved plans. In the other cases the intense debates over the feasibility of the programs have delayed any action.

The New York facilities in question are the Indian Point No. 2 and No. 3 plants at Buchanan, N.Y., which are owned by Consolidated Edison and the New York State Power Authority. Some 300,000 people live within ten miles of the plants, which overlook the Hudson River, 35 miles north of Manhattan. In Rockland County, across the river from Indian Point, authorities have refused to take part in any talks on evacuation procedures because they believe it would be impossible to get people out of the area in a crisis. Thus the NRC's action is, at least in part, a form of pressure on New York State to get its balky counties in line on the nuclear safety issue.

Even if the two plants were permanently closed, however, the consequences might not be the Armageddon suggested by some of the inflamed reactions after last week's ruling. The plants together can deliver some 1,800 megawatts of electricity--when they are operating. As it happens, the state-owned 965-megawatt Indian Point No. 3 plant has been out of action for more than a year because of leaks and corroding pipes. During that time, there has been no noticeable effect on the cost or delivery of electricity in the most populous U.S. metropolitan area. . This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.