New York Passes Ban on Dumping Nuclear Waste Into the Hudson (1)

The New York State Assembly voted Tuesday to ban nuclear plants from dumping radioactive waste into the Hudson River.

The legislation (S6893), sponsored by Sen. Pete Harckham (D), passed unanimously through the Senate on June 9, before the legislature’s regular session adjourned. The lower chamber returned to Albany this week for a two-day special session.

“This is really a values proposition,” Harckham said. “It’s really important that we elevate this conversation.”

The measure is now headed to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk ahead of plans from the Indian Point nuclear plant to release more than one million gallons of toxic wastewater into the Hudson River this summer.

Holtec International Corp. purchased Indian Point Energy Center in 2021 for decommissioning, after the plant supplied the region with electricity for nearly 60 years.

Indian Point’s wastewater contains traces of radioactive tritium, which is linked to cancer, miscarriages, genetic defects, and other health issues.

“The dialogue continues with Holtec around what might be alternatives, and quite honestly, there aren’t great alternatives, so we understand it’s a complicated conversation,” Harckham said.

Holtec spokesperson Pat O’Brien said discharge to the river is the safest option for dealing with the process. Other methods include evaporating the water or holding it on-site to release at a later date.

“To call it radioactive waste is wrong,” O’Brien said. “It’s water that’s lightly irradiated, has low levels of tritium.”

Representatives from 32 municipalities, five counties, both of New York’s US senators, and the entire Hudson Valley delegation voiced opposition to the discharge, according to Harckham.

If Hochul (D) signs the bill into law, fines for radioactive waste dumping range from between $37,500 and $150,000 per day depending on the number of violations.

Hochul has yet to take a stance on the issue.

“It took a lot of good advocacy and a really strong people power movement to get here. It’s going to take that same kind of people power movement to hold Governor Hochul accountable,” Food & Water Watch spokesperson Santosh Nandabalan said.