S6893

The New York State Senate unanimously passed legislation to restrict the discharge of tritiated water from the decommissioning Indian Point nuclear facility into the Hudson River, responding to widespread community concerns about economic harm to the Lower Hudson Valley. S6893, sponsored by Sen. Pete Harckham, the Environmental Conservation Committee chair, would prohibit Holtec International from releasing 1.5 million gallons of tritiated water from spent fuel pools during the facility's decommissioning process. The bill passed 62-0 on the strength of bipartisan support from Hudson Valley legislators and county executives. Harckham argued the state can regulate the discharge based on economic impacts to the region's revitalization efforts, citing Supreme Court precedent that allows states to regulate activities for purposes other than radiation protection. Sen. Jim Stec, ranking Republican on the Environmental Conservation Committee and a former Navy nuclear engineer, questioned enforcement mechanisms and noted that 99 percent of radioactive material had already been discharged during the plant's 58-year operation, but ultimately supported the measure. The bill represents an effort to force Holtec back to the negotiating table to explore alternatives such as solidification or storage, rather than river discharge. The facility, which closed in 2021, is undergoing a 12-year decommissioning process.