Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
The Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant is located in Buchanan, Westchester County, in New York State. It is on the east side of the Hudson River, 24 miles north of New York City. The plants Unit 1 was constructed by Consolidated Edison in 1962. This early nuclear power plant used an experimental pressurized water reactor to generate electrical power. Unit 1 was shut down permanently in 1974 due to the fact that its emergency core cooling system did not meet current federal requirements. All the spent fuel was removed from the reactor two years later.
Unit 2 at Indian Point went into operation in 1974 with Unit 3 following two years later. The pressurized water reactors were built by Westinghouse. The reactor units were built and are operated by a subsidiary of the Entergy Corporation.
The nuclear reactors are protected by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as a specially trained private security force based on site. Security has understandably increased since September 11, 2001. Security drills are conducted, including mock assault exercises.
Currently Plants 2 and 3 are operating under 40-year licenses from the federal government, which are set to expire in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The plant's operator, Entergy, may apply for a 20-year extension to those licenses at any time, though. Local grassroots groups are campaigning to oppose those license extensions, citing a history of maintenance problems at both plants, the difficulty of safely disposing of spent nuclear waste, and the constant threat of terrorist attack on the nuclear power plants, for which opponents say there is no effective defense.
A study showed that a jet crashing into one of the reactors could set off a chain of truly horrific events, resulting in almost 50,000 immediate deaths and up to half a million longer-term deaths.
Just like other power plants, nuclear power plants need special insulation for the miles and miles of pipes that run through the structures, as well as the boilers, turbines, generators, and other components that often run at high temperatures. Asbestos was the insulation of choice in power plants and other industrial settings for decades, due to its strength, flexibility, and its high resistance to heat and fire.
Workers in places like Indian Point were at risk of exposure to asbestos. Over long periods of time, loose asbestos fibers in the air could be inhaled by workers. Over time, some of these fibers might lodge in the lungs and build up, eventually causing scarring and inflammation. Such workers were at high risk for developing diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
