For Immediate Release:

February 22, 2001

Contact:

Kyle Rabin - Environmental Advocates: 518-462-5526 ext. 240

Tim Judson - Citizens Awareness Network (CNY Chapter): 315-425-0430

Environmental Groups Call On Governor Pataki and Public Service Commission To Suspend the Sale of Con Edison’s troubled Indian Point 2 Nuclear Reactor

Citizens Awareness Network (CAN) and Environmental Advocates (EA) are requesting the Public Service Commission to suspend its review of the Indian Point 2 license transfer to Entergy Nuclear until after the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completes its review of a Petition 2.2061 filed by CAN and EA. In the interest of public health and safety, CAN, EA, and three other groups petitioned the NRC to suspend or revoke the license of Con Edison to operate the Indian Point 2 (IP-2) nuclear power station due to systemic mismanagement and poor maintenance.

On January 24, 2001 CAN, EA and other groups presented their case before the NRC’s Petition Review Board at the NRC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. On February 7, 2001 the NRC’s Petition Review Board (PRB) accepted, for further review, the December 2000 petition along with supplemental information presented in the January 24^th meeting. (The PRB found that the petition met the criteria2 for review under the 10 CFR 2.206 process.)

1 Any member of the public may raise potential health and safety issues in a petition to the NRC to take specific enforcement-related action regarding a licensed facility. This provision is contained in Subpart B, Section 2.206 of the NRC's regulations and is often referred to as a 2.206 petition. In general, the petition is submitted in writing to the Executive Director for Operations and includes specific facts supporting the request for the NRC to take enforcement- related action.

2 The NRC staff will review a petition under the requirements of 10 CFR 2.206 if the request meets all of the following criteria: a) the petition contains a request for enforcement-related action such as issuing an order modifying, suspending, or revoking a license, issuing a notice of violation, with or without a proposed civil penalty, etc; b) the facts that constitute the bases for taking the particular action are specified. The petitioner must provide some element of support beyond the bare assertion. The supporting acts must be credible and sufficient to warrant further inquiry; c) there is no NRC proceeding available in which the petitioner is or could be a party and through which the petitioner’s concerns could be addressed.