Passage of New Bill to Prevent a Million Gallons of Nuclear Waste from Being Dumped Into the Hudson

by M. C. Millman

The New York State Assembly held a special session Tuesday evening to pass the Save the Hudson bill, which will effectively block Holtec International from dumping over a million gallons of radioactive nuclear waste from the Indian Point Energy Center into the Hudson River this summer.

The measure passed in a vote of 100 to 44 after tremendous community pressure to prevent Holtec from disposing of its nuclear waste into the waterway.

Holtec International expressed their disappointment in the passage of the legislation in a statement the company released, claiming that discharge into the Hudson is the safest option. Many would disagree, the main concern being that this could negatively impact 100,000 people who rely on the water as a backup source and the seven surrounding municipalities whose main source of drinking water is the Hudson. In particular, concerns have been expressed about the cancerous properties of nuclear waste that could impact residents, including children. 

Despite these concerns, Holtec has called on the governor to veto the bill as the final step for its passage are the approval of Governor Hochul via her signature.