SHERWOOD MARTINELLI INTERVIEW WITH JOHN LEKAY

hEyOkA mAgAzInE

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SHERWOOD MARTINELLI

Oct 3rd 2007

 

John LeKay: Can you please tell me about your organization FUSE USA and how this came about?

Sherwood Martinelli: The story of how FUSE emerged into what it is today is a long story.  The short story, is a group of concerned citizens, each working independently saw the wisdom of joining forces, combining our talents under one umbrella organization. By joining together, sharing our resources and ideas, in assigning tasks we realized we could be more effective in trying to stop the license renewal of Indian Point.  The old adage says two people can do the work of three...we are using that same basic multiplier to build a dedicated group of citizens to solve important issues surrounding our environment, and safe sustainable use of our energy resources.  One unifying belief that brings us all together, is a belief that Indian Point is not safe, that the risks associated with its close proximity to Manhattan make it unsuitable for 20 more years of operation.  Since our formation in August we already have hundreds of members.

JL: I can imagine you must feel a little bit like David verses Goliath  taking on a billion dollar company like Entergy.  Why exactly did you file these recent claims?

Sherwood Martinelli. We should be so lucky to be David in this fight, or more aptly, we are David fighting not one, but several Goliath's  on steriods, all at once.  There is Entergy, there is the nuclear industry itself.  We also have to take on EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute), and to some degree, even the NRC, all who have very deep pockets. enormous staffs and powerful law firms.  Our strength is our ability to find and expose the truth.
 

FUSE filed our 26 contentions, and will be filing more.  As we research, we keep discovering more information that proves Indian Point is unsafe.  Aging issues of the plant, the fact that its a terrorist target, its close proximity to New York, coupled with a horrid safety and management record greatly concerns FUSE.   Couple these facts with non-working sirens, and an evacuation plan that everyone admits will not work and there exists a recipe for disaster. 

Mix into this recipe the radioactive waste streams that the NRC, DOE and the nuclear industry plan to leave on the banks of the Hudson River for 100's of years.   It becomes imperative that our community take a stand.  As the old slogan says, "Just Say No". 

If the citizens become outraged, if they raise their voices as one to tell the Federal Government, tell the NRC that we are not going to accept another 20 years of Indian Point we will stop the license renewal process in its tracks. It is our hope, that our filings, the content of those filings will bring the dangerous truth of Indian Point truly into focus. 

JL: Why do you feel nuclear energy is not the answer?
 

Sherwood Martinelli: I've not said that nuclear energy is not the answer, nor has FUSE.  What I have said, is America's fleet of 104 reactors are not safe.  And the NRC is not properly regulating America's nuclear reactors.  Further, you cannot build a road to any tomorrow on the backs of 104 aging, antiquated dangerous reactors that are reaching the end of their useful life spans. 

 

You cannot build a vital, safe tomorrow for our children with a flawed national strategy.  GNEP (Global Nuclear Energy Program) is fundamentally flawed.  The DOE has decided to skip several steps in the process, and is moving right into building a spent fuel reprocessing plant...problem is, that technology has not yet been proven to work.  More importantly, the AP1000 reactor that is the front runner for the next generation of American reactors is not capable of burning the fuel that would be created in the proposed GNEP reprocessing plant.  The undisputed problem with nuclear energy is the inability to safely dispose of the nuclear waste.  Most troubling, is GNEP is going to make America the dump site for the entire world's nuclear industry waste streams, and that is not a future we should want for our children, and their children.

 


Entergy is a major player in the push to build new reactors.  They need enormous government subsidies and assurances,  to get needed investors in order to maintain market share during the changeover.  To do that, they are coming to our community and saying trust us.  Yes, you are right, Indian Point is getting older, there are some serious issues with the plant, and we are well aware that tritium, strontium 90 and cesium 137 are leaking into the Hudson River, though we can't find the leaks or stop them.

However, we think we can minimize those risks, and feel relatively confident that we can catch any major issues before those issues create a significant radiological event.  We'll even admit based on statistics that some of you, or your children might die, or suffer from various cancers as a result of our operating these aging reactors for 20 more years, but the NRC agrees with us, that those risks are acceptable when compared to our corporate needs. 
 

Such sentiments beg the question, how much should one community sacrifice for the  good of Entergy's corporate coffers?  The citizens of Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, and Orange counties, the peoples of New York city have accepted and lived with the risk that the Indian Point reactors represent for almost 40 years. Some of us have died directly or indirectly because of Indian Point being in our community.  We have done our share for the greater societal good, and it is unfair to ask us to accept unacceptable risk for 20 more years.

JL: Do you know if the escape routes and an exit strategy has been put in place in case a tragic accident of some sort ever did happen? 

Sherwood Martinelli: The NRC will tell you they have been put in place.  They would be wrong.  This conclusion is supported by two key facts easily attained:

 A)  The NRC because of industry pressure (NEI) has reduced the size of the evacuation zone, and now plans to implement what is referred to as the keyhole evacuation pattern.  A two mile zone around Indian Point would be evacuating in the case of a fast breaking radiological emergency.  Going out from that two mile radius in the shape of a cone to the ten mile radius, people would be evacuated based on the size of the plume, and the direction the wind is blowing.  Rather than admit the evacuation plan is not workable, they keep trying to limit the scope and size of it to make it work.  I live less than three miles from Indian Point, and depending on the direction the wind is blowing, Indian Point expects me to stay in my home during a nuclear incident at the plant.
 
B)  The NRC, the nuclear industry are waging a propaganda campaign to change peoples perceptions.  They want to sell us on the concept of Sheltering in Place during a significant nuclear incident.  Go to your basement with a roll of duct tape and some sheets of plastic and wait for the all clear.  What the NRC does not tell us, is that the Centers for Disease Control has publicly let it be known, that sheltering in our basements would only afford us a 40 percent level of protection from radiological contaminants. So much for the Department of Homeland Security's duct tape and plastic first line of defense.
JL: Do you know what Hilary Clinton's take is on this since she lives up the street from this nuclear power plant?
Sherwood Martinelli: Hilary Clinton's position changes with the wind.  Instead of being a pro-active leader in keeping Westchester county safe, she instead makes token efforts meant to get her some ink in the local papers, but then down in South Carolina at a campaign stop told a Pro-Nuclear crowd that nuclear energy must be on the table if we are going to solve global warming.  If she really wants to solve global warming, she should have the Senate do a study on the Nuclear Reactor thermal contributions to Global Warming.  Indian Point as example runs 2.4 Billion gallons of water through their systems to cool their reactors on a daily basis, and dumps that water back into the Hudson River at 103 degrees.  What effect is that thermal discharge  having on Global Warming?  And what are the true costs of nuclear power generation,  both fiscally and to public health?  The carbon footprint of nuclear is comparable to fossil fuel power generation, plus  of course you also end up with the radioactive waste problem.

 

 

JL: What are your thoughts on the recent editorial in the NY Post and their argument that nuclear energy seems safe and that there hasn't been a nuclear accident since 3 mile island and so on?  That it would also drive business away and its not good for New York's economy?

Sherwood Martinelli: Such a statement is factually incorrect.  Ask the New York Post about David Besse as one example. This summer we had an earthquake shut down all 7 TEPCO reactors in Japan, and that significant accident has been hushed up, and ripped from the news media...why?  Cooling towers at Entergy's Vermont Yankee reactor in Vermont collapsed last month, early this year Indian Point had a transformer explosion.  Just because we've dodged bullets, gotten lucky, does not mean there have not been serious accidents at nuclear reactors.  Have people in New York forgotten the tube rupture at IP2 back in the year 2000?  How many people are aware of the dangerous  conditions of the reactor vessel heads at Indian Point.  These crucial components are in such bad shape that Entergy has quietly placed orders for replacement heads, with delivery and installation slated for 2011 and 2012.

 

 

As for the lost jobs, people lose jobs every day.  Look at the mortgage industry right now as a perfect example.  In a worse case scenario, the closure of Indian Point would be a very short term inconvenience for the citizens of New York.  A significant nuclear event at the plant would devastate New York's economy for decades too come and bankrupt America  .  Additionally, give Entergy a call, and ask them how many good paying jobs would be created if all three plants were going through decommissioning.  There is a very good chance that decommissioning these three reactors would increase employment in our area, not decrease it.

Also look what Entergy did in New Orleans after Katrina, they put their plant into Chapter 11 and got government bailouts from our tax dollars while the CEO earned $27 million that year.  They don't really care about the workers, actually since Entergy bought Indian Point they have reduced the staff by approximately 800-1000 jobs.

 

 

Patrick Moore

  
 

JL:  There seems to be a split in the environmental movement. That many feel nuclear is clean, meaning then its ok? Why do you think this  feeling about nukes has changed somewhat since the 70s and 80s?


 Sherwood Martinelli: NEI last year alone spent over $8 million dollars selling the concept of Nuclear as Green Energy.  The nuclear industry trots Patrick Moore (former founder of Greenpeace) out before the cameras at $15,000 an appearance as a spokesperson for the industry.  If you repeat your message enough times, that repetition can sway public opinion.  Problem is, the nuclear industry message is fraught with lies and misleading examples.  They claim that Nuclear Energy is CO2 free...it is not.   The carbon footprint of nuclear power from mining, processing, transportation, construction, through decommissioning is comparable to fossil fuel plants, and additionally you end up with high level radioactive waste.

They claim nuclear energy is cheap, and again it is not.  Look at the federal subsidies given to the industry, look at the Price Anderson Act, and the fact none of us can get insurance to cover our losses in the case of a nuclear accident, look at the millions of dollars a year that our local community has to spend in supplementing Indian Points inadequate security at the plant.  Factor those hidden costs in, and nuclear energy is the most expensive source of electricity in the world.   
 

JL: There seems to be a growing movement of younger and trendy  Hollywood people and music celebrities interested in these types of  environmental issues all of a sudden. Why do you think that is? 

Sherwood Martinelli: I think these people have always been interested in environmental and social issues.  If anything, think as their careers have blossomed, as they have become better known on the world stage  they are using their celebrity for noble causes.  That kind of involvement in issues bigger than themselves should be commended. 

JL: What would you say is your mission with this organization? Is it just Indian Point or other power plants?

 Sherwood Martinelli: Our mission to advocate for sustainable energy that protects public health and safety and the environment.

 Cannot really discuss my mission without giving a great deal of credit to the team.  Ulrich Witte, our nuclear industry expert who has been working day and night for the past three months.  Susan Shapiro and Maureen Ritter, who stubbornly stick to the task at hand, whatever that task might be.  Both always willing to jump in wherever the need arises.  Peter Alexander who has stepped in when desperately needed to give us some much appreciated help and advice in the area of public relations.  People like Remy, and Judy who are always just a phone call away, ready to step in and do what they can. There are people like Harvey Wasserman, Joseph Mangano, Dorice Mad,  Jen Laird White, Heather Burns-DeMelo and many others who have come onboard, offering us their assistance and advice at every step of the way.  So, who am I?  I am part of a team, the proverbial pied piper asking the world to follow us, to follow FUSE USA as we work to make the world a safer place in which to live. 

 

Leonardo Dicaprio gives a brief introduction to the trailer for the new environmental documentary "The 11th Hour" which he produced and narrated. The film takes a look at the state of the global environment including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet's ecosystems.

Governor Eliot Spitzer

 
 

JL:  Are you working on other ways of raising awareness?  

 

Sherwood Martinelli: We have developed studies on replacement energy  for Indian Point, including ways to fund such projects.   For example the state of Minnesota taxes dry casking of radioactive waste at a rate of  $21 million per cask, per year and uses that money to fund renewable's.  Governor Spitzer should consider such a plan here in New York.  Additionally if the roofs of municipal buildings in New York City were used for solar installations, or converted to Green Roofs we would already be a long way to replacement of Indian Points unsafe energy contributions to the grid..

JL: Where do you believe this is heading? 

 

Sherwood Martinelli: We are optimistic that  truth will prevail, and the human survival instinct will soon realize that  we can be safe and sustainable without nuclear power which was a dangerous, failed scientific experiment.

 

JL: When will these judges give their decision on Indian point?

 Sherwood Martinelli: The new NRC process is streamlined to 18 -24 months, however we are trying to slow that process down so that our community has a fair and equitable review...public safety should not be put on a review process time line.  We want the NRC to take all the time needed to fully and accurately review the risks associated with Entergy's attempts to relicense Indian Point.  Win or lose in this first part of the process, Entergy's license renewal application, the decision by the NRC will be appealed to the 2nd circuit.
JL: How are you doing with funds and what kind of help are you looking for?  

Sherwood Martinelli: We are a young organization, right now we are working around the clock to stop relicensing of Indian Point and need to raise substantial funds for expert witnesses, legal appeals, economic and scientific studies.   Our current campaign is to raise $250,000, which equates to 500 people donating $500, or 2,500 people donating $100.  Reaching that goal is a good start to reaching our goals.

FUSE USA
21 Perlman Drive
Spring Valley,   NY 10977
(914) 293-7458
 

 

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