The energy company currently operating Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station and the company set to purchase it this week asked a federal judge to allow them to intervene in a lawsuit filed against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the state of New York.
Entergy and Holtec International requested leave to intervene Thursday, according to their filing with D.C.’s court of appeals. Holtec is supposed to assume ownership of Indian Point in April when Entergy wraps up operations at its Unit 3 reactor.
The companies argue that they both have a vested interest in the proceedings and outcomes of the suit, filed by New York state attorney general Letitia James Jan. 22, since it will decide whether the license transfer is allowed to stand, according to the Thursday filing.
James asked the court Jan. 22 to review the legality of the license transfer to Holtec from Entergy. In particular, she expressed concern about the NRC’s decision to let Holtec use a $2.1 billion trust fund set aside for dismantling Indian Point.
New York’s initial filing followed NRC’s Jan. 15 denial of the state’s request for a public hearing on the Indian Point license transfer — something for which Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed his support in October.
All procedural filings for both parties in the case are due March 15, according to the court docket.
The Indian Point plant, located in Buchanan, New York, shut down its Unit 1 reactor in 1974. Unit 2 was shuttered late last year, leaving Unit 3 as the last to be switched off in April.
