Limited Appearance Statement of Jack Friedman of the ...Queens can continue the upward traJectory....

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(Q( eens ••.•hamber of Commerce Jack Friedman, Executive Director Carol Conslato, President Albert F. Pennisi, Counsel Mayra DiRico, 1st Vice President Gerard J. Thornton, Treasurer DOCKETED September s, 2012 USNR.. Septemo.r 14, 2012 (8:30 a.m.) Offic of he SM#WyOFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co ion ADJUDICATIONS STAFF Washington, DC 2o55-5.00 Re: Economic Impact of Indian Point Units 2 and 3 License Renewal Application NRC Docket Nos. 5,-247-LR and .o-286-LR ASLBP No. o7-858-o3L.R-BDoi " .'arf r• ''.taiy: . . I am eXutlyedirector ofthe Q hcamI of4C.4mmertee,WtkAhrpesns ur 16 esm I ~m-W rii, r-cyalPilicense ree b f Indian Pant- di*'a a43Jp!ichanano N*Xq Yorat dW Wi coidearher~ Ricatklncdin the eff of relicensing on (0-the potential f enetkJ& Wlent 4 ,u~d)~Aomn City to Far Rockaway, a variety of new projects ame creatigjbli~,1~sig andtckalnl opportunities for New Yorkers. Home totwo of the nation's b~ls fp~4&s~d gateway to New York and international trade. To-capitalize on these opportunities, it Is important that steps be taken to keep our region's electricity affordable and reliable so that Queens can continue the upward traJectory. The closure of Indian Point's would seriously jeopardize this recent economic growth. Parts Of QenizcdngAstoria, Flushing, and Long 1slandýClfty ievnrbbakus brw its AMpo~wer redptoion durigg tm3. do., ',.,O 66sw`--er. 0u nagj6hn~vliol continue- to grow,* and our economy is destined to expand; `66vr ti wiglne Iia-jspen witthdti 1"idn Point. *. Acowrding ~ Mo up an41p-Neiw 0 d sM ,I s Jiia Point wq.Wd eaisem ý-electri64 se dc tlp r4pq~ta nc~~I ,electricity o. tat~u everye a he.Any '~~do ngidrlallyWill turn out thel~ight InA' en resultini economic hamad~i01us safety sstisi Ihe $~t supplies UP to 30 percent of New York kiy's elc=ct d 11 percent statei~de.We rely on this clean, madon neutral power to keep our businesses operating, keep the lights on in our homes, and provide confidence that electricity costs will not skyrocket. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, NY137b2 1V31 T (718)89-850dF:'(718') 898-'ý99 [email protected] : P .3 U •,~D 4 .. ' ;.i .. . . .. .. O. .. ..• .. ::•",

Transcript of Limited Appearance Statement of Jack Friedman of the ...Queens can continue the upward traJectory....

  • (Q( eens••.•hamber of CommerceJack Friedman, Executive Director Carol Conslato, PresidentAlbert F. Pennisi, Counsel Mayra DiRico, 1st Vice President

    Gerard J. Thornton, Treasurer

    DOCKETED

    September s, 2012 USNR..Septemo.r 14, 2012 (8:30 a.m.)

    Offic of he SM#WyOFFICE OF SECRETARYRULEMAKINGS AND

    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co ion ADJUDICATIONS STAFF

    Washington, DC 2o55-5.00

    Re: Economic Impact of Indian Point Units 2 and 3 License Renewal Application

    NRC Docket Nos. 5,-247-LR and .o-286-LR ASLBP No. o7-858-o3L.R-BDoi

    " .'arf r• ''.taiy: . .

    I am eXutlyedirector ofthe Q hcamI of4C.4mmertee,WtkAhrpesns ur16 esm I ~m-W rii, r-cyalPilicense ree b f

    Indian Pant- di*'a a43Jp!ichanano N*Xq Yorat dW Wicoidearher~ Ricatklncdin theeff of relicensing on (0-the potential f enetkJ& Wlent4,u~d)~Aomn

    City to Far Rockaway, a variety of new projects ame creatigjbli~,1~sig andtckalnlopportunities for New Yorkers. Home totwo of the nation's b~ls fp~4&s~dgateway to New York and international trade. To-capitalize on these opportunities, it Isimportant that steps be taken to keep our region's electricity affordable and reliable so thatQueens can continue the upward traJectory.

    The closure of Indian Point's would seriously jeopardize this recent economic growth.Parts Of QenizcdngAstoria, Flushing, and Long 1slandýClfty ievnrbbakus

    brw its AMpo~wer redptoion durigg tm3. do., ',.,O 66sw`--er. 0u nagj6hn~vliolcontinue- to grow,* and our economy is destined to expand; `66vr ti wiglne Iia-jspen witthdti1"idn Point.

    *. Acowrding ~ Mo up an41p-Neiw 0 d sM ,I sJiia Point wq.Wd eaisem ý-electri64 se dc tlp r4pq~ta nc~~I,electricity o. tat~u everye a tý he.Any '~~do ngidrlallyWillturn out thel~ight InA' en resultini economic hamad~i01us safety sstisi Ihe $~tsupplies UP to 30 percent of New York kiy's elc=ct d 11 percent statei~de.We rely on thisclean, madon neutral power to keep our businesses operating, keep the lights on in our homes,and provide confidence that electricity costs will not skyrocket.

    75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, NY137b2 1V31 T (718)89-850dF:'(718') 898-'ý99 [email protected]

    : P .3 U

    •,~D 4 ..' ;.i . . . . .. ..O. .. . .• . . ::•",

  • •4 q

    The existing energy alternatives to Indian Point - mainly fosil fuel sources - not onlyreduce electric reliability, but also present real health issues for New York City. Queens is hometo six fossil fuel power plants, which are among the most egregious emitters of toxic pollution.These plants are predominanly located in minority and low-income o tie. IndianPoint's closure would Increase our reliance on power from the pollution-emitting fossil fuelgenerators, resulting in a disproportionate impact on the borough's most vulnerablepopulations, including seniors, children and the disabled. A report commissoned by the NewYork City Department of Environmental Conservation found that without Indian Point, carbondioxide (C02) emissions will increase by is percent, sulfur dioxide (SO2) will go up to 14percent, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) will reach 7-8 percent These toxic emissions are linked toglobal warming, acid rain and smog.

    If our employees have to deal with increased health costs, It wl impact both productivityand the family unit. The Clean Air Task Force attributes 799 deaths, 698 , and1,541 heart attacks annually to power plant pollution throughout the New York Metropolitanregion. These concerns and costs should not be the tradeoff in this process. New York alreadypays the third highest electricity rates in the nation, adding increased healthcare costs to the mixwill only worsen the situation.

    The numerous benefits of Indian Point's continued operation, including electricreliability, minimized power costs, and increased public safety, have contributed to strongeconomic growth In Queens. Indian Point's continued operation is esseutial to protecting theenvironment and the lives of those in designated environmental Justice area. As we movetoward achieving expansion plans, Improving air quality is central to keeping both businessesand their employees healthy. The borough has come a long way, and we have some more to go,Shutting down Indian Point would set us back and send many to the emergency room.

    As such, the Queens Chamber of Commerce encourages you to renew the license forIndian Point. Thank you for your time and considering my comments on this Issue.

    Sincerely,

    Jack Friedman, Executive Director

    cc: Administrative Judge Lawrence G. McDadec/o Anne Siarnacki, Law ClerkAtomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop T-3F23US. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWashington, DC 2o555-oooiFax to: (301) 415-5599 (verification (301) 415-7550)Email to: