State of New York

Executive Chamber
Albany 12224
Andrew M. Cuomo
GOVERNOR

February 6, 2016
Commissioner Howard Zucker
NYS Department of Health
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

Dear Commissioners Zucker and Seggos:

I am deeply concerned to have learned that radioactive tritium-contaminated water has
recently leaked from operations at the Entergy Indian Point Energy Center (Indian Point)
into groundwater at the site. This is not the first such release of radioactive water at
Indian Point, nor is this the first time that Indian Point has experienced significant failure
in its operation and maintenance. This failure continues to demonstrate that Indian Point
cannot continue to operate in a manner that is protective of public health and the
environment.
The levels of radioactivity reported this week are significantly higher than in past
incidents. Three of forty monitoring wells registered alarming increases. In fact, one of
the monitoring well increased nearly 65,000 percent from 12,300 picocuries per liter to
over 8,000,000 picocuries per liter.
Our first concern is for the health and safety of the residents close to the facility and
ensuring the groundwater leak does not pose a threat. As such, I am directing you to fully
investigate this incident and employ all available measures, including working with
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to determine the extent of the release, its likely
duration, its causes, its potential impacts to the environment and public health, and how
the release can be contained. We need to identify whether this incident could have been

avoided by exercising reasonable care. We also need to know how a recurrence of this
episode can be avoided by specific steps that Entergy should be taking.
Please report back at the completion of the investigation.
Sincerely,

ANDREW M. CUOMO