What's happening
This bill requires a comprehensive study and review of New York's nuclear power plant disaster preparedness plans for effectiveness and improvement.
Why it matters
Examines evacuation logistics and timelines. The study goes beyond basic planning by specifically analyzing how long it would take to evacuate areas within at least a 50-mile radius of a nuclear plant, factoring in disaster severity, population density, and the state of transportation infrastructure—critical details for effective emergency response.
Focuses on vulnerable populations and institutions. By requiring assessment of evacuation plans for hospitals, institutions, individuals with special needs, and schoolchildren, the bill ensures preparedness plans address some of the most challenging and sensitive aspects of disaster response, aiming for equity and safety for all community members.
Evaluates coordination, communication, and resource distribution. The legislation mandates review of how state, local, federal, and private entities coordinate during an incident, and how information flows to the general public and between agencies. It also scrutinizes the distribution of protective resources (like potassium iodide), which is vital for public health in a radiological emergency.
Includes food, water, and technology considerations. The study isn’t limited to evacuation—it also looks at plans to prevent food and water contamination and the role of technology in improving disaster preparedness, suggesting a holistic approach that considers both immediate and longer-term impacts of a nuclear incident.
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Who cares
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Study Nuclear Safety Plans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1774
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT establishing the nuclear power plant preparedness plans study
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Nuclear power plant disaster preparedness plans study. 1. The Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, in consultation with the disaster preparedness commission and any other entity the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services deems appropriate, shall study and review disaster preparedness plans as they relate to nuclear power plants for effectiveness. The study of such disaster preparedness plans shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) the time necessary to evacuate the area within a fifty mile radius of the plant, in addition to any other determined radius, with consideration of:
(i) the severity of the nuclear power plant disaster
(ii) the population residing in such area
(iii) existing transportation networks
(iv) any other considerations that are deemed relevant;
(b) the amount of area that should be evacuated with consideration of:
(i) the severity of the nuclear power plant disaster
(ii) the population residing in such area
(iii) existing transportation networks
(iv) any other considerations that are deemed relevant;
(c) the locations where people may be evacuated to in the event of a disaster;
(d) the feasibility of evacuating areas near the power plant;
(e) the role of public safety and school personnel in safely returning school children with their parents;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01988-01-7
S. 1774 2
(f) the protection of food and water from contamination;
(g) the evacuation of people from hospitals and other institutions;
(h) the evacuation of individuals with special needs or those who require special attention;
(i) the length of time that an area should be evacuated for;
(j) the opportunities where state and local agencies and the private sector can coordinate and cooperate in a nuclear power plant disaster;
(k) the availability and distribution of potassium iodine to individuals in areas affected by a nuclear power plant disaster;
(1) the use of technology in disaster preparedness;
(m) the overall effectiveness of the nuclear power plant disaster preparedness plans; and
(n) the ability to communicate between relevant federal entities, state and local entities and power plant operators and the general public.
2. Such study shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly by December 31, 2017 and shall be publicly posted on the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' website.
3. The Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services may request, and is authorized to receive, any information from any state agencies that is relevant and material to the completion of such study. Such information received by the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services shall be subject to the same requirements for confidentiality and limitations on use, if any, as are applicable to such state agency's use of such information.
4. The Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is authorized to use existing Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' funds to carry out the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act establishing the nuclear power plant preparedness plans study
Purpose or general idea of the bill
Requires the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services to study and review disaster preparedness plans as they relate to nuclear power plants for effectiveness.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: The commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services in consultation with the disaster preparedness commission and any other entity the commissioner deems 99, shall study and review disaster preparedness plan as they relate to all nuclear power plants located in New York State for effectiveness for communities within a 50 mile radius. The study is due to the governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2017.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
As scrutiny of nuclear energy facilities across the nation grows and with new revelations that the Indian Point nuclear power plant is located over a fault line that makes it vulnerable to a strong earthquake, there is a need for quick and common-sense actions that could save the lives of millions of New Yorkers, especially those down-wind of the Indian Point nuclear power plant.
It took the radiation released from damaged nuclear reactors in Fukushirna, Japan less than five days to travel over 160 miles south over Tokyo. The radiation in the atmosphere was considered to be so dangerous that the United States Navy moved out ships stationed near Tokyo and issuing Potassium Iodide pills to military personnel and their families.
So what does this have to do with New York State?
New York State has 6 nuclear reactors located near its largest cities: Rochester, Syracuse and New York City.
Indian Point nuclear power plant is located within 35 miles of 52% of New York's population, and only 24 miles from New York City. This legislation requires an in depth study on a long list of variables that will impact disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation plans for all nuclear power plants located in New York State.
We cannot wait until a potentially deadly catastrophe involving the accidental release of radiation by the Indian Point nuclear power plant before we realize that New York State does not have available the first line-of-defense resources that can save the lives of millions of our fellow residents, including millions of children. For a long-time we have been hearing about the dangers created by the Indian Point nuclear power plant based on its extremely close proximity to heavily populated areas. Well New York City and its nine million residents are just 24 miles away and Westchester County and surrounding upstate counties are the home of almost two million more New Yorkers.
Rochester and Syracuse are short distances from four other nuclear power plants (4 reactors).
Any radiation discharged from those nuclear plants would quickly travel across the state, threatening the lives of most New Yorkers.
There is no logical reason for New York State and local governments to not have a proper emergency and evacuation process in place. The study requires that all of the 6 nuclear reactor sites located in New York State be reviewed for emergency preparedness.
Prior legislative history
S5267A/A6512A - Veterans/governmental operations
Fiscal implications for state and local government
None. New York State already has disaster relief and planning bureaucracy in the division of homeland security and emergency services and the disaster preparedness commission. These well staffed state offices have the capacity to carry out the directive of this legislation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.