Meeting sought on nuke evacuation plan

With the shadow of the Millstone nuclear power plant at its doorstep, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell has asked the town's congressional representatives for a community meeting with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials to talk about the health of the Connecticut facility.

At the top of the agenda would be a possible expansion of evacuation routes in the wake of Japan's recent nuclear disaster.

Russell told residents at Tuesday's town board meeting that two-thirds of Fishers Island is within the current 10-mile evacuation radius, but that he worried also about residents beyond that zone.

The commission has put together a task force to study the Japanese incident, including current U.S. models for evacuations, said Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the NRC. In addition, NRC officials said they have received numerous requests from municipalities to discuss the safety of nearby nuclear plants and said they would review them.

Russell joins a list of elected officials taking another look at Millstone, which sits across the Long Island Sound in Waterford, Conn., after radiation leaks from the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plants in Japan followed last month's earthquake and tsunami.

Southold Town has a population of 22,631, but that number swells to twice that size in the summer. Fishers Island, with a population of around 300 residents, according to the U.S. Census, is part of the plant's evacuation plan. According to Russell, the residents would be taken by ferry to New London, Conn., the fastest point of exit, toward the plant, to be evacuated by land away from danger.

"We can sit on the beach and see the plant," said Suff. Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches), who said he would like to see Millstone shut down.

Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) has sent letters to congressional leaders to demand the 10-mile radius be expanded to 25 miles, which would encompass most of the East End. State Assembly Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) has introduced a bill to review disaster plans within 50 miles of a nuclear plant.

The NRC had recommended that Americans living in Japan evacuate within a 50-mile radius.