Indian Point Power Plant Slated To Dump Nuclear Waste In The Hudson River
Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo by Daniel Case/ CC BY-SA 3.0
Federal Court Clears Release of Radioactive Wastewater into Hudson River
Roughly 45,000 gallons of radioactive wastewater from the shuttered Indian Point nuclear power plant will soon be discharged into the Hudson River, following a federal court ruling that struck down a New York environmental law designed to block the release.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas sided with Holtec International, the company overseeing the decommissioning of Indian Point, reversing New York’s 2023 “Save the Hudson” law. The measure, championed by state lawmakers and environmental groups, sought to prevent radioactive waste from being discharged into the river. Holtec sued last year according to The New York Times, arguing that nuclear regulation falls under federal authority, not state law — an argument the court ultimately upheld.
The safest way to deal with nuclear wastewater is to treat and isolate as many radioactive contaminants as possible through methods like filtration, ion exchange, or evaporation, then concentrate and immobilize the residues in stable forms such as cement or glass for secure storage or disposal. The toughest challenge is tritium, which bonds with water and is almost impossible to remove at scale; options are either long-term storage until it decays (half-life about 12 years) or carefully monitored dilution and discharge when public exposure levels are calculated to remain far below regulatory limits.
While controlled release is sometimes permitted, experts agree the safest overall approach prioritizes treatment, immobilization, and secure containment, with environmental monitoring and strict oversight to minimize risks to ecosystems and communities.
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
What Is Nuclear Wastewater?
Holtec maintains that the release is safe and that radiation levels will fall well below federal limits once diluted in the Hudson River. Still, environmental groups warn that even low-level radioactive discharges pose risks. Tritium can bind with water molecules, making it nearly impossible to filter, and once in the river, it can enter ecosystems and potentially accumulate in fish and other wildlife. Critics argue that discharging the waste undermines decades of efforts to clean up the Hudson, once notorious for PCB contamination and other pollutants.
The 45,000 gallons in question are not glowing green sludge but radioactive wastewater generated during decades of Indian Point’s operations. Nuclear plants use water to cool spent fuel rods, and that water becomes contaminated with tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen. While tritium emits low levels of radiation compared to other nuclear byproducts, it cannot be fully filtered out. Over time, this wastewater builds up in storage tanks on site.
Riverkeeper, an organization that advocates for clean water in New York, opposed the plan, saying: “Ingestion of tritium is linked to cancer, and children and pregnant women are most vulnerable.”
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
What Counts as “Safe” Radiation?
Radiation safety standards are based on dose exposure. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets limits for how much radiation people can safely be exposed to in a year. For context, the average American receives about 620 millirem of radiation annually, mostly from natural sources like sunlight and radon gas. Tritium in wastewater releases generally expose the public to a tiny fraction of that — often less than one millirem. Regulators argue this is negligible compared to everyday background exposure.
However, health experts stress that no level of radiation is entirely risk-free. Even low doses can slightly increase cancer risk, and repeated or long-term exposure in local communities raises concerns about cumulative effects. For residents along the Hudson, the discharge symbolizes yet another environmental burden placed on a river that has already borne generations of industrial pollution.
The ruling is a legal victory for Holtec, but opposition remains strong. Environmental advocates, local lawmakers, and community groups have vowed to continue pressing for alternative solutions, such as long-term storage rather than direct discharge. With Indian Point’s decommissioning expected to take years, the fight over how to handle its nuclear waste — and who gets to decide — is likely to continue.
