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NRC Chief, NY Congress Members Tour Indian Point Nuke Plant

BUCHANAN, NY (WCBS 880) - Standing at the front gate of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, with protesters just on the other side of the fence, Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman Gregory Jaczko called his tour of Indian Point "very good."

WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi: The Chairman Was Satisfied

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He got a tour of the spent fuel pool and met with Indian Point workers, Rep. Nita Lowey, and Rep. Eliot Engel.

Also present were four county executives from the Hudson Valley.

"We ultimately share the same goals, which is to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants in this country," he said.

He's taking in all of the information and concerns.

"We believe, based on all the information we have now, that Indian Point continues to meet our standards and operate safely and securely, but where we identify problems, we'll work to get those fixed," he said.

As for the situation in Japan, a nation devastated by an earthquake and resulting tsunami that left nuclear reactors on the verge of total meltdown, he said, "I expect that we'll learn some good lessons and I expect that they'll be some changes to our requirements as a result of that."

The NRC is conducting a study of nuclear plants' susceptibility to quakes and has promised to make Indian Point a top priority.

Plant owner Entergy Nuclear says Indian Point could withstand an earthquake greater than any the area has ever experienced. It also noted that a tsunami is unlikely where the plant sits on the Hudson River.

Do you think Indian Point is at risk for an earthquake? Sound off below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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