BUCHANAN – The state, which has been concerned about Entergy’s management program to ensure the continued integrity of Indian Point’s containment structures, has reached a settlement agreement with the company regarding that issue in the continuing NRC license renewal application process.

Entergy provided information to address the state’s concerns and pledged to conduct continued checks on the containment buildings if the license is renewed.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said it is one of several issues to be addressed.

“Certainly any time you are talking about the containment buildings for a nuclear power plant, they serve a very important function, especially as we saw what happened in Fukushima,” Sheehan said. “Their role is integral to the plant’s safety, so for this to be resolved at this point means that the judges can now focus on some of the other issues that will be raised.”

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, the NRC panel handling the proceedings, has now approved the agreement and the state is withdrawing the contention.

“Entergy has invested $1 billion to strengthen and enhance safety at Indian Point and has a thorough program to safely maintain equipment throughout the period of license renewal,” said Indian Point spokesman Jerry Nappi. “We are pleased that the state’s concern about the structural integrity of the plants’ containment buildings has been resolved to its satisfaction.”

There are about 20 other contentions still unresolved that will be part of hearings in front of the ASLB expected to be held later this year.