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Former Indian Point Supervisor Charged In Fabrication Of Records

BUCHANAN, N.Y. -- A former supervisor at Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan has been arrested and charged with rules violations, making false statements and fabricating records to conceal violations at the plant, a U.S. attorney announced recently. 

A former Indian Point Supervisor has been charged with fabricating records to prevent the facility in Buchanan from shutting down.

A former Indian Point Supervisor has been charged with fabricating records to prevent the facility in Buchanan from shutting down.

Photo Credit: File Photo

Daniel Wilson, Indian Point's chemistry manager from 2007 through 2012, was charged this week in a criminal complaint "with engaging in deliberate misconduct in violation of rules of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, making false statements in connection with a matter within the jurisdiction of the NRC and fabricating records to conceal a violation of NRC requirements at the facility," according to a press release from Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The complaint was based on the results of an investigation by the NRC’s Office of Investigations, led by Director Cheryl McCrary, according to the release.

Wilson was arrested this week on the charges in the complaint and released on bail, according to the release.

"Any alleged deliberate misconduct at a facility like Indian Point is a matter of grave concern to this Office," Bharara said in the release. "One need look no further than recent natural disasters to know that at important facilities, backup generators and other systems must be maintained in working order because in an emergency they may be critical."

NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said the NRC was dependent on employees being trustworthy and responsible. 

"When it comes to ensuring the operability of a plant's emergency diesel generators, or any other vital nuclear safety equipment, there can be no room for anything other than employees adhering to the highest standards of integrity," Dean said in the release. "In coordination with the Department of Justice, the NRC will move forward with any civil enforcement action in this matter."

Wilson "concealed material facts from his employer and the NRC" in 2012 after tests showed a particulate matter in the diesel fuel to exceed the NRC's limit, according to the release. 

Wilson "concealed material facts from his employer and the NRC by fabricating test data for non-existent re-samples of the diesel fuel, falsely showing that the re-samples of diesel fuel tested below the applicable NRC limit," according to the release.

"In fact, no such re-samples were taken, and the purported test data were fabrications," U.S Attorney's Office  representatives said in the release. "In a subsequent interview with NRC personnel, Wilson admitted that he had fabricated the test results so that Indian Point would not have to shut down." 

If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. The prosecution is being handled by  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Allee, according to the release. 

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