Environmental groups are sounding the alarm about the dangers of decommissioning the Indian Point Power Plant in Buchanan.

The first in a series of public forums about the decommissioning of Indian Point was held Thursday, and one of the concerns discussed has to do with wastewater

Environmental advocates claim Holtec International, the company that runs the plant, is seeking to discharge millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River.

Early in January, News 12 showed viewers the new technology the company is planning to use to dismantle nuclear reactors.

Environmental experts warn that the discharge into Hudson River could impact about 100,000 people and seven surrounding municipalities.

Dr. Helen Caldicott, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the USA, says the containers in the water could negatively affect the water many use to drink.

Caldicott says some of the highlight concerns are the cancerous properties of the waste that could impact residents and children in particular.

Holtec International responded to News 12 with a statement that says in part, "During decommissioning, nuclear power plants release treated water. These releases are regulated by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are typically indistinguishable from the natural radioactivity present in the environment."

The statement goes on to say that the company has permits from both the EPA and state of New York to run the decommissioning.

Indian Point officially closed in April 2021. The decommissioning process is expected to take 12 to 15 years.

Thursday's meeting was the first in a series of public forums regarding the decommissioning of Indian Point. The next one is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Cortlandt.

Town hall and the public is invited to attend.