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Seabrook nuclear plant has recurring problems

NRC cites`problems at Seabrook nuke plant By Shir Haberman

seacoastonline.com October 08, 2009 “………..One of those recurring issues has to do with the diesel generators used to operate plant safety systems in the event of an off-site power outage…… NRC Region I spokesman Neil Sheehan said this most recent diesel generator problem had more to do with failures in following procedures by the company than equipment problems.

“The NRC staff determined that the issue currently before us stemmed specifically from NextEra’s failure to adequately control design changes made to the emergency diesel generator in question in January 2009,” Sheehan said. “Those changes apparently resulted in the failure of a gasket on the generator’s cooling system.

“Specifically, the NRC staff found that the company did not adequately evaluate deficient conditions when addressing cooling water flange leaks, did not use readily available internal operating experience, and did not adequately evaluate and correct the impact of engine vibrations on the flange, contributing to its subsequent failure,” Sheehan said.

Problems with the plant’s diesel generators have been noted throughout its history……. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and the Portsmouth-based Seacoast Anti-Pollution League alleged one of the generators may have been inoperable for nearly 21 months before the NRC was notified.

“There is a fatal flaw in (the Seabrook plant’s) backup generator, one of the most critical protections against a catastrophic nuclear accident,” Markey wrote in a press release issued in April 1999. http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091008/NEWS/910080426/-1/NEWSMAP

October 9, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs