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Yankee nuclear plant safety in doubt

Report raises new questions about Yankee reliability By Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press Staff Writer • October 21, 2009 A consultant’s first report to the Legislature raised new concerns about the reliability of the 37-year-old Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee in light of its owner’s desire to re-license and operate the nuclear power plant for another 20 years.Arnold Gundersen of Fairewinds Associates nc. raised five concerns in his first report:

• Operator’s slowness in showing how they would address 80 action items identified by an oversight panel last spring as critical to continued operation of the plan after 2012, when the plant’s current license expires.

• Eight operations incidents since December 2008.

• Potential radioactive contamination in underground piping that wasn’t previously disclosed.

• Corrosion problems in the water system at the plant. A corporate hiring freeze that could affect the plant’s ability to remedy the 80 issues that need action.

Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, D-Windsor, said the report raises new concerns for lawmakers to weigh this winter

Report raises new questions about Yankee reliability | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

October 22, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium, wastes