nuclear-news

Questions about safety of Illinois’ old nuclear reactors

Nuclear watchdogs and environmental groups have been critical because the reactors got 20-year license extensions after surpassing their original 40-year lifespans…Kirk and Durbin peppered officials with questions about the safety of the storage of spent fuel rods, some of which are near populated areas and key waterways in the state……

Kirk, Durbin quiz nuclear experts – Chicago Sun-Times, 26 March 11, In light of the crisis in Japan, Illinois needs to review the size of evacuation zones around its six nuclear power plants and ensure there is a sufficient stockpile of potassium iodide pills, U.S. Sens. Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin said Friday during a forum on nuclear safety in the state.
“Illinois is the most nuclear state in the country. We have the largest fleet of 11 reactors and we need to make sure in light of what happened at Fukushima that they’re run safely. I think there are some lessons learned,” Kirk said…….

“The NRC has full confidence that the current fleet of reactors and spent fuel pools are operating in a manner that protects public health and safety,” said Cynthia Pederson, deputy regional administrator for the NRC.

Four of the state’s reactors are almost identical to those in the Japan crisis. Located at the Dresden and Quad Cities generating stations, they are same model and nearly the same age as those at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Nuclear watchdogs and environmental groups have been critical because the reactors got 20-year license extensions after surpassing their original 40-year lifespans.

Kirk and Durbin peppered officials with questions about the safety of the storage of spent fuel rods, some of which are near populated areas and key waterways in the state…..

Kirk, Durbin quiz nuclear experts – Chicago Sun-Times

March 26, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA