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“New Generation” nuclear raectors have safety problems, says NRC

U.S. Nuclear Agency Has ‘Technical Issues’ With Toshiba Reactor,  WSJ.com, MAY 21, 2011By CASSANDRA SWEET The top U.S. nuclear regulator on Friday threw a roadblock in the way of a new type of nuclear reactor that some U.S. operators are using for their next-generation nuclear plants, saying officials have discovered “technical issues.”

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s chairman, Gregory Jaczko, said the commission won’t certify the AP1000 reactor made by Toshiba Corp. unit Westinghouse until those issues are resolved. Mr. Jaczko said in a statement that an agency review had uncovered questions about the reactor’s shield building and another safety issue involving the reactor containment.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long the issues would take to address. Mr. Jaczko said the commission plans an inspection next week during which the agency will look at Westinghouse’s quality assurance. He said the commission expects the company to submit additional information in early June….

..In a statement Friday, Rep. Edward Markey (D., Mass.), a longtime critic of the nuclear-power industry, praised Mr. Jaczko’s decision to hold off on approving the AP1000. On March 7, Mr. Markey cited concerns by NRC staff that the shield in the AP1000 reactor was brittle and could shatter in an earthquake or terrorist attack. “We must ensure that any nuclear power plant in this country can withstand a catastrophic impact,” Mr. Markey said…….U.S. Nuclear Agency Has ‘Technical Issues’ With Westinghouse Reactor – WSJ.com

May 21, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA