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Nuclear plants at risk if flooding in Nebraska gets worse

Any new rain episode could worst the flooding, especially in Nebraska, …..

Fort Calhoun is not the only power plant that is threatened by the flooding.  Cooper Nuclear Station is in a similar position, but the risk is higher if the water’s level is rising. In the worst case, the Fukushima’s situation could repeat here. 

Nuclear danger in Nebraska because of the flooding  News In A Box by Kelley Jeanie , 22 June 11  On Tuesday, June 21st 2011   A power plant from Nebraska, Fort Calhoun, was threatened to become a new Fukushima after several dams from around it broke because of the flooding on the Missouri River. The power plant was close to be under the water after the Missouri River got at 45 centimeters around it, according to dailymail.co.uk. If the water’s level got at 274,9 meters above the sea’s level in Brownville, the officials would have been forced to close the nuclear plant that is situated at 275,2 meters.

The water’s level stopped, it doesn’t rise at this moment, but the authorities are in continuous alert because of the flooding. This is a major reason for fear because the authorities already opened six dams. Any new rain episode could worst the flooding, especially in Nebraska, Iowa or Missouri, situated downstream of those dams.

The meteorologists are expecting that the Missouri River to raise with close to 2 meters after the official level of the flooding in several areas from Nebraska and Iowa and with three meters in some Missouri areas.

The authorities are expecting that the high level of the river to be kept at least until August. This phenomenon is a normal one if we consider that this winter was one of the wettest from the last 100 years. This is why the flooding is threatening the nuclear plant and according to the investigations, the water’s level could be kept for weeks before the flooding is controlled.

Fort Calhoun power plant is, from April, in maintenance and refueling process, but the danger is still keeping under the weather’s caprices.

According to scientist David Lochbaum, the power plant’s owner was warned last year about the possible danger in case of this flooding and Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that additional measures for safety should be taken. Fort Calhoun is not the only power plant that is threatened by the flooding.

Cooper Nuclear Station is in a similar position, but the risk is higher if the water’s level is rising. In the worst case, the Fukushima’s situation could repeat here. The emergency code was established at Fort Calhoun from June 6. After weeks of rainy weather, the situation is under control, but it has to be very well controlled.

The six dams from Missouri River, the longest from North America, were built in 1960. Although the risk for flooding is big, the two power plants were build there, as the people’s houses and farms…..

http://newsinabox.net/1501/nuclear-danger-in-nebraska-because-of-the-flooding.html

June 22, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA