nuclear-news

Deterioration in Seabrook nuclear plant stalls licence renewal

Nuclear plant concerns stall license renewal, By Shir Haberman,Issues raised over deterioration of concrete .seacoastonline.com July19, 2011NRC inspectors reviewing Seabrook Station for its fitness to have its license extended noted the deterioration, which was discovered by the plant’s staff, and noted it in an inspection report dated May 23.

SEABROOK — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed Friday that the discovery of deteriorating concrete in below-ground-level structures at the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant made public earlier this year could delay the granting of a license extension that would allow the plant to operate until 20     ….

“The walk-down inspections discovered the following plant material conditions; (a) large amount of groundwater infiltration, (b) large amount of calcium carbonate deposits, (c) corroded steel supports, base plates and piping, (d) corroded anchor bolts, (e) pooling of water and (f) cracking and spalling of concrete,” the NRC report indicated. “The inspection further noted that the below-grade, exterior walls in the Control Building B Electrical Tunnel … have random cracking and for several years have been saturated by groundwater infiltration……

typically, the license extension approval process takes 30 months when opponents call for a public hearing on the merits of that extension. Several nuclear safety organizations, including the Portsmouth-based Seacoast Anti-Pollution League, have been granted intervener status in the Seabrook license extension process creating the need for such a hearing.

“This ongoing groundwater infiltration and weakening of the plant foundations doesn’t sound good, considering that it is only about one-third of the way through its prospective life,” said Doug Bogen, executive director of SAPL after the May 23 report was issued. “This is exactly the kind of problem we’re concerned about as the plant enters its middle and old age, and it doesn’t bode well for future safety and reliability if the problem worsens in coming years.”…

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110719-NEWS-107190336

July 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA