nuclear-news

Three months later, flood problems keep nuclear reactor closed

In the midst of record flooding on the Missouri River, the NRC’s Kriss Kennedy says, “It’s not clear what we’re going to see when the waters recede.” Kennedy added, “There’s a potential long-term impact on the equipment.”

The size and scope of the “2011 Flood” is not lost on OPPD. According to John Herman, the public utility’s Director of Nuclear Engineering, the “duration of the flooding is unprecedented in the nuclear industry.”

The nuclear plant has been shut down for nearly three months. According to the NRC it won’t be allowed back on-line until it passes several rigorous safety inspections.

While a full-scale damage assessment is still a ways off, OPPD is already aware of problems. Herman says some warning sirens in the flooded areas are “out of service.”

The concerns at Fort Calhoun come at the same time an NRC Task Force is recommending a dozen safety steps, aimed at natural disasters such as flooding, that are likely to impact all 104 of the country’s nuclear facilities.

Among the possible changes are emergency plans which are able to cope with prolonged power blackouts. The study argues for among other things “equipment, procedures and training to keep the core and spent fuel pool cool at least 72 hours.”…

http://missouri-news.org/midwest-news/nebraska/oppd-duration-of-2011-flood-unprecedented-in-nuclear-industry/7068

July 28, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA