nuclear-news

USA’s aging nuclear power plants in need of monitoring

Expert: “There’s another nuclear disaster” if operators aren’t able to connect temporary equipment in flooding http://enenews.com/expert-theres-another-nuclear-disaster-if-operators-arent-able-to-connect-temporary-equipment-in-flooding  November 1st, 2012
 Title: U.S. nuclear energy safety questioned
Source: UPI
Author: LINYI ZHANG
Date: Nov. 1, 2012

The United States is headed toward a major nuclear disaster unless the government closely monitors aging power plants, safety advocates and activists said. […]

Tuesday’s historic hurricane brought the issue into sharp focus as Oyster Creek nuclear station — one of the oldest nuclear plants adjacent to the Oyster Creek in New Jersey using Mark I boiling water reactor [identical to the containment vessels used at Fukushima Daiichi] — declared an alert because of high water levels. The plant experienced power disruption but backup diesel fuel was able to provide power for cooling.

But experts said if future events become more severe, under-designed protections might fail. […]

If operators aren’t able to connect temporary equipment in flooding, “there’s another nuclear disaster,” said Dave Lochbaum, director of the nuclear safety program of Union of Concerned Scientists, a nuclear oversight group. […]

November 3, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA