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Watts Bar nuclear plants – a history of safety flaws

Guity’s reports showed that hundreds of cables had been installed incorrectly at Watts Bar. They demonstrate that the TVA cared very little about regulations…

 A fact-finding commission in the US Congress eventually investigated the entire process…..
The chairman of the congressional committee spoke of crass mismanagement and a “quagmire” of monumental proportions. The “historic disaster” consisted in the fact that the TVA, for cost reasons, had allegedly planned its nuclear plants incorrectly and built them in a defective manner.

Safety Concerns Cloud US Nuclear Renaissance, Spiegel Online, By Ullrich Fichtner,  21 July 11, Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan “…….. A nuclear engineer who was born in Iran in 1942, Guity is a disappointed American today. “Time bombs,” he says, sounding very bitter. “We are sitting on a bunch of ticking time bombs.”……. Continue reading →

July 21, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission rubber-stamps another nuclear plant re-licence

Hope Creek nuclear plant’s license extended to 2046, Newsworks, By Monika Zaleska, July 20, 2011  The Hope Creek nuclear plant in South Jersey’s Salem County can now operate until 2046. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the 1,060-megawatt plant’s license Wednesday.

A watchdog group, Unplug Salem, which is campaigning to close Hope Creek and the two nearby Salem plants, is not happy about the decision.

Norm Cohen, a group coordinator, claims the 25-year-old plant is out of date and unsafe. He says the state should move toward wind and solar energy instead of renewing nuclear licenses.

The Hope Creek reactor is the same model as the plant that melted down in Japan following the catastrophic tsunami and earthquake in the spring…….http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/23437

July 21, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Will the Nuclear Regulatory Commission relicense Fermi plant until 2045?

DTE seeks license extension for Fermi 2 nuke plant, DTE Energy has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow the company to operate the Fermi 2 nuclear plant until 2045, Michigan Messenger, By Eartha Jane Melzer | 07.21.11 

Fermi 2, located in Monroe County on Lake Erie, is a 1,140 megawatt plant that has the same GE Mark 1 design as the Fukushima, Japan power plant that melted down this spring following an earthquake and tsunami. Continue reading →

July 21, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Typhoon hazard to Japan’s nuclear power

a typhoon like Ma-On could be a huge blow to Japan……. also through the looming threat, again, to the country’s nuclear infrastructure…..What’s more, the shattered Fukushima plant may be so far gone that “insulating the facilities from the typhoon will be impossible,” ….If nothing else, the one-two punch of a tsunami and a typhoon may hasten Japan’s much called-for abandonment of nuclear power,….

Typhoon Tests Japan’s Nuclear Resolve, TIME, by , July 19, 2011 “…The typhoon is moving quickly north- and eastward, with sustained winds and gusts speeding along at 87 and 100 mph respectively. And quite a lot of that predicted rain – over 50mm, or 2 inches – has already hit Shikoku and Honshu islands. It’s still anyone’s guess whether or not the typhoon will lead to another national disaster — the most intense rainfall and strongest convection is still over the open ocean, and convection may be weakening because of warming cloud top temperatures and the movement of dry air

But that doesn’t mean the country shouldn’t be taking precautions: Continue reading →

July 21, 2011 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Whistleblower sceptical on safety of Tennessee nuclear plant

 You’ll have to pardon Ann Harris if she’s heard it all before. She’s won a record six whistle-blower lawsuits against Watts Bar over issues like millions of feet of faulty electrical cable, and says she’s paid a price for speaking out…..

VIDEO  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/19/earlyshow/main20080633.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody   Fukushima-type disaster inevitable in U.S.?, CBS News, Armen Keteyian, 19 July 11,   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was to meet Tuesday to discuss sweeping new safety recommendations, after having just finished inspecting all 104 U.S. nuclear plants in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster.

On “The Early Show,” CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian spotlighted one of those facilities’ post-Fukushima inspection reports.

Watts Bar, in Spring City, Tenn., is the last nuclear plant to be licensed in the U.S., and a textbook study of the pros and cons of nuclear power. It provides electricity to some 9 million people in seven states, yet is dogged with a long history of safety issues and whistle-blower lawsuits — including six by a 71-year-old great-grandmother named Ann Harris…. Continue reading →

July 21, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

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 | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Radioactive water leak closes New Jersey nuclear plant

NJ nuclear plant taken offline due to water leak  , LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TOWNSHIP, N.J. 16 JULY 11, The Salem 2 nuclear plant in southern New Jersey has been taken offline after a leak of low-level radioactive water developed during routine testing of an emergency cooling system…. it’s not known when the plant will return to service….http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9OGD6UG0.htm

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July 16, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Changes needed in USA nuclear reactors, says govt panel

Govt panel: Changes needed at U.S. nuclear plants. Salon.com, BY DINA CAPPIELLO, 14 July 11 Calling the Japan nuclear disaster “unacceptable,” an expert task force convened by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concluded that nuclear power plants in the U.S. need better protections for rare, catastrophic events.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommends 12 changes at domestic reactors to help prevent Fukushima repeat

The series of recommendations, included in portions of a 90-page report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, will reset the level of protection at the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors after the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl by making them better prepared for incidents that they were not initially designed to handle.

The report will be formally presented to the full commission next week. NRC staff will continue to examine the safety of nuclear power in the U.S. as part of a six-month investigation.

The panel will tell the commission that nuclear plant operators should be ordered to re-evaluate their earthquake and flood risk, add equipment to address simultaneous damage to multiple reactors and make sure electrical power and instruments are in place to monitor and cool spent fuel pools after a disaster……http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/07/14/us_japan_nuclear_safety_report

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July 14, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Investigations continue into radioactive leak from nuclear plant

Radioactive waste leaks at nuclear plant, Officials say no threat posed, but federal safety team continues to investigate, The State, South Carolina, By SAMMY FRETWELL , 12 July 11,

Federal nuclear safety inspectors are investigating a radioactive waste leak at SCE&G’s atomic power plant in Fairfield County.

An estimated 100 gallons of liquid waste spilled at the utility’s V.C. Summer plant, apparently from a pipe that leaked, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The discovery was made late last week.

State, federal and SCE&G officials say they have found no signs the material left the SCE&G nuclear plant or posed any threat to the public, but they are continuing to investigate….Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2011/07/12/1894714/radioactive-waste-leaks-at-nuclear.html#ixzz1RtIakhMk

 

July 12, 2011 Posted by | safety | Leave a comment

Taiwanese government not taking nuclear risks seriously

Nuclear safety inaction panned, By Lee I-chia  Taipei Times   Staff Reporte, 12 July 11, Four months after a powerful earthquake and tsunami sparked a crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan, environmental protection activists yesterday said the Taiwanese government remained flippant about nuclear safety.

RISKS:The former head of an anti-nuclear group said problems could occur at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant given a lack of experienced engineers working there.

During a press conference at the legislature, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said that if an earthquake of similar magnitude occurred in Taiwan, the operating power plants might be unable to withstand the impact and catastrophe might ensue at tremendous cost to society.

There are 108 schools located within a 20km radius of the Jinshan, Guosheng and Fourth Nuclear Power Plants in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Shihmen (石門), Wanli (萬里) and Gongliao (貢寮) districts respectively, Tien said.

“If something goes wrong at any one of the three plants, many schools will face total evacuation,” she said…..http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/12/2003508030

July 12, 2011 Posted by | safety, Taiwan | Leave a comment

USA’s new nuclear regulations will take years to be developed

Analysis: After Fukushima, glacial change seen for U.S. nuclear, (Reuters) 11 July 11, – The U.S. nuclear industry this week gets its first peek at a roadmap for new regulations that ultimately could cost it billions in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi disaster.

But the bottom-line impact of Fukushima on the U.S. fleet of 104 reactors could take most of the next decade to calculate.

Most expect Tuesday’s report from a task force of senior staff members at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be just the first step in years of deliberations and rule-makings…….

The last time the NRC did this kind of regulatory soul-search — after the September 11, 2001, attacks — it took a decade to get the entire plan in place. Continue reading →

July 11, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Japan’s nuclear reactors could be all shut down by May 2012

Japan May Have No Nukes Operating By 2012, Says Bloomberg, Barron’s, July 8 2011, By Tiernan Ray, Interesting article by Bloomberg’s Tsuyoshi Inajima and Chisaki Watanabe this morning about Japan perhaps dumping all nukes by May of next year.

Two thirds of Japan’s nuclear reactors have been shut down since the earthquake and resultant tsunami in March, the authors write. Now, stress tests ordered by the government this week on various reactors are causing delays to the resumption of operations at plants.

“The remaining operating units in Japan, the world’s third- biggest user of nuclear power, must be idled by May next year, according to schedules provided to Bloomberg by Kyushu Electric, Shikoku Electric, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Kansai Electric Power Co. and the other power companies,” write Inajima and Watanabe….http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2011/07/08/japan-may-have-no-nukes-operating-by-2012-says-bloomberg/?mod=google_news_blog

July 9, 2011 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

$1 Billion emergency response plan for USA nuclear industry ?

Representative Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, has faulted U.S. oversight of reactor safety. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, have called on the NRC to examine nuclear power plants located in areas of seismic activity. In June, rising waters of the Missouri River in Nebraska threatened to breach flood walls protecting two nuclear plants.

Nuke industry weighing $1B emergency response plan, Fuel Fix, By Brian Wingfield, 8 July 11 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. nuclear-power industry is considering a $1 billion plan that would create regional centers to store equipment for delivery to reactors within 24 hours of an emergency.  Continue reading →

July 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Perry Nuclear Plant may not be operating safely

Perry Nuclear Plant facing possible safety violations, The investigation into an April incident at Perry Nuclear Power Plant in North Perry Village has the plant facing a possible safety violation., News Herald,  July 09, 2011, 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng said preliminary findings indicate numerous missteps were taken on April 21 when workers removed a neuron monitor from a reactor………Mitlyng said the potential violation follows a series of indications that the plant may not be operating as safely as possible.

“Perry has had issues with human performance which for 31⁄2 years they have not been able to resolve.”…http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/07/09/news/nh4230128.txt?viewmode=2

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July 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Training US nuclear staff for nuclear calamities

At U.S. Nuclear Reactors, Crews Train For The Worst, 5 July 11NPR, by RICHARD HARRIS..…..”…….— Berry says reactor operators in these training scenarios can respond to some pretty intense crises, on the scale even of Fukushima. But David Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer at a watchdog group called the Union of Concerned Scientists, says he’s skeptical that the mess in Japan could have been prevented, given the real-world conditions there….

He adds that you can’t truly simulate the kind of crisis response we saw at Fukushima, where a lot of the action took place outside the control rooms. Workers scrambled around to try to read dials, fix electrical circuits and struggle with stalled pumps. And he adds training might not be enough when a crew is confronting not only severe conditions but simultaneous crises at multiple reactors.

“Fukushima showed us that we could have an across-the-board situation where all the reactors are in jeopardy and there’s no on-site cavalry that can come running to the aid of the accident unit,” Lochbaum says.

He adds that overall, the U.S. training system is an important element of emergency preparedness. But it’s no guarantee that crews here can handle anything and everything thrown their way.http://www.npr.org/2011/07/06/137633351/at-u-s-nuclear-reactors-crews-train-for-the-worst

July 6, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

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