Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station: Flood Berm Collapses At Nebraska Nuke Plant

OMAHA, Neb. — A berm holding back floodwater at a Nebraska nuclear power plant has collapsed.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the 2,000-foot berm at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station collapsed about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

There is no danger. The plant has been shut down since early April for refueling, and the commission says there's no water inside.

Also, the Missouri River isn't expected to rise past the flood level the plant was designed to handle.

The NRC says its inspectors were at the plant when the berm failed and have confirmed that the flooding has had no impact on the reactor shutdown cooling or the spent fuel pool cooling. NRC spokesman Victor Dricks says the plant remains safe.

NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko will visit the plant Monday.

Comments

[vmf211]

01:17 PM on 07/01/2011

Salem 1 and 2 just got their licences renewed today.
It's a great day for salem county and the usa's power industy and a bad day for the tree hugging hippie anti nuclear cheerleading liberals.

[GeorgeMilquetoast]

12:17 AM on 06/29/2011

I would have responded to this in-line, but the thread was far enough down-line that direct response was impossible, and the poster is essentially off-line.

======

ToniKD
Commented 10 hours ago in Green
972
246
“I keep coming across your comments hours too late, George, but did want to follow up on this one.

As I understand it, ion-exchan­ge resins used to process high-activ­ity contaminat­ed water would pick up an array of nasty isotopes. So those resins would then be fairly hot radwaste, containing high-curie­-count content with half-lives up to thousands of years.

Is that the kind of waste that will be generated at Fukushima? Or am I way off base here?”

======

ToniKD, your understanding is 100% correct. This radwaste would then need to be entombed using the "normal" process, but there is going to be a lot of it due to all the nasties that the Daiichi fuel has released and is releasing.

[ToniKD]

02:24 PM on 06/29/2011

Thanks for the response George. Yes, I'm only online sporadically, but I try to check in here every day.

"Normal process" meaning burial in a LLW dump? Or the Japanese equivalent?

[GeorgeMilquetoast]

10:22 PM on 06/29/2011

I think that highly-loaded degraded resins due to all the defective total dissolved solids from melted fissile material would qualify for high level waste, and not low level waste. Fukushima Daiichi is a horrible mess with regard to radwaste processing.

[outnow]

11:47 AM on 06/28/2011

That a single duffus can rupture a condom and end all Western Civilization, or a skipper with no radar can destroy Prince Williams Bay In Alaska, or that people in foreign countries (Egypt) can fail to oversee plant safety, or BP ignores warnings and drills too close to the wrong formation, reveals that nature and human error cannot be eliminated no matter what. Nuclear energy is not idiot-proof and the nuclear engineers have to rely on others. These others do not understand seismology or climate changes on the planet.

Any good system is totally, not partially, immune from nature's extremes and is totally, not partially, idiot-proof. Nuclear power can never satisfy either of those crteria.

If I drive erratically, I will not end the world as we know it, so no driving analogies please.

Years ago we needed to shift into solar and hydrogen technologies while we still could.

A wildfire or two can also bring about our own demise.

[Chopin]

01:50 PM on 06/28/2011

Given the rapidly expanding and shifting regional wildfires year after year,
and the expanding and rising levels of regional floods year after year,
it's merely a matter of time (maybe a year or two) before multiple nuclear plants are overwhelmed, and pushed into meltdowns. All our discussions here would diminish to mindless insignificance in the face of uncontainable nuclear tragedies, during this summer's raging fires, or next spring's raging floods.

Americans can learn from the German nuclear decision, the "Arab spring", and the Wisconsin winter, and make it an "American summer", a summer of raging fires of discontent, in the best tradition of the founding spirit, over preventable tragedies, imposed suffering, ... and the long list goes on. The 21st century Paul Revere would be shouting the alarm, on the internet:--

"The meltdowns are coming, the meltdowns are coming !"

[mutantchickenlegs]

03:04 PM on 06/28/2011

Still love your clarity of thought and written word. Hope your world is well, besides, well you know. Me no goody with those letter thingys.
;) peace

[maab76]

03:53 PM on 06/28/2011

Sounding an alarm does little good if noone will listen or actually "hear." Must we re-cycle or paraphrase the "end of the world" description most have read in the bible?

There was a series of videos within the 10 years following WW II which showed the results of inadequate nourishment, developmental psychology, and a raft of other problems created when inadequate sustenances were present. Will try to get the list from my college, now university, to share. Most thought provoking.

[Atoms4Peace1]

06:36 PM on 06/28/2011

One bullet started WWI and changed history forever.

Never say never. Plants are not designed to "extremes" that would be too costly. Right now because of global warming, there are more extremes emerging.

Increasing nuclear will decrease extremes and thus help nuclear in the long run.

If you drive and die its on you but you also might take someone with you who does not volunteer, case in point the bicyclist that died when a woman on her cell phone hit him. He was my friend.

Stop monday morning quarterbacking. If you want a nuclear free country, go live in Germany and suck up the soot.

[mutantchickenlegs]

08:39 PM on 06/28/2011

So let 'em flood, what's a few more dead from nuclear, right?

[CaptD]

10:01 PM on 06/28/2011

Another ORDER from A4Baloney1

[mutantchickenlegs]

06:16 AM on 06/28/2011

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110627/NEWS01/706279901/36

More updated story,Gee these nuclear engineers are brillant, a giant water balloon. Just look at the past page of comments, what a joke.

[mutantchickenlegs]

06:42 AM on 06/28/2011

"Because of the collapsed water-filled dam, river water surrounds the main reactor building, mechanical building, spent fuel pool building and other structures."

" When the dam ruptured, it allowed floodwater to fill in around the plant to a depth of more than two feet, said OPPD spokesman Jeff Hanson."

"Two outside lines of defense against flooding failed Sunday at Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station, shifting the plant to backup electricity for 12 hours"
And according to a NRC filing they lost 55 gallon drums of fuel washed away by the river.

[CaptD]

11:18 AM on 06/28/2011

Lets store the fuel drums where the flood water can cary them away.
Nuclear Safety Planning!

[vmf211]

10:54 AM on 06/29/2011

Why is it a joke.
The wter dam had worked perfectly until some stupid worker did it to the dam but until that time it had done what it was designed to do.

[outnow]

11:06 PM on 06/27/2011

Until the smoke clears on the nature and extent of the Fukushima meltdowns and the ultimate effects on human health, why don't we just separate. There is no use to have friction when we are all equally endangered. We had similar debates on asbestos, tobacco, Agent Orange, etc. with each industry concealing harmful information to increase profits despite documented health concerns. They jockey the government buying off regulators and Congress whenever possible.

Reactors are more like landmines scattered around in third and first world populations where oftentimes there is no real oversight. The problem of nuclear waste will probably never be solved.

The climate is changing all over the earth just as it has for the past 10,000 years, although the rate of change may be increasing. Earthquakes are increasing in many zones. What we thought we knew was not entirely correct. Placing reactors on top of earthquake faults and in flood plains and tsunami zones represents unreasonable risk IMHO.

Oil wars, as suggested by Professor Klare in his recet article is the natural and probable result of resource competition. Fracking and deepsea drilling are also hazardous.

Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Curt Stager, "Deep Future:The next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth," and Jared Diamond's works about the collapse of empires should be consulted.

We are at a crossroads on this little planet and its does not look good from my standpoint.

[Atoms4Peace1]

11:35 PM on 06/27/2011

We will continue to harness energy from the atom. This event in Japan only strenghtens our resolve to reverse what Clinton did - kill safe nuclear R&D and waste recycling.

This subject matter is approached from two different sides. Those that tie the nuclear weapons to peaceful energy are doomed to spin radiation effects that just are not there for low doses even under the unforseen circumstances.

This planet is fragile. If we want to reverse the damage inflicted on the planet by fossile, while meeting ever increasing electricity demand point to nuclear.

This is a paradigm shifter which may see IFR and LFTR emerge as a compromise to appease those that are fearful of the current brand of technology.

[barrada nicto]

04:34 AM on 06/28/2011

So little truth it's hard to know where to start.

[Chopin]

11:53 PM on 06/27/2011

Outstanding summary of state of global community.

Regardless of how much information people have, every individual and community sooner or later have to come together and take a side and take a stand. People will have to choose between the dominant corporate "profit maximization at any cost" model today, or the "sovereignty of people and humanity above all else" model.

Today's corporate model is targetting planet Earth for self-destruction for short-term profits. The two sides are struggling and competing for control over human destiny and future of our Earth planetary habitat. It's the only one we've got, and there's no second chance after extinction.

[outnow]

09:18 AM on 06/28/2011

Thanks. Our founder did not allow corporate charters because of the abuses of the British East India Company. The British used mercenaries and the Bank of England used fractional reserve banking. The Revolution broke out after the Colonies could not use their own currency as they had done in the Massachusetts Colonies under Cotton Mather.

The War of 1812 was ended only when the US allowed the Bank to metastasize. You see who controls the US. It isn't the People.

[Atoms4Peace1]

06:58 PM on 06/27/2011

The College World Series resumes tonight in Omaha Nebraska, where all of you are up in arms over.

I am rooting for the underdog, South Carolina. Go c cks!

[PeaceLoveLaughter]

07:27 PM on 06/27/2011

People have reason to be "up in arms".

There is a very serious situation happening there right now.

[Atoms4Peace1]

07:58 PM on 06/27/2011

The only people up in arms in Omaha are those that will be doing the "wave" at the TD Ameritrade Park tonight.

[Atoms4Peace1]

06:26 PM on 06/27/2011

Some things about Fort Calhoun - RM says "there is no such thing as containment spray"

Page 2-25


http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0110/ML011020202.pdf


The containment spray system is independent from the containment air cooling and filtering unit for the containment cooling function."5' For the limiting Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) scenario, one of the three spray pumps would limit the containment pressure to below the design value without taking credit for the air coolers or the cooling capacity of the safety injection system. 61(7) For the limiting Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) scenario, a heat removal contribution is credited from the air coolers in the mitigation of containment peak pressure.7) Credit is taken for iodine removal by the containment spray system.

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:31 PM on 06/27/2011

It is unacceptab­­le to call others a shill, liar, misanthrop­­e, nuclear cheerleade­­r or other pejorative term. This falls under the HP ad hominem rule.

I have been civil and do not want to block any of you especially those that wish me ill will.

[srheard]

06:39 PM on 06/27/2011

Atoms, I agree you've been civil and I thank you for that. But, while I've got your ear, can you tell me about what will happen if there is a significant earthquake at the Savannah River Site? That seems like the worst of the worst case scenarios, and a likely one over the next 50-100 years. Thanks.

[Atoms4Peace1]

07:10 PM on 06/27/2011

Having did a rotation at SRS, I can say that its pretty spread out real estate wise. What could happen in the canyons may not happen at the old reactor sites and vice versa. Some of the office buildings and trailers could get hit hard. The proposed MOX plant will be built to withstand a very large quake.

I believe they are designing a seismic induced nuclear criticality out of the facilty. Even so, a criticality accident at the MOX plant would have very limited range beyond the SRS boundary. I believe all the facilities Documented Safety Analysis specify 1 rem (10 mSv dose at the site boundary).

Even though I think the possibility of a very large earthquake for Augusta/Aiken is remote, I believe that SRS will be able to handle it for the site facilities. They have their own response teams.

The town might not fare as well. I would be worried about the North Augusta Travelers preying on people. That would be my biggest concern.

[Silken17]

08:11 PM on 06/27/2011

You've been extremely civil in spite of the routine attacks. Yesterday I was attacked with my first post of the morning and I lost it. I'm still p*ssed off. I'm amazed at the pathology of the majority opinion here and the blatant disregard for the posting rules, especially the one forbidding attempts to derail or bait someone into an emotional response. They act as though they own this forum and no one with a differing opinion has a right to be here.....now let's see if they can let this post stand or will they have to act on it.....

[CaptD]

10:55 PM on 06/27/2011

Get a grip on yourself and stop petting your cat...
You have crossed the line both ways often...
yet HP has let you remain
... so no cry baby issues now Please...
Try posting some helpful info instead!

Hint, what do we stand to lose if the wildfires really damage LANL?

[SLS11]

04:49 PM on 06/28/2011

Good grief! The victim card again? I admit that you have at times been civil, at other times, however, you have been incredibly insulting to a number of posters here.
Your manipulative "poor me, I was insulted and I lost it" routine is not going to find much sympathy.

[Putty Pants]

05:24 PM on 06/27/2011

let's see climate change is not happening and nulear power is safe. I've got swamp land in florida to sell you for development...Oh that's right we're already building there. Our hubris is killing us. Maybe faster than we all think!!! Everyone says just ignore what's happening and enjoy life...so we should all fiddle while Rome burns. Oh such a good idea! Great problem solving idea...

[vmf211]

08:25 PM on 06/27/2011

Well Disney world was built on a swamp so there you go !

[CaptD]

11:02 PM on 06/27/2011

And Japan is built on Nuclear Baloney
and the threatened reactors are built in a flood plain,
there you go!

[barrada nicto]

04:21 AM on 06/28/2011

And Fukushima wasn't built on the required bedrock. That's why it hasn't been covered up yet.

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:42 AM on 06/28/2011

Your hubris maybe. Not mine. I know my limitations. Im the R&D 100 innovator in this crowd, not you.

[SLS11]

04:37 PM on 06/27/2011

Hey Atoms4Peace1, found this youtube video of you!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c33NOUfph7Y

[Atoms4Peace1]

04:58 PM on 06/27/2011

Found one of you

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEkWH8DB7b0

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:06 PM on 06/27/2011

Childish.

[Disappointed Democrat]

11:08 PM on 06/27/2011

Your ad hominem attacks and judgments are meaningless.

As a nuclear zealot you simply have no credibility here.

[Atoms4Peace1]

04:36 PM on 06/27/2011

Here is an opportunity for everyone - FREE ONLINE WEBCAST

Nuclear Fallout in the U.S. - Live Webcast

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. ET

http://www.amu.apus.edu/lp/webcast/fallout

[mutantchickenlegs]

04:57 PM on 06/27/2011

www.youranus ???????

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:55 PM on 06/27/2011

Are you going to log in? You might find it educational.

[Atoms4Peace1]

04:09 PM on 06/27/2011

R&D Magazine, the periodical that brings the R&D 100 Awards, or the "Oscars of Invention" puts out daily briefings on new innovative techologies.

Here is one for today:

Scientists pioneer nanoscale nuclear materials testing capability

http://tinyurl.com/4374bem


Nuclear power is a major component of our nation's long-term clean-energy future, but the technology has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of Japan's recent Fukushima disaster. Indeed, many nations have called for checks and "stress tests" to ensure nuclear plants are operating safely.

In the United States, about 20% of our electricity and almost 70% of the electricity from emission-free sources, including renewable technologies and hydroelectric power plants, is supplied by nuclear power. Along with power generation, many of the world’s nuclear facilities are used for research, materials testing, or the production of radioisotopes for the medical industry. The service life of structural and functional material components in these facilities is therefore crucial for ensuring reliable operation and safety.

Now scientists at Berkeley Lab, the Univ. of California at Berkeley, and Los Alamos National Laboratory have devised a nanoscale testing technique for irradiated materials that provides macroscale materials-strength properties. This technique could help accelerate the development of new materials for nuclear applications and reduce the amount of material required for testing of facilities already in service.

[mutantchickenlegs]

04:59 PM on 06/27/2011

one of those is burnig down, little slow sow are ya?

[Atoms4Peace1]

06:28 PM on 06/27/2011

It burnt down in 2000 as well. It will spread of course to the homes in the area.

[vmf211]

08:30 PM on 06/27/2011

It's not a commercial nuclear plant.

[SLS11]

05:00 PM on 06/27/2011

I think you are more likely to find achievement here:

http://www.darwinawards.com/

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:57 PM on 06/27/2011

For your side. I liked the one of the guy that laid out on the microwave dish wanting to get a sun tan. Lovely

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:58 PM on 06/27/2011

I have an R&D 100. Are you vying for a Darwin Award? You have to leave the planet for that one.

[Atoms4Peace1]

03:49 PM on 06/27/2011

The difference between the picture above and the Fukushima Di-ichi picture at full tsunami is that if the same tsunami level were to hit Ft Calhoun, the water level would be half way up maybe further up the front building.

Google Map of Ft Calhoun (dry). Looks like it flooded some parking lots and thats about it.

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/fort-calhoun-nuclear-generating-station/view/?service=0

[mutantchickenlegs]

04:12 PM on 06/27/2011

you are not very smart are you?

[Atoms4Peace1]

04:39 PM on 06/27/2011

I am smarter than the average bear, and mutant chicken

[mutantchickenlegs]

04:15 PM on 06/27/2011

Glad you are here, now can short some uranium stocks because you are alway wrong and I make money off your dummbo S antor um spewings.

[Atoms4Peace1]

04:40 PM on 06/27/2011

I am glad you are shorting uranium. It keeps the action going. At least you are learning about uranium futures.

[eco124]

03:13 PM on 06/27/2011

Foreign news sites have been reporting on the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station for quite a while,
why is this only now showing up in the US? Was there a media blackout?

[mutantchickenlegs]

01:07 PM on 06/27/2011

When someone tells you how safe nuclear is, first question their IQ (and sanity). Then motivation­s. Then might want to bring up todays NRC Event Notificati­ons
http://www­.nrc.gov/r­eading-rm/­doc-collec­tions/even­t-status/e­vent/en.ht­ml

It's not that safe.

[Neets101]

03:04 PM on 06/27/2011

NRC site proclaims "page not found"

/nothing to see here citizens, move along now...

pssst... zardoz again?

[Aaron Aarons]

04:08 PM on 06/27/2011

The link as given includes some non-printing characters that mess it up. I hope that HuffPost's comment software doesn't mess this one up:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/en.html

[Neets101]

03:05 PM on 06/27/2011

Would this help?

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/

[mutantchickenlegs]

03:41 PM on 06/27/2011

Sorry, I had already read it. Link be funky sometimes. :)