As a native San Franciscan, I know firsthand the destructive power earthquakes can have on lives, property and critical infrastructure.
Luckily this week's 5.8 magnitude earthquake, with an epicenter in Virginia, caused minimal damage and thankfully no loss of life.
The earthquake did cause two nuclear reactors at the North Anna Nuclear Power Plant in central Virginia to lose power, requiring the deployment of back-up diesel generators.
The incident was a stark reminder of how vulnerable America's nuclear power plants are to natural disasters.
Uninterrupted electricity is essential for nuclear safety. Without electricity, nuclear power plants are unable to pump cooling water through reactor cores and spent fuel pools to prevent overheating and fuel melting.
Without power, plant operators cannot control reactor activity or remotely monitor spent fuel.
It was the loss of electrical power that led to the partial-meltdown of multiple reactors, significant radiation release and damage to the spent fuel pools at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan after the devastating 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March.
Nuclear power provides 20 percent of our nation's energy and 70 percent of the zero-carbon electricity in the United States.
Nuclear has a future in our country's energy mix, but we must ensure that our domestic plants are designed to both endure the threats we can foresee and respond to scenarios we never imagined.
Shortly after the disaster in Japan, I visited California's two nuclear power plants--San Onofre and Diablo Canyon -- to review safety protocols. Both of these plants are similar to the North Anna plant in Virginia.
I have also reviewed reports issued by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Nuclear Waste and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Task Force on the disaster in Japan.
These expert reports, the recent East Coast earthquake and my own experiences provide the following lessons:
First, our country needs a comprehensive, national policy to address the management of spent fuel, the radioactive waste produced while generating electricity by fission.
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act required the federal government to begin storing nuclear waste on a long-term basis in 1998. In reality, radioactive spent fuel is today stored at reactor sites -- at enormous taxpayer expense -- because there is no current alternative to this system. The liability for this de facto permanent storage will cost taxpayers more than $15 billion through 2020.
In California, radioactive waste continues to await federal pickup at two sites, even though the reactors are decommissioned. At our two active reactors, spent fuel removed from reactors in 1984 is still cooling in wet spent fuel pools.
In Japan, there were no problems with the hardened dry casks that stored spent fuel without need for electricity. But there were major problems with spent fuel pools, which are very similar to fuel pools at U.S. reactors.
The tragedy in Japan proved that we desperately need to make on-site storage safer and find a way to remove stockpiled waste to safer, more secure regional sites.
Second, today's efforts to protect against seismic and flooding hazards may not be sufficient.
Japan's nuclear disaster earlier this year occurred because the earthquake and tsunami vastly exceeded the design parameters of the Daiichi reactors.
Virginia's reactors were designed to endure a 6.2 quake -- larger than what struck this week -- so safety systems functioned as designed.
Unfortunately, many U.S. reactors were built decades ago when we knew less about flooding, seismicity and other threats. But the NRC does not consider new information on threats -- including earthquakes -- when it relicenses nuclear plants. The NRC's own task force in July recommended that this policy be changed.
Third, we must improve the redundant safety systems to respond to disasters.
A prolonged blackout in Japan caused by the earthquake and tsunami degraded the ability to prevent and mitigate disaster.
In Virginia, no prolonged blackout occurred. Backup systems were required for less than 24 hours.
The NRC should work closely with plant operators to make sure nuclear power plants can safely cool fuel and monitor systems during a prolonged loss of electrical power.
Finally, for spent fuel stored at reactor sites, dry casks are safer and more secure than permanent storage in spent fuel pools.
A 2006 report by the National Academies of Science found that dry cask storage has inherent safety and security advantages over wet pool storage. Even with that knowledge, 50,000 metric tons of spent fuel is stored in pools throughout the country.
Thankfully, this week's earthquake caused little damage and nuclear plant backup safety systems worked as designed.
But the earthquake -- in an area of the country not known for the type of seismic activity that occurs on the Pacific Ocean's "ring of fire" -- is proof that Mother Nature can act whenever and wherever she wants.
If we are going to rely on nuclear power to generate energy, we must improve safety and establish a comprehensive, national policy to address the management of nuclear waste.
At present, we lack that national policy. The Virginia earthquake was thankfully not a Japan-style disaster. We need to learn the lessons we can to assure that next time we are ready -- not just lucky.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
David Ropeik: A Democratic Solution to the Problem of Nuclear Waste
There is no real way of getting 8 million people to safety or for us to insurance our homes and businesses should something happen. The worse is that many military families live right across the freeway from San Onofre. We as California Democrats need to take the lead and advocate for the closing of both San Onofre and Diablo Canyon. The risk to our citizens and economy are not worth the small amount of energy that is generated by these old dangerous and expensive plants.
“In Kansas City, Missouri, a local zoning fight is going nuclear, literally: A Monday-morning courtroom showdown between activists and politicians could determine whether the city becomes host to the world’s first privately owned nuclear weapons plant.
The proposed plant, a 1.5 million-square-foot, $673 million behemoth, would replace an aging facility, also in KC, where 85 percent (PDF) of the components for nation’s nuclear arms are produced. The new plant would be run by the same government contractor as the old one—Honeywell—and proponents say the only major change will be more jobs and city infrastructure. But there will be another big difference: The federal government will sublease the property from a private developer, who in turn will lease it from the city for 20 years…after which the developer will own it outright.” ….
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/nuclear-weapons-plant-kansas-city
I think people are having a snit not because its nonnuclear components, but for what it stands for. Its pure politics.
The model that KCP and Honeywell are putting forward is working at other DOE sites.
Looks like
AUGUST 31 2011
Fukushima Is Continually Blasting All Of Us With High Levels Of Cesium...
Strontium & Plutonium And Will Slowly K ill Millions For Years To Come
http://tinyurl.com/3szlqro
NUCLEAR RELEASES
http://www.senes.ca/japan/forecasts.html
Look out Northern USA and Canada
At least between today and 9/11/11
Fukushima's cesium leakage is trickling to a stop. Strontium and plutonium have not been detected in any signficant quantities offsite. There will be no impact on the health of the population from radiation exposure.
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08312011/648636
[...] Now the question is, did the quake damage the nuclear reactors, underground piping, or critical electrical equipment? What’s more, did the temblor’s intensity exceed North Anna’s design?
It’s not possible, with a multi-ton reactor, to simply crawl under the hood to check for damage. [...]
After Fukushima, but before the recent East Coast quake, the NRC began a review of U.S. nuclear plants and found a few “discrepancies” at North Anna including:
Portions of the water and gaseous suppression systems and hose stations are not seismically designed.
A fire-pump storage area is non-seismic.
Seismically designed floodwalls are located in the non-seismic turbine building.
To continue to use them without significant protective upgrades,
... Is taking a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster GAMBLE on EACH ONE!
Seems that people are trying to make some political hay now that their radar is up from Fukushima.
Hurricanes and earthquakes cross paths with nuclear plants all the time. Why is this one so different?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20843-fukushima-media-coverage-may-be-harmful.html
==========
Alarmist predictions that the long-term health effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan will be worse than those following Chernobyl in 1986 are likely to aggravate harmful psychological effects of the incident. That was the warning heard at an international conference on radiation research in Warsaw, Poland, this week.
One report, in UK newspaper The Independent, quoted a scientist who predicted more than a million would die, and that the prolonged release of radioactivity from Fukushima would make health effects worse than those from the sudden release experienced at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine.
"We've got to stop these sorts of reports coming out, because they are really upsetting the Japanese population," says Gerry Thomas at Imperial College London, who is attending the meeting. "The media has a hell of a lot of responsibility here, because the worst post-Chernobyl effects were the psychological consequences and this shouldn't happen again."
==========
As I have been saying all along.
... And the Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster damage they can cause.
It is the truth that US reactors ARE designed to a much lower standard than Japanese reactors; if and when a big Quake and or a Tsunami strikes here we will end up with what Japanese is are struggling to deal with, namely a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster!
... With factual HONEST news about this Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster,
... The Japanese people have much radiation TOO fear!
You can't one one hand "cast blame" on what you consider wild reporting,
... and at the same time condone N☢ reporting!
(Reuters) - Countries with atomic power plants would be encouraged to host international safety review missions, under a draft U.N. action plan that may disappoint those who had hoped for strong measures to prevent a repeat of Japan's nuclear crisis.
Seeking the middle ground between states advocating more binding global rules and others wanting to keep safety as a strictly national responsibility, the U.N. nuclear agency appears to have gradually watered down its own proposals.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/30/us-nuclear-safety-iaea-idUSTRE77T1MH20110830
Plant operators would have to update their evacuation estimates after every 10-year census, or when changes in population would increase the estimated time by at least 30 minutes.
The requirement was among several changes regulators approved regarding emergency preparedness. The changes came as the commission considered sweeping safety changes for the U.S. nuclear industry in response to the nuclear crisis in Japan.
The Associated Press reported in June that as America's 104 nuclear reactors have aged, the once-rural areas around them have become far more crowded and difficult to evacuate. By law, evacuations must be prepared for areas within about 10 miles of every nuclear plant, but many plans haven't kept up with changing populations, according to the AP investigation.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/08/30/nrc_update_evacuation_plans_near_nuclear_plants/
We just have not yet had a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster YET!
The Japanese thought the same way,
Now they know better!
The Public now knows what to expect when we have our first one!
Ask The Japanese!
Nuclear expertise leads to productivity. Antinuclear expertise seeks to destroy that which has been proven beneficial to mankind.
Nothing is without its downsides.
Tritium trouble? Nuke fears rise with quake, self-policing
http://www.readthehook.com/100493/tritium-trouble-did-quake-cause-radioactive-leak
The NRC announced that they have sent an augmented team to assist with the inspections at the North Anna nuclear plant. No major damage is being cited by the NRC, but they mention the ground motion may have exceeded the plant design.
Now people are beginning to question the NRC’s 2003 license extension allowing North Anna to operate for more than 20 years past the plant design life.
We have also determined that seismic automatic shutdown equipment is not mandatory in nuclear power plants. The installation mandate was dropped as a priority over the cost and man hours involved. We have so far not found a clear answer about North Anna and if it has a seismic shutdown system. The events during the shut down cite the loss of offsite power as the event that automatically shut down the reactors. This lead to questions about the existence of a seismic trip system at North Anna. To date Dominion Virginia has not responded to our emails asking about a seismic trip system. The only public comment made by Dominion to the media was that they have sent a seismic “black box” unit to the manufacturer to determine if the plant shook beyond design basis.
(More at link...ends with:)
"The stack of questions for the NRC to answer regarding the North Anna nuclear plant are piling up."
http://houseoffoust.com/group/?p=2490
THE GREAT AMERICAN LIE
We are all concerned with the loss of life in foreign wars. We are all concerned about being good honest people. But one wonders, when looking back in history, how the government could have made war against its own citizens who were existing peacefully?
I am referring to our history of the government abusing nuclear power – and lying to the citizens of the United States of America. While “most” of the catastrophes were accidental – the coverups and statements of untruth were not.
This could be a book in itself so let us state it is only going to be a quick summary of some of the greater lies. Google any of the incidents for reams of further information that has finally come forth.
http://thenuclearcatastrophe.blogspot.com/2011/08/great-american-lie.html
Ask The Japanese!
http://www.lutins.org/nukes.html#power
"3 January 1961
The world's first nuclear-related fatalities occurred following a reactor explosion at the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Three technicians, were killed, with radioactivity "largely confined" (words of John A. McCone, Director of the Atomic Energy Commission) to the reactor building. The men were killed as they moved fuel rods in a "routine" preparation for the reactor start-up. One technician was blown to the ceiling of the containment dome and impaled on a control rod. His body remained there until it was taken down six days later. The men were so heavily exposed to radiation that their hands had to be buried separately with other radioactive waste, and their bodies were interred in lead coffins. Another incident three weeks later (on 25 January) resulted in a release of radiation into the atmosphere.
24 July 1964
Robert Peabody, 37, died at the United Nuclear Corp. fuel facility in Charlestown, Rhode Island, when liquid uranium he was pouring went critical, starting a reaction that exposed him to a lethal dose of radiation.
Maldives: Ambassador Advocates Boeing And Windpower Sales
http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=07COLOMBO227#para-76273-1
Five realities of nuclear energy to reassure public
1.Eliminating nuclear energy is not realistic if we want to maintain our quality of life.
2.Day-to-day activities present a greater health threat than a local nuclear plant.
3.Nuclear power plants are constantly upgraded.
4.The amount of spent fuel is small and can be managed safely.
5.Nuclear plants have more government oversight than any other industry.
Honest questioning from concerned citizens regarding nuclear energy is understandable. A thinking society should continuously strive for accurate, credible validation of its technologies. As to the safety and security of U.S. nuclear plants, the facts are reassuring. I firmly believe that these - and other facts - should be the basis for any discussion on the future of nuclear energy here in America.
The rigor and comprehensiveness of nuclear safety oversight in the United States is extraordinary. Our licensing and regulatory process is studied and emulated worldwide.
Every nuclear power plant in the United States has multiple government inspectors on-site, year-round. They are top experts in the field and have unrestricted access to all vital areas of the plant, including plant records. In addition to these daily oversight activities, each plant frequently undergoes multiple evaluations and inspections that include detailed reviews of security, emergency planning, environmental protection, industrial safety, critical plant systems, plant culture and safety processes - all of which are aimed at ensuring the continued safe operation of these facilities.
We in America, have not yet had a Japanese style Natural EVENT YET!
It will happen, and when it does it too will cause a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster!
In the last few months we have seen a number of US reactor threatened and if the situation was a bit worse, then we would be in big trouble just like the Japanese!
We cannot afford a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster in America!
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110829003976.htm
snip
The number of inland quakes has not drastically increased, but the institute said the types of the quakes have clearly changed.
There have been huge quakes with shallow focal points below Tokyo and surrounding areas in the past. The 1923 magnitude-8 Great Kanto Earthquake occurred in southern Tokyo Bay.
The government's Central Disaster Management Council has maintained that magnitude-8 quakes will not occur in the near future. But the Great East Japan Earthquake has largely changed conventional thinking about the region's seismology.
Naoshi Hirata, a researcher at the institute and a member of the government's Earthquake Research Commitxtee, said, "If there is drastic plate movement, there is no guarantee that the scale of the quake will be in line with the government's prediction of up to magnitude 7.3.
"In addition to looking at the intervals of recurrence of Great Kanto Earthquake level quakes, it's necessary to review the predictions," he said.
TransCanada says their Keystone pipelines are the safest on the continent.
But what about those 12 spills in the past year? Since its operation began in June of 2010, the Keystone 1 pipeline has suffered more spills than any other 1st year pipeline in U.S. history, a track record which does not bode well for the proposed Keystone XL which tracks across one of the largest aquifers in the world – the Ogallala – which supplies drinking water to millions of mid-Westerners and provides 30% of the nation’s groundwater used for irrigation.
The Keystone pipeline map shows the spills documented in TransCanada's publicly released safety records alongside the proposed route for Keystone XL, indicating key risk areas near waterways and major metropolitan areas.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/keystone-pipeline-infographic_n_941069.html
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/canadian-oil-sands/kunzig-text
http://enenews.com/nrc-sending-special-inspection-team-to-quake-hit-virginia-nuke-plant-to-remain-on-site-for-weeks
The earthquake last Tuesday in Virginia may have produced stronger shaking at the North Anna nuclear plant than the reactors were designed to withstand, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sent additional inspectors to determine what steps are needed to determine if there is damage. [...]
Cases of reactors experiencing bigger ground motions than the designers had anticipated are rare, industry experts said.
The commission announced Monday that it was sending an “augmented inspection team,” which is expected to be on site for several weeks. Sending the team “should not be interpreted to mean that Dominion staff responded inappropriately or that the station is less safe as a result of the quake,” said Victor McCree, the commission’s administrator for the region that includes Virginia. [...]
The more inspectors the better!
Giving this reactor a COMPLETE inspection will benefit everyone!
This is a great chance to learn what happens when the "Design Basis" is exceeded by just a small amount; and will help indicate what might happen if it was exceed by even a much larger amount!
There are many forms of "Non Destructive" testing that they can use to check structural welding and concrete problems that are not visual to the naked eye!
When they compare there results with the same testing that the Japanese are hopefully doing they can determine which areas are most at risk and or any issues that need to be addressed immediately!
The FAA does this with all aircraft; once a problem is discovered, the Industry issues Safety Notices for the make and model aircraft so all operators of that aircraft can take the required steps to prevent further problems from happening to them!
Unlike an aircraft, Reactors cannot be moved out of harms way and they remain at the mercy of Nature anytime 24/7/365...
This is why all reactors can be destroyed by Nature, because Nature does not follow design spec's and or any building codes... Ask The Japanese!
Mother Nature can be a bit ch....esp with Plants.
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