NRC approves cannibalization, then resurrection, of TVA's Bellefonte reactor

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (well, actually, that far back, it would have been NRC's predecessor agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, or AEC) approved construction of the Tennessee Valley Authority's Bellefonte atomic reactor in 1974. But by 1988 TVA had decided to abandon the largely built project. By 2005, TVA decided to cannibalize Bellefonte for parts for its other atomic reactors throughout the Southeast, which NRC also approved. But then TVA changed its mind by 2008, deciding instead to try to resurrect Bellefonte. NRC approved this flipflop as well. Is it safe or wise to attempt, after 43 years, to complete an atomic reactor that has already been partially dismantled?!

On August 10th, 2011, Fairewinds Associates published a report commissioned by Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) regarding the Tennessee Valley Authority's proposal to attempt to resurrect the long abandoned nuclear power plant project at Bellefonte, Alabama. Arnie Gundersen summarizes his report in a video posted on the Fairewinds website. SACE published a media release, which includes a link to the full report by Gundersen.

NRC slaps FirstEnergy for safety violation at Perry

NRC file photo of FirstEnergy's Perry atomic reactor on Lake Erie shore northeast of ClevelandThe Plain Dealer of Cleveland has reported that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has cited the FirstEnergy nuclear utility with a "white finding" of "low to moderate" safety significance after four contract workers were briefly exposed to high radiation levels due to poorly written procedures involving a task near the reactor core. The article quotes Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps: "Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste specialist at Beyond Nuclear, a group opposed to nuclear energy, said Perry's problems are not as isolated from Davis-Besse's past problems as one would think. 'All the hooting and hollering about the need to improve FirstEnergy's 'safety culture' after the Davis-Besse hole-in-the-head fiasco of 2002 comes to mind,' he said. 'Apparently that 'safety culture' isn't as fixed as FirstEnergy and even the NRC would like the public to believe.' "

FirstEnergy's Davis-Besse nuclear power plant came closer than any other U.S. reactor since the Three Mile Island meltdown of 1979 to a major accident, due to severe corrosion of its reactor lid. Beyond Nuclear, in coalition with Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwest Ontario, Don't Waste Michigan, and the Green Party of Ohio, has won standing and the admittance of several contentions against the 20 year license extension sought by FirstEnergy at Davis-Besse.

NRC In Action versus NRC Inaction

In a video entitled "Why Fukushima Can Happen Here: What the NRC and Nuclear Industry Dont Want You to Know" posted at the Fairewinds Associates website, nuclear engineers Dave Lochbaum of Union of Concerned Scientists and Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds explain what went wrong at Fukushima Daiichi, then show how similar catastrophes can happen right here in the U.S., not only in General Electric boiling water reactors of the Mark 1 containment design, but in any atomic reactor. A common refrain in Lochbaum's presentation is "NRC In Action," versus "NRC Inaction." He called on the agency -- charged with protecting public health, safety and the environment -- to do its job, and enforce safety and security regulations, rather than allow the nuclear power industry to violate regulations for decades on end. The event, sponsored by C-10 and other environmental groups, took place in June 2011 at the Boston Public Library.

NRC, Entergy reach agreement on quality assurance, retaliation against workers for raising safety concerns

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a media release, "NRC ISSUES CONFIRMATORY ORDER TO ENTERGY WITH ACTIONS TO IMPROVE QUALITY CONTROL AND EMPLOYEE CONCERNS PROGRAMS." NRC and Entergy Nuclear have reached agreement, through a "neutral mediator," regarding safety significant quality assurance practices, as well as resolving allegations by workers that Entergy retaliates against them for raising safety concerns. NRC refers to this "neutral mediation" as its "Alternative Dispute Resolution process." Why the federal regulatory agency charged with protecting public health, safety, and the environment had to undergo "neutral mediation" with Entergy, rather than simply cracking down on the licensee's safety and workplace violations, is not explained. The agreement applies at 11 atomic reactors owned and operated by Entergy: Arkansas Nuclear One Units 1 and 2, James Fitzpatrick (NY), Grand Gulf (MS), Indian Point Units 2 and 3 (NY), Palisades (MI), Pilgrim (MA), River Bend (LA), Vermont Yankee, and Waterford 3 (LA).

Markey urges NRC to have stronger safety regulations on emergency diesel generators after yesterday's failure at North Anna

Markey (D-MA) is top Democrat on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, and a senior Member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.Ed Markey (Democrat-Massachusetts), who truly has been "Congress’ leading voice for nuclear safety" for a 35 years, has documented that yesterday's emergency diesel generator failure at North Anna nuclear power plant was the 74th such failure in the U.S. over just the past 8 years. Markey issued a media release, with links to his full letter to NRC Chairman Jaczko calling for strengthened safety regulations on emergency diesel generators, as well as a link to his report entitled "Fukushima Fallout," on the remarkable failure rate of these vital safety systems. In late March, Markey introduced legislation to upgrade U.S. nuclear safety regulations in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. He has called for a suspension of NRC licensing activities until post-Fukushima "lessons learned" and safety upgrades can be implemented. And he has blasted NRC Commissioners Svinicki, Magwood, and Ostendorff for footdragging, while praising NRC Chairman Jaczko for calling for expedited action, regarding implementation of the NRC "Near Term Task Force" Fukushima policy recommendations.