Hurricane Sandy: Contact Beyond Nuclear for insight on reactor vulnerability
October 29, 2012 As Hurricane Sandy lashes the east coast of the US, concerns have been raised about the status of both operating and shut down nuclear power plants in its path. In the light of the devastating effects of the tsunami on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors in Japan, there remain many questions about the capacity of U.S. plants to withstand severe weather impacts and potential loss of electrical power.
For reporters interested in knowing more about the risks faced by the public living around nuclear plants in the path of Sandy, and about the potential for technical failure at reactors, from malfunction to meltdown, Beyond Nuclear experts are available for interview and consultation.
Please contact:
Paul Gunter, Director of Reactor Oversight, 301.523.0201. Paul has expertise on all aspects of reactor operation and technical failures, as well as threats to public safety (including evacuation challenges.)
Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Specialist, 240.462.3216. Kevin has expertise on all aspects of radioactive waste, particularly the vulnerability of reactor fuel pools and onsite waste casks during severe weather events and loss of power at nuclear plants.
Bloomberg has listed the potentially affected reactors here.
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Bloomberg report with Kevin Kamps quoted, here. Businessweek quoted Kevin as well.
This morning, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman interviewed nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Associates in Burlington, VT about the safety risks to numerous atomic reactors and high-level radioactive waste storage pools in the path of Hurricane Sandy, especially concerning the likely "collapse" of the electric grid, coupled with any failure of emergency diesel generators. The interview is entitled "Nuclear Plants from Virginia to Vermont Could Be Impacted from Massive Hurricane Sandy."
On Oct. 28th, Fairewinds Energy Education's Podcast, featuring Kevin Hurley interviewing Arnie, began with an analysis of the atomic reactor and radioactive waste risks due to Hurricane Sandy.
Arnie emphasizes in his interviews that high-level radioactive waste storage pools lack emergency back up power. Reactors which happen to be shut down for re-fueling, such as Oyster Creek, NJ -- close to the center of Sandy's land fall -- have hot waste, recently discharged from the operating reactor core. Pools, often crammed full of high-level radioactive waste, can begin to boil within several hours once water circulation is lost due to loss of the electric grid. Although it might take days for the pool water to boil down to the top of the irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies, if that were to occur, a radioactive waste fire could start, not contained in radiological containment structures. Oyster Creek is a GE BWR Mark I, identical in design to Fukushima Daiichi Units 1-4.
While shutting down reactors before Hurricane Sandy's landfall, so that they can begin to cool down from full power thermal heat levels, is the responsible course of action by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear utilities, many reactors in the hurricane's path are still running at full power, according to NRC's website, as of 3:30 PM Eastern Monday, Oct. 29th, including: Calvert Cliffs 1 & 2 in MD, Hope Creek (another Mark I) & Salem 1 in NJ (Reuters has reported that Salem 1 & Hope Creek will likey shut down today, as hurricane wind speeds and Delaware River levels rise above allowable operating parameters), Indian Point 2 & 3 in NY, Limerick 1 & 2 in PA (Mark IIs, similar in design to Mark Is), Millstone 3 in CT, North Anna 1 & 2 in VA, Peach Bottom 2 & 3 in PA (both Mark Is), Pilgrim in MA (a Mark I), Surry 1 & 2 in VA, Susquehanna 2 (a Mark II) in PA (at 75% power), Three Mile Island 1 in PA, and Vermont Yankee (a Mark I).
A Reuters article, reprinted by Huffington Post, speculated whether high winds might also force reactors in Maryland and Pennsylvania to shut down. The Christian Science Monitor has reported that one of the two operating reactors at Millstone will be powered down to 75% power levels, to stabilize the electric grid against the risk of a sudden need to shut down the reactors completely. The Day of New London, CT confirmed the power down to 75% power level at Millstone Unit 3. A Dominion Nuclear spokesman explained "Unit 3 will be better able to handle any storm surges that could affect its intake water system at a lower power output." The article also reported that flood barriers had been installed.