On the 38th anniversary of the Browns Ferry near-disaster, another look at "Fire When NOT Ready" -- unaddressed fire risks at U.S. atomic reactors

A current discussion of fire risks at the Palisades atomic reactor in Michigan prompted Dave Lochbaum at UCS to share his 2008 report "Fire When NOT Ready," co-authored by Jim Warren of NC WARN and Beyond Nuclear's Paul Gunter.

Palisades' previous owner, Consumers Energy, admitted in 2006 that fire protection upgrades -- and many other major safety repairs -- were an expense too many, prompting it to sell the reactor to Entergy in 2007. However, over the past 6 six, Entergy has not carried out those fire protection upgrades (nor most of those other needed repairs).

Dave Lochbaum, who will speak about safety risks at Palisades during presentations in west Michigan on April 11th, wrote the following note today, accompanying the report:

"I've attached a report from 2008 that I co-authored with Paul Gunter and Jim Warren.

About the only thing that would have to be revised to bring this report up to today would be its date.

50 of the nation's 103 nuclear power reactors are KNOWN to violate federal fire protection regulations.

As the report states, the NRC estimates that fire represents about 50 percent of the risk of core meltdown at the average nuclear power reactor -- meaning it equals the threat from ALL OTHER HAZARDS combined. And that assumes compliance with the regulations -- violating the regulations drives the risk up.

Of the 50 reactors that violate the fire protection regulations today are the three at Browns Ferry. That's right (or wrong, actually), the plant whose near-catastrophic fire on March 22, 1975 prompted the NRC to adopt fire protection regulations does not meet those regulations today. And today marks the 38th anniversary of that near-miss.

An industry and regulator constantly asserting that safety is the top priority cannot achieve compliance with very important safety regulations despite decades of time to do so.

If actions speak louder than words, inactions speak the loudest. NRC's inactions on this topic are deafening.

Thanks,

Dave Lochbaum

UCS"