Photo by Diane Krogh/Lighthawk showing the 1993 flood at Cooper atomic reactor in NebraskaA "Current Event Notification Report" dated June 9th, submitted by Cooper atomic power plant in Nebraska to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, states:
OFFSITE NOTIFICATION CONCERNING INABILITY TO MEET SLUDGE POND DISCHARGE PERMIT DUE TO RIVER LEVELS
"Notification was made to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality regarding the inability to conform to the NPDES permit, since the discharges from the sludge pond to the Missouri River are uncontrolled at this time. As a result of high Missouri River levels, the sludge pond was overtopped. The discharges into this pond are subject to NPDES requirements. The inputs into the sludge pond are described in the NPDES permit as low volume wastewater. There are three outfalls which discharge into the pond. Outfall 002B is described as Clearwell Discharge plus Outfall 004 Emergency Overflow. Outfall 002C is described as Floor Drains. Outfall 004 is described as Reverse Osmosis Reject and Boiler Blowdown Waste streams. There is no radiological contamination in the pond.
"Additionally, the current and projected flooding conditions of the Missouri River high river levels have resulted in some media inquiries regarding potential changes in plant operation. Public information personnel and Management have responded to these inquiries with information on the impact of river level and preparations for additional actions should conditions warrant additional protective actions.
"Current river level is approximately 896 ft. MSL, three feet below the elevation which requires declaration of a NOUE, and approximately 4.8 feet below the crest of the 1993 flood, which was the highest flood recorded at the site. Current river elevation is 7 feet below grade elevation. A press release is not planned at this time. River level is currently projected to be 897.5 ft by Tuesday 6/14.
"Current river level is characterized as Moderate Flooding by the National Weather Service. There are currently no operational problems due to river conditions.
"The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."
Paul Gunter, now of Beyond Nuclear, wrote a backgrounder on the 1993 Missouri River flood at Cooper.
Cooper is a General Electric Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactor -- an identical twin to Fukushima Daiichi Units 1 to 4. Tsunami flooding caused a nuclear catastrophe in Japan. Will Missouri River flooding cause one in Nebraska?
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