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WaPo: NRC directs quake-hit North Anna nuke plant to inspect supports for Reactor Pressure Vessel — No “significant” problems?

Published: November 6th, 2011 at 1:26 pm ET
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Nov. 6 — The quake-hit North Anna nuclear plant in Virginia has yet to restart, and the Washington Post provides some answers for the delay.

According to the NRC’s lead inspector at North Anna, “Reviews are in progress. However, the staff has not identified any significant safety concerns” after the quake.

The NRC official overseeing the inspection team, said plant’s operator was “directed” by the NRC “to perform inspections on an underground steam tunnel and on support struts holding up one of the nuclear reactor pressure vessels”.

“The company had not adequately inspected those areas,” reports The Post.

Once again, the NRC qualifies the statement by saying it found no “significant” problems.

“The company sent small robots into the pool that holds nuclear fuel in the Unit 2 reactor and found no damage to the containment structure or the nuclear fuel,” according to Dominion spokesman Richard Zuercher.

“The NRC told the company it did not need to perform similar inspections inside the Unit 1 reactor, Zuercher said,” reported The Post. It’s unclear why only one will be inspected — Perhaps suspected damage at Unit 2 prompted the inspection? Or did the inspection find Unit 2 in such great shape that there is no way damage could have occurred in Unit 1? Most would probably say it’s a good idea to check it out… just in case.

Published: November 6th, 2011 at 1:26 pm ET
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  1. Time.com: “Augmented Inspection Team” is only used when risk of reactor core damage rises by 100 — AIT already at quake-hit North Anna nuke plant September 1, 2011
  2. WaPo: One week delay in revealing whether quake exceeded North Anna’s design basis — Seismic detector failed to record data September 4, 2011
  3. NYT: North Anna nuke plant in situation that no US reactor has ever faced before — NRC has no protocol to see if design held up after quake September 8, 2011
  4. Nuclear Expert: Quake-hit Virginia nuke plant should be distributing bottled water to nearby residents — Pipes under North Anna are potentially a grave public danger August 30, 2011
  5. Feds question whether there was damage to fuel in reactors at quake-hit North Anna nuke plant — The answer may surprise you September 29, 2011
November 6th, 2011 | Category: North Anna (VA)
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6 comments to WaPo: NRC directs quake-hit North Anna nuke plant to inspect supports for Reactor Pressure Vessel — No “significant” problems?

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