River Bend/Waterford Nuke Plants: Race To Get To 100% First.

Yep, both Entergy’s nuclear plants.

Waterford just started up at 18%

Grand Gulf has been recently flailing at a assortment of power levels. She is at 78% now.

And troubled Watt Bar is at 18% power. 

I saying Watts Bar 2 if she doesn't trip? 

New Plant Watts Bar 2 Tried To Restart from Collapsed Condenser, Then New Scram

This is a very troubled site. Systemic NRC safety culture problems, poor quality equipment and severe capacity factor problems.

Facility: WATTS BAR Region: 2 State: TN Unit: [ ] [2] [ ] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: BRIAN MCLINAY HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO Notification Date: 07/25/2017 Notification Time: 11:07 [ET] Event Date: 07/25/2017 Event Time: 04:28 [EDT] Last Update Date: 07/25/2017 Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION Person (Organization): ALAN BLAMEY (R2DO) Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode 2 M/R N 0 Hot Standby 0 Hot Standby Event Text MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO ROD POSITION INDICATION SYSTEM BEING INOPERABLE "On July 25, 2017, at 0428 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2 was in Mode 3, beginning a Reactor Startup. While in the initial phase of withdrawing the first of four Control Rod banks, the two associated group demand position indicators deviated greater than 2 steps from each other. In accordance with Technical Requirement 3.1.7, Position Indication System, Shutdown, with one or more group demand position indicators inoperable, the reactor trip breakers are to be opened immediately. Operations personnel opened the reactor trip breakers immediately by initiating a manual trip of the Reactor Protection System (RPS). The Auxiliary Feedwater system was in service and controlling Steam Generator water levels at the time of the event and did not receive any valid actuation signals. No other system actuations occurred as a result of this reactor trip and all systems operated as designed. "The cause of the position indication system inoperability is currently under investigation. "NRC Resident Inspector has been notified."

Dominion Begs Proverty on Millstone: Governor Orders Study on Viability

Will the study end up having a national scope. This is in the top 3 most expensive state electricity in the nation...what about the less expensive electricity states?

Can Millstone Survive Natural Gas? Malloy Orders State Review

Stephen SingerContact Reporter

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday ordered a state review of whether the Millstone nuclear plant can continue operating in energy markets that increasingly rely on natural gas.

The executive order he signed directs an assessment of the Waterford plant, evaluating the “current and projected economic viability” for its continued operation.

Dominion Energy Inc., Millstone’s parent company, has broadly hinted it would close the plant without legislation it sought rewriting the state’s energy rules giving it broader access to Connecticut’s power markets.

Critics scoffed at Dominion’s threat, citing ISO-New England, the region’s power grid operator, that said the next opportunity to retire Dominion will not be until 2022.

Malloy’s order follows the failure, for the second year in a row, of the legislation Dominion sought. The Richmond, Va.-based energy company said the measure was needed to help compete with abundant and relatively cheap natural gas. Several nuclear plants nationwide have closed recently as natural gas overtakes nuclear energy as the preferred source of power.

Critics of the legislation said rewriting the law to benefit Millstone would have driven up electricity costs for residents and businesses.

Opponents also said Dominion, which refused to make its financial records public, failed to prove it needs special assistance from the state. Malloy’s order authorizes the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to use the best available information, including audited financial statements, “and such other financial data that is reasonably requested.”

Malloy’s order directs the two agencies to review the role of nuclear generating plants and large-scale hydropower and measures used to reduce demand, promote energy storage and emissions-free renewable energy.

The agencies are directed to determine the best way to ensure continued progress toward interim and long-term carbon and other emissions targets.

The governor’s directive says a review must consider the compatibility of efforts to reach those targets with competitive wholesale and retail electricity markets and their effect on ratepayers.

Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, and co-chairman of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, said a study is “is just one step forward, but we also need action.”

“It’s apparent that there is a problem in the market. Given the many nuclear facility closings around the country, it’s clear we need to act now before we become the next state where such a closure occurs,” he said.

The legislation approved by the Senate on the final day of the General Assembly June 7 authorized the state to decide whether to select one of two competitive procurement processes for nuclear power-generating facilities and in some cases, large-scale hydropower plants. The measure died in the House of Representatives.

Malloy’s order cites the lack of adequate natural gas pipeline capacity in New England, the “critical role” of emissions-free sources of electricity such as nuclear and Millstone’s importance to Connecticut’s economy.

A study commissioned in October by Dominion said Millstone generates $1.47 billion in annual economic impact and employs more than 1,000 workers. It accounts for 59 percent of the power consumed by Connecticut utility customers, Dominion said.

Three nuclear plants operate in New England: Millstone, Pilgrim in Massachusetts and Seabrook in New Hampshire. Nuclear power accounted for 30 percent of energy generated in the region in 2015, down from 34 percent the previous year, according to ISO-New England.

The agencies are directed to determine the best way to ensure continued progress toward interim and long-term carbon and other emissions targets.
The governor’s directive says a review must consider the compatibility of efforts to reach those targets with competitive wholesale and retail electricity markets and their effect on ratepayers. 

Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, and co-chairman of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, said a study is “is just one step forward, but we also need action.” 

“It’s apparent that there is a problem in the market. Given the many nuclear facility closings around the country, it’s clear we need to act now before we become the next state where such a closure occurs,” he said. 

The legislation approved by the Senate on the final day of the General Assembly June 7 authorized the state to decide whether to select one of two competitive procurement processes for nuclear power-generating facilities and in some cases, large-scale hydropower plants. The measure died in the House of Representatives.
Malloy’s order cites the lack of adequate natural gas pipeline capacity in New England, the “critical role” of emissions-free sources of electricity such as nuclear and Millstone’s importance to Connecticut’s economy. 

A study commissioned in October by Dominion said Millstone generates $1.47 billion in annual economic impact and employs more than 1,000 workers. It accounts for 59 percent of the power consumed by Connecticut utility customers, Dominion said. 

Three nuclear plants operate in New England: Millstone, Pilgrim in Massachusetts and Seabrook in New Hampshire. Nuclear power accounted for 30 percent of energy generated in the region in 2015, down from 34 percent the previous year, according to ISO-New England.

Junk Plant Grand Gulf: Last 100% Was 11 Days Ago

Today was 80%. This is the rest: 80%, 65, 59, 53, 74, 67, 52 64, 64, 82% and 100%

Junk Plant Waterford and Severe Continued Capacity Factor Problem With Entergy's Southern Fleet.

My bad, the DGs operated as designed. It would be a blackout if the DGs didn't startup. They just lost off site power...depended on internal power.

Junk Plant Waterford and Severe Continued Capacity Factor Problem With Entergy's Southern Fleet.

The idea this didn't get into a anticipatory ALERT is ridiculous. Something is wrong with the Emergency Classification system.

A LOOP is a big deal. Can you even imagine this in a Cat 4 hurricane.  

The isobus leak is a common issue coming from poor maintenance. The idea of possibly the isobus leak and some maintenance thing preventing the DGs not starting is chilling...two failed components showing up in one accident. This condemns Entergy's maintenance on the southern fleet.

I think this all stems from Arkansas Nuclear One. They had to divert monies from the fleet in order to recover from everything discovered in the stator drop accident.

Wonder what the power lever is a Grand Gulf?    

Power Reactor Event Number: 52863 Facility: WATERFORD Region: 4 State: LA Unit: [3] [ ] [ ] RX Type: [3] CE NRC Notified By: MICKEY FOLSE HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH Notification Date: 07/17/2017 Notification Time: 17:37 [ET] Event Date: 07/17/2017 Event Time: 16:17 [CDT] Last Update Date: 07/17/2017 Emergency Class: UNUSUAL EVENT 10 CFR Section: 50.72(a) (1) (i) - EMERGENCY DECLARED 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - VALID SPECIF SYS ACTUATION 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) - POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD Person (Organization): THOMAS HIPSCHMAN (R4DO) MICHAEL F. KING (NRR) BRIAN HOLIAN (NRR) KRISS KENNEDY (R4RA) JEFF GRANT (IRD) Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode 3 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby Event Text UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED DUE TO LOSS OF OFFSITE POWER During a rain and lightning storm, plant operators observed arcing from the main transformer bus duct and notified the control room. The decision was made to trip the main generator which resulted in an automatic reactor trip. The plant entered EAL SU.1 as a result of the loss of offsite power for greater than fifteen minutes. Plant safety busses are being supplied by both emergency diesel generators while the licensee inspects the electrical system to determine any damage prior to bringing offsite power back into the facility. Offsite power is available to the facility. No offsite assistance was requested by the licensee. During the trip, all rods inserted into the core. Decay heat is being removed via the atmospheric dump valves with emergency feedwater supplying the steam generators. The main steam isolation valves were manually closed to protect the main condenser. There were no safeties or relief valves that actuated during the plant transient. There is no known primary-to-secondary leakage. Reactor cooling is via natural circulation. All safety equipment is available for the safe shutdown of the plant. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the local Parish emergency management agencies. Notified DHS SWO, FEMA, DHS NICC, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email). * * * UPDATE ON 7/17/17 AT 2007 EDT FROM MARIA ZAMBER TO DONG PARK * * * This notification is also made under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). "This is a non-emergency notification from Waterford 3. "On July 17, 2017 at 1606 CDT, the reactor automatically tripped due to a loss of Forced Circulation, which was the result of Loss of Offsite Power (LOOP) to the electrical (safety and non-safety) buses. Both 'A' and 'B' trains of Emergency Diesel Generators (EDGs) started as designed to reenergize the 'A' and 'B' safety buses. The LOOP caused a loss of feedwater pumps, resulting in an automatic actuation of the Emergency Feedwater (EFW) system. "Prior to the reactor trip, at 1600 CDT, personnel noticed the isophase bus duct to main transformer 'B' glowing orange due to an unknown reason. Due to this, the main turbine was manually tripped at 1606 CDT. Following the turbine trip, the electrical (safety and non-safety) buses did not transfer to the startup transformers as expected due to an unknown reason. "The plant entered the Emergency Operating Procedure for LOOP/Loss of Forced Circulation Recovery. "At 1617 CDT, an Unusual Event was declared due to Initiating Condition (IC) SU1 - Loss of all offsite AC power to safety buses [greater than] 15 minutes. "All safety systems responded as expected. "The plant is currently in mode 3 and stable with the EDGs supplying both safety buses and with EFW feeding and maintaining both steam generators. Offsite power is in the process of being restored." The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the local Parish emergency management agencies. * * * UPDATE FROM ADAM TAMPLAIN TO HOWIE CROUCH AT 2203 EDT ON 7/17/17 * * * The licensee terminated the Notification of Unusual Event at 2056 CDT. The basis for terminating was that offsite power was restored to the safety busses. The licensee has notified Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, St. John and St. Charles Parishes, Louisiana Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness, and will be notifying the NRC Resident Inspector. Notified IRD (Stapleton), NRR (King), R4DO (Hipschman), DHS SWO, FEMA, DHS NICC, FEMA National Watch Center (email) and Nuclear SSA (email).

Junk Plant Browns Ferry Junk Safety Relief Valves

A host of precious metal coating on seats and ending in platinum...now two delaminated with platinum and some spring is sprung. I is bad when two component are broken.    

July 7, 2017

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-52 NRC Docket No. 50-260

https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/main.jsp?AccessionNumber=ML17188A157

Subject: Licensee Event Report 50-260/2017-004-00

On May 8, 2017, the Tennessee Valley Authority was presented with as-found testing results indicating that four of th hirteen Main Steam Relief Valves (MSRV5) from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 2, were outside the +/- 3 percent setpoint band required for their operability. Troubleshooting determined that three MSRVs exceeded their setpoints when their valve discs failed by corrosion bonding to their valve seats. The valve discs were previously platinum coated to prevent this, but the valve seat's rough Stellite surface caused the coating to delaminate. This was the first Unit 2 MSRV service interval to implement the improved surface treatment since a resolution to the delamination issue was identified in 2015. The valve which failed below its setpoint band was determined to have a faulty pilot spring.

Ihese four MSRVs were found to have been inoperable for an indeterminate period of time between April 9, 2015, and February 25, 2017, and longer than permitted by Technical Specifications. The affected valves remained capable of maintaining reactor pressure within American Society of Mechanical Engineers code limits. Additionally, the valves' ability to open under remote-manual operation, activation through the Automatic Depressurization System, or MSRV \utomatic Actuation Logics were not affected. The valves remained capable of performing their required safety unction…

Horrendously Continued Grand Gulf Capacity Issue

Beginning today: 52, 64, 64, 64. Sixty one percent capacity factor...

It's getting worst. They spent a  lot of money on fixing equipment, incompetent operators and retraining employees in the last year, and one voluntary four month safety shutdown.

Obama, Exelon, Utilities and the NRC: "The Beat Goes On"!!!

So why didn't all his voters throw in a few bucks each to build his political mausoleum? These utilities and their executives hold so much sway over our elections. Both Democrats and Republicans. Effectively the utilities are so powerful, they have veto power over the politicians and who becomes a politician. The politicians couldn't govern without the utilities, as they know our political system so well. They usually become the top aids of the politicians.

I don't hold these people as much accountable, as the public in general. You all just can't govern your selves anymore in so many ways. You keep scapegoating the politicians, you keep voting for over and over again the same style politician, or just didn't vote. All we do is vote form the least worst politician.

We are all so damaged by our political system!!!!

Obama Center Adds Exelon to top Donor List

Manya Brachear PashmanContact ReporterChicago Tribune

Technology and energy corporations have joined the list of top donors to the Obama Foundation, which on Friday made public the names of more than 700 patrons from the last three months.

Exelon and Microsoft have given more than a million dollars to the foundation, which was founded in 2014 but boosted its fundraising efforts after President Barack Obama left the White House

The list of new donors also includes at least one anonymous contributor who directed more than a million dollars through a donor-advised fund managed by The New York Community Trust and another who gave a half-million dollars through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Chicago's billionaire Crown family gave between $250,001 and $500,000. Meanwhile, the family foundation of investor Andrew Hauptman, owner of the Chicago Fire, has brought its cumulative contribution closer to the million dollars it has pledged.

In addition to Hoffman and wife Michelle Yee, two other philanthropists who previously donated have now given more than $1 million: billionaire David Shaw and wife Beth, who advised Obama on financial capability; and through their family foundation, Debbie and Glenn Hutchins, who co-founded a private equity firm specializing in technology and technology-enabled companies such as Skype.

Every three months, the foundation posts the names of those who have contributed more than $200 and their gifts, listed in a range of dollars. The quarterly postings lack the specificity of Federal Election Commission filings, which give the exact contribution to candidates for federal office. FEC reports also give information about donors, including their address, employer and occupation.

The Obama Presidential Center is slated to open in Chicago's Jackson Park in 2021. While the foundation declines to provide a cost estimate, the George W. Bush library and endowment broke records at more than $500 million.

mbrachear@chicagotribune.com

Arkansas Nuclear One: Extraordinary NRC Hand Holding And Little Self-Direction

This is the roadmap of a horribly defective and unsafe organization. We still don't know what drove it. It condemns the NRC oversight and the value of the ROP. Once again a terrible accident, a humongous surprise, in this killing one and injuring eight. Outside the trigging event, we find a horrendous boatload of violations and organization chaos never addressed by the NRC and licensee prior to the accident. Why even have regulations if your don't enforce them. It is the accident that uncovers the never addressed violations. It is the total breakdown on the on site NRC inspection. A good NRC would have observed the darkening storm clouds, hit the plant with enormous resources like just like occurred after the drop accident. The politicians have made the NRC inspectors blind and reactionary...not anticipatory.  I am sure there are many plants out there with multitudes of known unaddressed violation just like ANO pre stator drop accident  waiting for a big accident...waiting for the accident to exposed the whole rotten show. I guarantee you, another accident in another plant, will soon show up and model this ANO even.

I am sure once the NRC drops their intensive inspection activities, this is what the function of this inspection...the progress will quickly decay away. They just don't  have enough funding for upkeep for all their plants

I see chaotic conditions and poor capacity all across Entergy's southern regulated fleet. In propping up ANO, they stole funding from the remaining southern fleet. I am shocked the NRC can't see this association.

I doubt ANO will ever have the capacity factor they had before the stator drop accident... obviously the NRC and licensee corruption was propping up capacity and profits...

***That man wouldn't be dead if the NRC didn't have a regime of not violating all violation. The system would have picked up the disorder and cleared it before the stator drop.  

July 14, 2017

EA-14-008 EA-14-088 EA-16-124

SUBJECT: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE – NRC CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER (EA-16-124) FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION REPORT 05000313/2017011 AND 05000368/2017011

Junk plant Grand Gulf Capacity Factor and Entergy's Southern Fleet

Entergy's southern fleet is in big trouble. They are not preforming enough maintenance to maintain capacity factor

So Grand Gulf power today is 65% and River Bend is 82% power. Waterford had capacity factor issues coming out of the last outage. Remember ANO 2 just completed the longest refueling in the world.

June 28, 2017
Mr. Eric Larson Site Vice President Operations Entergy Operations, Inc. Grand Gulf Nuclear Station P.O. Box 756 Port Gibson, MS  39150
SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT FOLLOW-UP LETTER FOR GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION
Dear Mr. Larson:
As a result of our continuous review of plant performance the NRC updated its assessment of Grand Gulf Nuclear Station.  The NRC’s evaluation consisted of a review of performance indicators and inspection results.  This letter informs you of the NRC’s assessment and its plans for a future inspection at your facility.  This letter supplements, but does not supersede, the annual assessment letter issued on March 1, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17059D517).
The NRC’s review of Grand Gulf Nuclear Station identified that the Unplanned Power Changes Per 7,000 Critical Hours performance indicator has crossed the Green-to-White threshold.  The performance issues included in this performance indicator were associated with three unplanned downpower events that occurred in the second quarter of 2016 due to operator actions to reset turbine stop valves, an unplanned downpower and shutdown required by technical specifications that occurred in the third quarter of 2016 due to a failure of residual heat removal subsystem A, and an unplanned downpower that occurred in the first quarter of 2017 due to condensate booster pump seal degradation.
The NRC determined the performance at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station remains in the Regulatory Response Column of the Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix following a second White performance indicator input in the Initiating Events cornerstone beginning in the fourth quarter  of 2016.  Therefore, the NRC plans to conduct a supplemental inspection in accordance with Inspection Procedure 95001, “Supplemental Inspection Response to Action Matrix Column 2 Inputs” due to the Uplanned Power Changes Per 7,000 Critical Hours performance indicator.  Additionally, the NRC previously indicated our intent to perform a supplemental inspection in accordance with Inspection Procedure 95001 due to the Unplanned Scrams Per 7000 Critical Hours performance indicator crossing the Green-to-White threshold in the third quarter of 2016 as indicated in a letter sent on November 8, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16313A169). As of the date of this letter we have not been notified that you are ready for this inspection.   The objectives of the supplemental inspection are: (1) to assure that the root causes and contributing causes of significant performance issues are understood, (2) to independently... 

82, 96, 81, 62%, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 90, 91, 91, 80, 74 81, 50, 3, 0 (6/25)

There is 21 days of RB capacity factor. I get on average about a 70% capacity. RB has had terrible capacity factor for years. It goes way beyond insufficient maintenance...they have had procedure and training problems with the ops people.

Maybe they got all the money in the world...but they don't have the expertise to plan and schedule the kinds of maintenance to maintain decent capacity factor...  

The Columbia Experience: Training and Procedure Problems are Now Epidemic in Nuke Industry

Just Google my articles on the horrendous training and procedure problems at Grand Gulf as seen in their pathetic capacity problems in the last few years...

July 6, 2017 

EA-17-028 

Mr. Mark E. Reddemann Chief Executive Officer Energy Northwest P.O. Box 968 (Mail Drop 1023) Richland, WA  99352-0968

SUBJECT: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION OF A WHITE FINDING, NOTICE OF VIOLATION, FOLLOW-UP ASSESSMENT LETTER, AND NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000397/2017009

Dear Mr. Reddemann:

This letter provides you the final significance determination of the preliminary White finding discussed in our letter dated April 10, 2017, which included Special Inspection Report 05000397/2016009 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession ML17100A499).  The finding involved the failure to ensure that the contents of a radioactive waste container did not exceed the radiation level requirements for shipping. 

A regulatory conference was held on May 2, 2017, to discuss your views on this issue.  During the meeting, your staff described your assessment of the significance of the apparent violation and associated corrective actions, including the root-cause evaluation.  Specifically, your staff stated that the root cause was that station procedures to implement spent fuel pool clean-up activities and the associated radioactive waste surveys, processing, and shipping activities were not sufficient to ensure compliance with all requirements.  Additionally, your staff identified contributing causes of inadequate management oversight and non-conservative decision-making.  Your staff indicated that the corrective actions included developing and issuing an updated procedure to implement the clean-up activities and that key personnel had been trained to provide increased and more effective oversight...

Was The Mississippi KC 130 Marine Crash Related to the USS Fitzgerald Collision?

Having the FBI on a domestic military plane crash is highly abnormal. Are we on a special alert, as if we had other terrorist events that are ongoing. Has the USS Fitzgerald collision flipped into a terrorism investigation based on developed information?

Marine aircraft disaster: FBI seeks answers in Mississippi crash that killed at least 16

The FBI reportedly has joined local and state agencies to investigate what caused a U.S. military plane to corkscrew out of the sky and into a Mississippi field on Monday, killing at least 16.

A KC-130, used as a refueling tanker, "experienced a mishap" when it spiraled down about 4 p.m. into a soybean field, about 85 miles north of Jackson, the Marine Corps said. The aircraft's debris scattered in a radius of about 5 miles.

Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks told The Associated Press that officials were continuing to look for possible survivors. Banks earlier told the Greenwood Commonwealth 16 people were believed to be on board, but would not confirm that information to The Associated Press.

"We're still searching the area," Banks said. "It's hard to find bodies in the dark."

Holy Crap: ANO 2 Restarted After World's Longest Outage