NRC Accepts My 2.206 On Possible Cracks like Belgium Reactors In USA Reactors

Addendum: Belgium Reactor Cracks in USA                

Sep 9 at 9:37 PM 

 

Mr. Koenick,

Please add this e-mail as a addendum to my 2.206 and could the Petition Board address this concern?

"As part of the NRC review and approval of IPEC 3 Reactor Vessel Heatup and Cooldown curves, in ML15226A159 dated 9-3-15, was the possible adverse affects of this change considered in regard to IN 2013-19 Quasi Laminar Indications in RPV Forgings?"

Sincerely,

Mike Mulligan

Hinsdale, NH

cell 1-603-209-4206

Home 1-603-336-8320

 FANC-Belgium NRC-Vessel forging hydrogen flakes information page

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001

August 20, 2015

Steamshovel2002@yahoo.com

Mr. Michael Mulligan

Hinsdale, NH 03451

Dear Mr. Mulligan:

Your petition dated March 25, 2014 [sic] (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML 15090A487), sent by e-mail on March 26, 2015, addressed to Mr. Mark A. Satorius, Executive Director for Operations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), has been referred to me under Section 2.206, "Requests for action under this subpart," of Title 1 O of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) of the Commission's regulations. You provided supplemental information by e-mail on July 7, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15198A091). Your 2.206 petition request is associated with the events surrounding two Belgian nuclear power stations. In your petition, you request an emergency inspection of the reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) at the Kewaunee Power Station (KPS) and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY), which have been permanently shut down and are currently undergoing decommissioning. Further, you specifically request a number of actions, including:

• Conduct exigent and immediate full-scale ultrasonic inspections on the VY and the KPS RPVs, with similar or better technology, as conducted on the RPVs at Doel 3 and Tihange 2, which revealed thousands of cracks;

• Take large borehole samples out of both the Vermont Yankee and Kewaunee RPVs and transport them to a respected metallurgic laboratory for comprehensive offsite testing;

• Issue an immediate NRC report and hold a public meeting on any identified vulnerabilities; and

• Ultrasonically test all RPVs in U.S. plants within 6 months, if distressed and unsafe results are discovered at VY or KPS.

As the basis for your request, you state that the requested actions should be taken to determine whether foreign operating experience-specifically several thousand cracks that have been discovered during testing on the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 RPVs-could have implications on U.S. operating reactors. I would like to express my appreciation for your effort in bringing these matters to the attention of the NRC. The NRC is treating your request pursuant to the 2.206 process and has referred it to the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR). You participated in a teleconference with our Petition Review Board (PRB) on May 19, 2015, to discuss your petition. The PRB considered the results of that discussion in the determination regarding your request for immediate action and in establishing the schedule for the review of your petition. The NRC has denied your request that immediate ultrasonic inspections be conducted at VY and KPS because of the following reasons. Both the identified facilities have ceased operations and would not be subject to an enforcement-related action (i.e., to modify, suspend, or revoke the license). In addition, the NRC issued Information Notice (IN) 2013-19, "Quasi-Laminar Indications in Reactor Pressure Vessel Forgings," on September 22, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 13242A263). The purpose of this IN was to inform industry of the quasi-laminar indications that were identified in 2012 at two European commercial nuclear power plants. These indications were identified during the ultrasonic inspections that were performed on the RPV forgings. The NRC staff has also reviewed your July 7, 2015, supplemental e-mail, and concluded that the e-mail provided no additional information relevant to your request for immediate action.

As required by 10 CFR 2.206, the NRC will take action on your remaining requests within a reasonable time. Mr. Stephen Koenick has been assigned as the petition manager for your petition. You may direct any questions you have concerning the petition process or the status of your petition to Mr. Koenick at 301-415-6631 or by e-mail at Stephen.Koenick@nrc.gov. The Division of Engineering within NRR is reviewing your petition.

Enclosed, for your information, is a copy of the notice that the NRC will file with the Office of the Federal Register for publication. A copy of the transcript from the May 19, 2015, meeting with the PRB can be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML 15181A127. Guidance related to the 2.206 process can be found in NRC Management Directive 8.11, "Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions" and NUREG/BR-0200, "Public Petition Process," Revision 5, prepared by the NRC Office of Public Affairs (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML041770328 and ML050900248, respectively).

Enclosure:

Federal Register Notice

cc: Mr. David A. Heacock

President and Chief Nuclear Officer

Dominion Nuclear

Innsbrook Technical Center

5000 Dominion Boulevard

Glen Allen, VA 23060-6711

Vice President, Operations

Entergy Nuclear Operation, Inc.

P.O. Box 250

Governor Hunt Road

Vernon, VT 05354

Sincerely,

~J~1r'--

William M. Dean, Director

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-271 and 50-305; NRC-2015-XXXX]

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

Kewaunee Power Station

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: 10 CFR 2.206 request; receipt.

[7590-01-P]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is giving notice that by petition dated March 25, 2014 [sic], Mike Mulligan (the petitioner) has requested that the NRC take action with regard to the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) and the Kewaunee Power Station (KPS), which have been permanently shut down and are currently undergoing decommissioning. The petitioner's requests are included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On March 25, 2014 [sic], the petitioner requested that the NRC take action with regard to VY and KPS (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15090A487). On July 7, 2015, the petitioner provided supplemental information via email (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15198A091). The petitioner requested a number of actions including:

• Conduct exigent and immediate full-scale ultrasonic inspections on the VY and the KPS reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), with similar or better technology, as conducted on the RPVs at Deel 3 and Tihange 2, which revealed thousands of cracks;

• Take large borehole samples out of both the Vermont Yankee and Kewaunee RPVs and transport them to a respected metallurgic laboratory for comprehensive offsite testing;

• Issue an immediate NRC report and hold a public meeting on any identified vulnerabilities; and

• Ultrasonically test all RPVs in U.S. plants within 6 months, if distressed and unsafe results are discovered at VY or KPS.

As the basis for this request, the petitioner states that the requested actions should be taken to determine whether foreign operating experience-specifically several thousand cracks that have been discovered during testing on the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 RPVs-could have implications on U.S. operating reactors.

The request is being treated pursuant to Section 2.206, "Requests for action under this subpart," of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) of the Commission's regulations. The request has been referred to the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

The petitioner met with the Petition Review Board on May 19, 2015, to discuss the petition; the transcript of that meeting is an additional supplement to the petition (ADAMS Accession No. ML 15181A 127). The results of that discussion and the July 7, 2015, supplemental email were considered in the board's determination regarding the petitioner's request for immediate action and in establishing the schedule for the review of the petition.

The NRC has denied the petitioner's request to conduct immediate ultrasonic inspections at VY and KPS because of the following reasons. Both the identified facilities have ceased operations and would not be subject to an enforcement-related action (i.e., to modify, suspend, or revoke the license). In addition, the NRC issued Information Notice (IN) 2013-19, "Quasi-Laminar Indications in Reactor Pressure Vessel Forgings," on September 22, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 13242A263). The purpose of this IN was to inform industry of the quasi-laminar indications that were identified in 2012 at two European commercial nuclear power plants. These indications were identified during the ultrasonic inspections that were performed on the RPV forgings.

As provided by 10 CFR 2.206, appropriate action will be taken on the remaining requests within a reasonable time.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this Joth day of August 2015.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Michele G. Evans, Acting Director,

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

Nuclear Industry's Republican Teabagger Government Haters.

You can pick out any selective set of facts to prove government sucks and we would all be better off if we had no centralized government.   

Lawmakers Press for Smaller, More Efficient NRC 

09/09/2015 | Aaron Larson 

Some members of the U.S. House of Representatives feel the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to appropriately align its budget and staffing levels with the organization’s workload.

That message was delivered to the agency’s commissioners during the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy joint oversight hearing held on Sept. 9.

Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas) presented a slide (Figure 1) comparing the agency’s staffing and budget in 2005 to 2016 projections. He suggested that the total decrease in agency activity is “around 38% on a weighted-average basis, but the headcount has grown by 21% over that time period and the budget has grown by a whopping 54%.”

1. Runaway regulatory growth? Although the number of reactors and licensing actions are down, NRC staffing and budget have increased. Source: Rep. Bill Flores 

“This squarely fits with what Reagan used to talk about when he talked about how the only thing that continues to—to have eternal life—to continue growing is a federal agency,” Flores said.

Flores wasn’t the only one suggesting change was needed. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) seemed to suggest that retirements and resignations could get staffing to target levels in fiscal year 2016 when he noted that the NRC’s annual attrition rate between 2004 and 2012 was 5.4%. Johnson said the percentage equated to nearly 200 employees leaving the organization each year and that the NRC target of 3,600 people was a reduction of less than 100 from the agency’s current levels.

NRC Chairman Stephen Burns replied, “With respect to attrition, attrition is not always where you necessarily want it to be.” Burns noted that key oversight positions must be replaced. He said that the NRC was looking at “early outs and buy-outs” as an option.

“As a fee-based agency, your commission is statutorily required to recover 90% of your budget through the annual collection of fees from licensees,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). “And referring back to the value of efficiency as one of the NRC’s principles of good regulation, it’s pretty obvious that the need for an established, credible process for developing a budget based on workload projections is necessary to determine a responsible fee assessment.”

Commissioner William Ostendorff agreed that there are some budget process areas that need improvement. He noted that a new chief financial officer was brought into the agency to make changes. When questioned by Kinzinger if the budget process would be “good” by 2017, Burns replied, “I think we will be. I’m confident.”

—Aaron Larson, associate editor (@AaronL_Power, @POWERmagazine)

Nine Mile Point 1 Is Another Junk plant

05000210/410...

Unit one is really old...


So Pilgrim and Nine Mile Point has had recent troubles with shutting MSIVs and scrams. A new component failed.

Then one electromatic failed to close. It is always really bad news when two different components failed at the same time. It indicates a global problem with maintenance and budgets.

Was the electrometric relieve valve leaking...

9/9: Update: Nine Mile 1 nuclear reactor returns to service after 4-day outage

SCRIBA, N.Y. -- Operators returned Nine Mile Point Unit 1 to full power Tuesday after repairing a steam valve that closed unexpectedly during routine testing on Friday, owner Exelon Corp. announced today. 

The automatic shutdown Friday occurred during quarterly testing of the main steam isolation valve, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The valve would be used in the event of an accident to halt the flow of steam from the reactor to the turbine building, helping to keep radioactivity bottled up in the the containment building that surrounds the reactor. 

The valve was supposed to reduce flow to 10 percent and then reopen. Instead, it fully closed, the NRC reported. A shuttle valve within the equipment stuck. The shuttle valve had been replaced five months ago during the plant's refueling and maintenance outage, and is being returned to the vendor for evaluation, the NRC reported. 

During the shutdown, one of the plant's six electromatic relief valves did not fully close as it should, NRC officials said. Those valves would be used to depressurize the reactor during a pipe break to allow coolant to be injected into the reactor core. 

The NRC's two on-site inspectors reported no problems with operator performance during the shutdown, but they are working with Exelon to resolve the equipment issues that surfaced during the event, NRC officials said.

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station is located seven miles northeast of Oswego and 50 miles north of Syracuse. The station's two units can produce roughly 1,937 megawatts, enough to power nearly 2 million homes. 

UNPLANNED AUTOMATIC SCRAM AND SPECIFIED SYSTEM ACTUATIONS DUE TO MSIV CLOSURE  

"On September 4, 2015, at 0916 [EDT], Nine Mile Point Unit 1 experienced an automatic reactor scram following Main Steam Isolation Valve [MSIV] closure and isolation of both main steam lines. The cause of the MSIV closure is not known at this time. All control rods fully inserted. Following the scram, pressure was momentarily controlled through the use of the Emergency Condenser system. At 0950, pressure control was established through the main steam lines to the condenser through Main Steam Isolation Valves (MSIVs) 01-02 and 01-04. MSIV 01-03 would not reopen. All other plant systems responded per design following the scram. The reactor scram is a 4-hour report per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B)."

"The following systems automatically actuated after the scram as expected. These system actuations are an 8-hour report per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A).

"1. The High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system. HPCI initiated at 0916 and reset at 0917 when RPV level was restored above the HPCI system low level actuation set point. HPCI initiated and was reset a second time at 0922. HPCI is a flow control mode of the normal feedwater systems, and is not an Emergency Core Cooling System.  

"2. The Core Spray system actuated, but did not discharge to the Reactor Coolant system. The Core Spray system was secured at 1033.

"3. The Emergency Condenser (EC) system actuated to control pressure. EC-11 was secured at 0917. EC-12 was secured at 0921 . The maximum shell temperature of EC system was 193 degrees Fahrenheit.  

"4. Containment Isolation actuation.

"Nine Mile Point Unit 1 is currently in Hot Shutdown, with reactor water level and pressure maintained within normal bands. Since the scram, there have been no anomalies observed with feedwater system operation. Decay heat is being removed via steam to the main condenser using the turbine bypass valves. The offsite grid is stable with no grid restrictions or warnings in effect."

The Reactor is being supplied by the normal feedwater system and there was indication of a partial lift/reset on one Electrometric Relief Valve (ERV).

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector and the State of New York Public Service Commission.

 

Palisades's Update Over Cracked Primary Coolant Pumps Blades

1)

PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000255/2015002

Annual Follow-Up of Selected Issues: Primary Coolant Pump Operation

a. Inspection Scope 

The operation of the primary coolant pumps (PCPs) in a manner that resulted in flow cavitation was the subject of an NRC-identified NCV documented in Section 1R15 of Palisades IR 2012003. The inspectors continued their review of licensee corrective actions to address the NCV this quarter. The licensee, in conjunction with Westinghouse, performed a detailed analysis and system model of the operation of the PCPs during startup and shutdown conditions to evaluate the operating limits and site procedures for the pumps. This analysis was intended to determine if a nexus existed between certain plant operating conditions and PCP performance issues that had been identified.

Sounds like a half ass scientific experiment...not the necessary nuclear safety.   

From this analysis, it was determined that the way in which the PCPs were started and operated during plant startups could cause the pumps to operate

I  don't like the word "could" in this...where is the certainty they discovered the cause and fixed it? 

outside the manufacturer’s design conditions for a prolonged period of time (this was the subject of the documented NCV from 2012). Recommendations were made to consider revising the system operating procedures for sequencing pump operation during these conditions and also to re-evaluate TS limitations that may be limiting the combination of pumps that could be operated together. The TS limitations could also affect the alignments of pumps operated during plant shutdowns. The licensee assessed these recommendations, as well as others discussed in the analysis and entered the issues into the CAP. The inspectors reviewed these corrective actions which were intended to revise the system operating procedures and assess the feasibility of a TS change. There were also corrective actions to inspect the ‘B’ PCP, which was the only pump remaining to have a refurbished impeller

Any pump amp of flow perturbations yet?  

potentially with missing pieces. This inspection was planned for RFO 25 in the spring of 2017.

2) More issues with protecting their employees over radiation protects troubles.

Sounds like big backsliding issues with the CAP post yellow finding. Looking forward to the upcoming rupture.  

 Corrective Action Program 

The inspectors reviewed CRs, causal evaluations, corrective actions, and plant health committee meeting minutes associated with improving equipment reliability and system health. The inspectors also conducted an independent search of CRs to identify significant equipment issues that occurred between January 2013 and June 2015 to determine if commonalities existed with respect to causes or organizational and programmatic components related to the issues. A trend identified by external assessors this quarter was that even though the site’s equipment reliability index value was high, there were challenges to systems important to safety, some of which were long-standing or were not appropriately assessed for risk. A potential contributing factor to this was identified by a different external assessment at the end of 2014 in which engineering rigor to troubleshoot and address consequential equipment failures was not always sufficient. The inspectors had developed a similar trend based on inspection findings and observations over the same time period.

Some significant equipment failures with certain organizational and programmatic components were assessed in a common cause analysis that determined commonalities between the issues related to inadequate task barriers, insufficient detail in work packages, inadequate challenges across organizations to identify risk, and inadequate interface among organizations. The inspectors’ independent review of CRs identified additional equipment failures that were not assessed in the common cause analysis. These equipment issues had commonalities of inadequate preventive maintenance/job scopes, inadequate parts or age-related parts failures, programmatic/process weaknesses, and improper risk recognition that contributed to insufficient troubleshooting or corrective actions to prevent repeat failures. Also, some of these issues did not have definitive causes and were long-standing issues without resolution due to not identifying causes. In a few cases these issues had been repeat failures. More extensive troubleshooting was planned in the future for most of these issues, but they remained vulnerabilities until adequately corrected with the causes appropriately addressed. There were also corrective actions open to address deficiencies in these areas that had not yet been fully implemented. However, a combination of the aforementioned issues had led to equipment problems challenging systems important to safety.

The licensee recently focused on improving equipment reliability by more effectively utilizing the Plant Health Committee and decreasing the backlog of critical equipment repairs required. Systems in Maintenance Rule (a)(1) status have been discussed on a more frequent basis and WOs to repair long-standing issues were being tracked at every meeting. Emergent station concerns were also discussed. The committee had re-focused station leadership attention on risk-significant system and component issues to further inter-organizational teamwork to resolve issues in a more timely fashion.

River Bend Down-Power Eruptions

I wonder why they do this? 

It damages and wears out equipment.

It is extremely risky asking for a employee mistakes or equipment shutdowms?  

9/8: 87% (today)

9/7: 97%

9/6: 92%

9/5: 61%

9/4: 100%

9/3: 100%

9/2: 100%

9/1: 100%

Grand Gulf recently did the same dance 

Well, I am getting paranoid...it was only rod pattern exchange. 61% is a little deep, but no reason for concern. It is a normal activity. The senior says River Bend has been behaving well recently.  

Pilgrim Nuclear Plant Following Exactly the Vermont Yankee Model?

So this is how a governor falls out of favor. Vermont Yankee ignited a nuclear plant credibility and trustworthiness crisis in 2009. Certainly candidate Shumlin seen the writing on the wall. He made VY the center piece campaign issue about the bad out-of-state mega corporation Entergy operating a rogue nuclear plant. It was the top political issue in his campaign to become governor. Republican Gov Douglas seen the writing on the wall being implicated as a trusting buddy of Entergy and then Vermont Yankee screwing up....that is why he decline to run for the next term.

The commonality with both political stripes if you cross the nuclear industry you loose the next election(Kunin). The electric utilities and nuclear industry holds a lot of political power. Shumlin won by a slim margin and he got reelected three times. A lot of politicians got elected or reinforced their campaigns on his coattails. He promised he would shutdown Vermont Yankee and it came into being.

Basically Massachusetts is a Democratic state like Vermont. Pilgrim seems to be collapsing. Will the Democrats gain a golden anti nuclear Pilgrim plant moment in the future allowing them to boot Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker out of office and other politicians will pile on? Believe me, as the Republicans smell the beginning of the fall of the governor, they will pile on to the Pilgrim woes a la Vermont Yankee.       

Pilgrim is much worst than the Vermont Yankee cracked AOG pipe issue. The NRC stayed with this sinking ship with never downgrading the plant. Is the downgrading of Pilgrim an attempt to save the plant? 

Believe me, governor Baker is shaking in his boots? 
 

No question Vermont Gov Douglas saw the involvement of Gunderson as a Democrat political assassination job. We have no idea what the VY issue is going to do for Vermont Gov Shumlin in the future? He is not running for reelection. Is he heading to Washington as a US Senator or going to be in the next presidential cabinet as a agency head? Is he being groomed for something bigger and better? He had the guts to slay Vermont Yankee and Entergy to get elected. Does the system see something bigger in him because of his cold blooded political instincts?

Don't wet your pants yet, Entergy is throwing a tremendous amount of money at the Massachusetts Democrats. The Democrats owe Entergy a lot of favors. Remember the electric utilities and nuclear industry politically usually are in direct synchronization. This is one of the most powerful political forces in the nation. But booting Pilgrim off the grid would have the interest of the grid power players. It would support or mitigate the decline of electric prices across the board.

This is how Vermont Yankee became the winning Gov Shumin political issue that rocketed him in office.         

Wiki: In May 2009, the vice-president of operations at Vermont Yankee told the PSB during the reliability review that he did not believe there was any radioactively contaminated underground piping at the plant, but that he would check and respond to the panel.^[25] In October 2009, Arnold Gundersen, a member of a special oversight panel convened by the Vermont General Assembly, confirmed that radioactive contamination had been detected in underground pipes. An Entergy spokesperson told Vermont Public Radio (VPR) that the earlier testimony was a "miscommunication."^[25] On June 4, 2010, VPR reported that, because they had provided misleading information, Entergy Nuclear would be liable for legal expenses incurred by certain parties.^[26]

In January 2010, it was reported that tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, had been discovered in a sample of ground water taken from a monitoring well the previous November...

Governor Douglas knows he is fighting for his political life as the radioactive leaking pipe issue just emerged.

Right, when Massachusetts Gov Baker begins to talk like Douglas (in early 2010), then you know he thinks the Republicans and him have become extremely politically vulnerable. When Gunderson jumps in Baker is a dead man?      

Governor Douglas: "Dark Clouds of Doubt" Over Vermont Yankee

Wednesday, January 27 2010 @ 08:47 PM GMT+4
Contributed by: cgrotke 

Governor Douglas held a press conference today to weigh in on Vermont Yankee's latest. Here's the press release: 

"The recent revelations at Vermont Yankee have raised many questions from my Administration, the federal government, the Legislature, the press and, most importantly, Vermonters. 

The safe and reliable operation of the Vermont Yankee plant is an important part of our energy and economic future and it is critical to those Vermonters whose jobs depend on its operation. 

My Administration has made clear that we cannot support its relicensing without a favorable power agreement, a sound plan for decommissioning and assurances about safety and reliability – which are, of course, our primary concerns. 

I continue to believe that these determinations must be left to the regulators at the state and federal levels. Decisions that impact so many Vermonters must be based on the best scientific information and evaluated objectively outside of the political fray. 

In all regulatory matters there must be transparency and honesty from the regulated entity. When any of these elements are called into question, the regulatory process itself is compromised. What has happened at Vermont Yankee is a breach of trust that cannot be tolerated. In order to move forward on whether or not the plant will continue to operate, questions need to be answered, changes need to be made and the trust of Vermonters must be restored. 

Entergy now finds itself under investigation at every level. 

- The NRC and our Departments of Health and Public Service are working with others to determine the source of the tritium leak and assess any safety and health implications.
- The Agency of Natural Resources is reviewing ongoing ground and surface water tests for environmental contamination. 

- The Public Service Department is reinstituting its independent vertical audit to fully assess the underground pipe system, in cooperation with the Public Oversight Panel. 

- The Public Service Department is demanding an independent verification of the sufficiency of the decommissioning fund given the prospects of contaminated soil on the Vernon site. 

- Today, the Public Service Board required Entergy to submit prompt and complete corrections to any inaccurate information it has provided and a description of what steps it will take to rectify the situation. 

- And the Attorney General has launched an investigation to ascertain whether there is any criminal behavior by Entergy officials. 

I have spoken with Entergy CEO Wayne Leonard, and he assured me that he is taking recent revelations and discoveries seriously and he has instituted a full and thorough investigation into this matter by an outside law firm. 

That’s not good enough. We need action. 

If Entergy is serious about rebuilding Vermonters trust and restoring its credibility, it must acknowledge its mistakes and make immediate corrections. 

Now is not the time for Entergy to circle its wagons. If it is serious about securing a future in Vermont, Entergy must be fully transparent and provide the State unfettered access to all its investigations – internal and otherwise. It must be willing to make personnel and records available to investigators and to waive any attorney-client or other privileges that may attach to these investigations. Letting the sun shine in will be an important and powerful statement about the company’s commitment to make things right. 

And like many Vermonters, I have lost trust in the current management team and I have been disappointed that changes have not already been made. So today I am calling on Entergy to make immediate, necessary changes in management as well. 

Until questions regarding the current circumstances are answered, decisions about the long-term future of the plant should not be made. I am directing Commissioner O’Brien to request a stay from any further action by the Board on the Enexus spin-off until the investigations have run their course and Vermonters can be confident in the transparency and honesty of the company’s management. 

Further, with so many ongoing investigations, unanswered questions, and my own unease with previous information we have received from Entergy management, I can no longer ask legislators to vote this year on whether the Public Service Board should be allowed to decide the case for relicensing. Therefore, I am calling for a time-out. 

Until Entergy reestablishes its credibility, we should not move forward on a decision of such importance to the safety of our people, the livelihoods of so many and the economic and energy future of Vermont. When we can again say with resolute clarity that we can depend on the management of the plant and ensure public health and safety, only then can we move forward with the consideration of the plant’s long-term future. 

The ultimate question of Vermont Yankee’s future is not being decided today, but the events of the last two weeks have raised dark clouds of doubt that must clear before we proceed. 

We have high expectations from the management of a nuclear power plant – and rightly so. Vermonters are understanding, but never suffer fools. We expect better, we deserve better, and, now, we demand better. The trust that’s been broken can be repaired, but it must begin with swift and determined action – and it must begin today."

Vermont gov Douglas sees the writing on the wall...he and the Republicans knows politically he has been severely compromised by Vermont Yankee. Might as well close the curtain:  

Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 02:50 PM PDT

VT-Gov: Douglas (R) won't run for reelection

Daily Kos

Partly because of a split left (the state has a strong Progressive Party), Vermont, the nation's most Democratic state, has been governed by a Republican the last 7 years. That streak is about to end. 

Gov. Jim Douglas announced today he will not run for re-election in 2010, ending his time as governor at four two-year terms.

Vermont's Governor Douglas made the same kind of initial statement when the VY's radioactive leak first emerged. Massachusetts Governor Baker today is saying these guys with their big bucks and favors got us elected and they are our kind of people. They are people just like us. 

Federal agency downgrades Plymouth nuclear plant again 

By Chris Burrell The Patriot Ledger 
Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 2:27 PM Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said the state is in constant contact with federal regulators and needs to keep an eye on the issues raised by the NRC’s latest actions.

But he also expressed his confidence in the plant.

“I toured it recently, and we walked through all the safety protocols, and I believe it is safe,” Baker told reporters Wednesday.

One of the Ma governor's aids wapped Baker in the head and said this really is a ticking time bomb. You quickly need to start distancing yourself from your buddies. You got to throw them under the bus...they understand it is all just political. Entergy probably coached them to do this.   

Baker Urges Plymouth Nuclear Plant Owners To Correct Safety Problems September 3, 2015

By WBUR Newsroom

Gov. Charlie Baker is urging the operators of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station to take action after federal inspectors announced they would be increasing oversight of the plant due to safety violations. 

In a letter Thursday to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Baker expressed concern that the company hadn’t taken action to address the causes of several unplanned shutdowns at the Plymouth plant dating back to 2013. 

He urged Entergy to “perform an appropriate root cause analysis of the shutdowns and to complete all necessary repairs and corrective actions.” 

The letter was sent a day after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced it would be increasing oversight of the plant and downgrading the plant’s safety status to just one category above a mandatory shutdown. 

Regulators say the plant could have prevented an unplanned January 2015 shutdown had it corrected issues with its safety relief valves that caused one of the valves to fail after an earlier unplanned shutdown in February 2013.

NRC Administrator Dan Dorman said in a statement that the most recent violation “highlights the continuing weaknesses in the implementation of Entergy’s program for identifying, evaluating and resolving problems at Pilgrim” and that the NRC’s increased oversight would “focus on understanding the reasons for those weaknesses and the actions needed to achieve sustained improvements.” 

In response to Baker’s letter, Bill Mohl, president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities, said in a statement Thursday that “Entergy continues to operate Pilgrim Station safely and under the watchful eye of the [NRC].” 

Mohl added: 

We have made changes and equipment upgrades that have already resulted in positive enhancements to operational reliability. We will work closely with the Governor, the NRC and all stakeholders to make sure that we communicate the steps we are taking to improve plant operations as we continue to operate safely going forward. 

Baker told reporters Wednesday that he had confidence in the safety of the plant, a comment that earned the ire of state Sen. Dan Wolf, who represents the Cape and Islands.

“On the very day that the [NRC] placed Pilgrim among the three worst reactors in our nation, our governor issued an off-hand, simplistic comment about the plant being ‘safe,’ ” Wolf said in a statement. “It is irresponsible for the governor of our Commonwealth, without due diligence, to make a comment like that instead of voicing concerns about what many of us know is the biggest public safety threat in Massachusetts.” 

Wolf is a vocal opponent of the plant, which he says “threatens not just the health of our communities, but our entire way of life." 

Baker noted in his letter to Entergy that the NRC has determined that Pilgrim continues to operate in a safe manner. 

With reporting by The Associated Press

Is the regulator picking on the little guys more than the big producers?

Think about how much money and influence the big mega corporations like Entergy and Exelon have? Do you think "International Isotopes Inc" have anywhere as big a footprint as the mega utilities?  

Feds Seek For Detailed Information On Radiation Exposure From Eastern Idaho Company 

By Mia Soures -
September 5, 2015

Federal officials are asking a company in eastern Idaho to provide details regarding how it determined the radiation exposure level among workers after a mishap exposed a worker to what is considered to be the maximum allowed radiation in a whole year.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Friday that it had issued a letter to the company, International Isotopes Inc. confirming the steps that the company will need to take before they can resume their operations after the incident of Aug 20.

Steve Laflin, the president & CEO of the company said that they were taking this quite seriously. He said they were going through the entire program to ensure they have all the steps in place.

They make radioactive products to help with cancer treatment, research & industry.

A number of days after estimating the amount of radiation exposure to the hand of the worker, the company modified the estimate to a lower level which fell below the dose limit set for every year by officials. The estimate of the exposure to the body of the worker was lowered quite significantly as well.

The worker was a senior technician who had more than 10 years of experience. He was taking cobalt out of a container when it got stuck & then unstuck. The item weighed around 40 pounds and fell between his legs. He was able to control it but it did leave the container. Those few seconds were enough to expose the worker to more than the annual limit.

The federal agency is going to be verifying the calculations of the company regarding the amount of exposure the worker had.

Dirtiest Dogs in the Industry: Arkansas Nuclear One and Pilgrim

First, we know in the example of the Pilgrim event in 2013 Entergy gets no punishment for withholding information and falsification of federal documents. The federal hurdles are just too high to charge them with a crime and the employees just don't tell the truth.

In the free market, the some 95% of institutional investors, the mom and pops don't own these stocks anymore...these institutional investor should yank all their money out of the corporation. It just doesn't fit with my ethics and morality...the dishonesty and lack of a full disclosure...I will not invest massive sums on money in corrupt operation as this. That is how it is suppose to work and not depend wholly on the NRC. See how disconnected we have become?  

Personally I think the system sets this up with the NRC slapping the Pilgrim plant's face out in front of the community. The nuclear utilities are politically protected...the utilities have no fear of the NRC at all. The harmless staged slapping of the face is all for slow. it is just to get them through this rough spot...
These guys don't change behavior unless their plants are taken away from them...they pay a terrible price. That is the only thing that is going to break this horrendous disrespect nation wide of the NRC and government in general.

***Because we trained these utilities over decades with a politically compromised government and weak fedural regulator...we really now need some "shock treatment" to gain control of the spoiled brats nuclear industry. You need a massive show of force. We really need to shutdown a bad plant over a insignificant issue...demonstrate the power of a federal agency. Show that the politicians won't get involved no matter how unfair it looks. Show the federal government and NRC are the alpha wolfs in town, you corrupt nuclear utilities need to tremble at the feet and beg for mercy at the feet of the NRC. The first peep out of you guys need to be the honest and full truth or you will be begging for food at the homeless shelter or jail.***       

Pilgrim nuclear plant one step from shutdown by regulators

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is now at the bottom of the performance list of the nation's 99 operating reactors, based on its forced shutdowns and equipment failures, and in a category just one step above mandatory shutdown by federal regulators.

By Christine Legere
clegere@capecodonline.com  

Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 11:19 AM
Updated Sep 2, 2015 at 11:47 AM

PLYMOUTH - Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is now at the bottom of the performance list of the nation’s 99 operating reactors, based on its forced shutdowns and equipment failures, and in a category just one step above mandatory shutdown by federal regulators.

Only two other plants in the country are currently in that category: Arkansas Nuclear One and Arkansas Nuclear Two. Those two, like Pilgrim, are Entergy-owned.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the downgrade of the Pilgrim plant today. In a letter to Entergy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the downgrade was due to the plant’s failure to adequately address the issues that have caused the plant’s high number of unplanned shutdowns.

A supplemental inspection will focus on the plant’s shortcomings, “including human performance, procedure quality and equipment performance.”

The results of the supplemental inspection will “provide the NRC with additional information to be used in deciding whether the continued operation of the facility is acceptable and whether additional regulatory actions are necessary to arrest the licensee/plant performance,” the NRC said.

Entergy president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities Bill Mohl said the plant owner-operator just received the news of the downgrade. “Over the coming days Entergy will review the details of the NRC’s decision to consider what actions we need to take to enable Pilgrim Station to return to normal NRC oversight,” he said in an email.

U.S. Sen Edward Markey, D-Mass., issued a statement on Pilgrim’s dubious status. “For decades, I have raised concerns about Pilgrim’s operations, security preparedness, the safety of the surrounding communities in the event of a nuclear accident, and the willingness of Entergy to dedicate sufficient resources to run the reactor safely,” Markey wrote…

Really: Exelon's Immediate Future Secure At Quad-Cities

Bleak and depressing Exelon historic stock price graph

This is a extraordinarily dangerous solution for Exelon. They won't fund maintenance for long term operations at Quad Cites...they will only fund it to get it through three years. These complex and obsolete plants need a long term maintenance and funding stream. Really, they need to immediately begin to build replacement plants at the site.

Personally this is a extraordinary waste of corporate resources and it indicates these corporate officials are incompetent. It is very expensive. They are basically funding the plant on a day by day bases. They get very little bang for the buck. Long term funding for the plant is much less expensive for the corporations that day by day funding.

It is like eating food out every night versus purchasing food at the supermarkets and preparing the food at home for the family.  

The NRC needs to immediately up their inspection resource's at the site...begin to massively document maintenance, operational and funding problems.

Improperly funding immediately begins to irreparably damage the safety culture of a complex nuclear plant. It quickly blinds everyone. This has been a on-going problem for many years.  

It damages the communications between all employees on site and to the NRC.      

Exelon's immediate future secure at Quad-Cities Generating Station

By Stephen Elliott, selliott@qconline.com qconline.com

CORDOVA -- While the long-term future of Exelon's Quad Cities plant is still in question, the plant will be in operation at least through mid-2017, the company said after the plant cleared the auction for 2016-17 power supply guarantees.

Exelon expects a decision made by Oct. 1 whether Quad Cities plant will continue to operate after May 2017...

My Pilgrim 2013 Petition Board SRV 2.206 Recording: I Clearly State A Cover-up Was On Going

Update 9/3, 2015

***Until recently there has been very little srv setpoint testing failures at Hope Creek. The last three operating periods sit outside the normal. The first two operating period consist of three or four SRV setpoint testing failures, while the last setpoint testing failures has 10 failed SRVs. Why are the failures skyrocketing? What has changed to cause this.    

You can't do a SRV lift setpoints accuracy test up at power. You have to shutdown to test these valve. If one of Pilgrims SRV valves was known to be outside their plus or minus 3% tech spec limit, they would be required to shutdown within 24 hours.

This exact problem with repeated two stage Target Rock inaccuracy setpoint testing problems at Hope Creek...the ones in the Pilgrim plant now... is the reason why Pilgrim dumped their two stage SRV valves and jumped into their defective three stage SRVs valves.

You get it, Target Rock hasn't made nuclear plant grade two or three stage safety relief valves for many decades. They are out of manufacturing for decades. Currently the whole USA nuclear fleet (BWRs) gets their reliefs from canceled or decommissioning plant junk yards.

Current one of the Hatch plants is trying to get out of the unreliable Target Rock two stage SRV valves. They installed three Target Rock three stage relief valves in their plant in anticipating shifting all of their 12 Two stage reliefs into three stage. They are testing the reliability of the three stage reliefs. The issue of unreliable three stage relief have at Pilgrim had delay shifting over to all three stage reliefs in the Hatch nuclear plants.

***There is a fix to corrosion bonding or welding with inaccurate setpoint testing with the safety relief valves. You open and shut them once for a bi monthly or monthly bases during the operating period. The problem of this duty of monthly testing is really the two or three stage Safety Relief Valve are too delicate for the installation in these nuclear plants. They are a obsolete technology. They would quickly start to leak much like Pilgrim and then leakage would drive the valves into breaking and not operating when called upon. These utilities would begin to lie to stay up power with leaking valves saying they will definitely operative...then they won't. Then you got regulatory issues like Pilgrim today. As for today, we make believe this valves are operational when they are not. Lying, cheating and not telling the whole truth has a high probability of damaging the whole safety culture in a nuclear plant.***

***We really need a new bullet proof design for safety relief valves. We could beat the hell out of these valves without them degrading and not passing setpoint testing for many years. We can keep these valves in the plant for many operating cycles without excessive burdens with testing and maintenance.***

 

LER: As-Found Values for Safety Relief Valve Lift Set Points Exceed Technical Specification Allowable Limit

On June 2, 2015, Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS) received initial results of the 'as-found' setpoint testing for the safety relief valve (SRV) pilot stage assemblies. The initial results indicated that three SRV pilot stage assemblies had exceeded the lift settings prescribed in Technical Specification (TS) 3.4.2.1. The TS requires the SRV lift settings to be within +/- 3% of the nominal setpoint value. During the nineteenth refueling outage (H1R19),

all fourteen SRV pilot stage assemblies were removed for testing at an offsite facility. Between June 2 and June 1 O, 2015, HCGS received the test results for the remainder of the SRV pilot valve assemblies. A total of ten of the fourteen SRV pilot stage assemblies experienced setpoint drift outside of the TS 3.4.2.1 specified values. All of the valves failing to meet the limits were Target Rock Model 7567F two-stage SRVs. This is a condition reportable under 1 O CFR 50. 73{a)(2)(i)(B) as an Operation or Condition Prohibited by Technical Specifications.

The cause of the setpoint drift for the ten SRV pilot stage assemblies is attributed to corrosion bonding between the pilot disc and seating surfaces, which is consistent with industry experience. This conclusion is based on previous cause evaluations and the repetitive nature of this condition at HCGS and within the BWR industry.

Technical evaluations performed to assess the aggregate safety significance of ten SRVs with out of tolerance initial lift setpoints concluded that this condition had no safety significance.

DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRRENCE

During the nineteenth refueling outage (H1R19) at Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS), all 14 Main Steam Safety Relief Valves (SRV) pilot stage assemblies {SB/RV} were removed and tested at NWS Technologies. The SRVs are Target Rock Model 7567F two-stage SRVs. During the period from June 2, 2015 through June 10. 2015, HCGS received the results of the 'as-found' set pressure testing required by Technical Specification (TS) Surveillance Requirement (SR) 4.4.2.2. A total of ten of the 14 SRV pilot stage assemblies had setpoint drift outside of the required

TS 3.4.2.1 tolerance values of +/-3% of nominal value. The 'as-found' test results for the ten SRVs not meeting the TS requirements are as follows:

Valve ID As Found TS Lift Setting Acceptable Band % Difference

(psig) (psig) (psig) Actual

F013C 1216 1130 1096.1 -1163.9 7.61%

F013F 1240 1108 1074.8 -1141.2 11.90%

F013G 1208 1120 1086.4 - 1153.6 7.86%

F013H 1148 1108 1074.8-1141.2 3.60%

F013J 1161 1120 1086.4 -1153.6 3.66%

F013K 1161 1108 107 4.8 -1141.2 4.80%

F013 L 1165 1120 1086.4 -1153.6 4.00%

F013 M 1207 1108 1074.8 -1141.2 8.90%

F013P 1221 1120 1086.4 -1153.6 9.00%

F013R 1169 1120 1086.4 -1153.6 4.38%

CAUSE OF EVENT

The cause of the setpoint drift for the ten SRV pilot stage assemblies is attributed to corrosion bonding between the pilot disc and seating surfaces, which is consistent with industry experience. This conclusion is based on previous cause evaluations and the repetitive nature of this condition at HCGS and within the BWR industry.

Front Page Boston Globe: Pilgrim Downgraded

This below little paragraph is all that is wrong with our news media. The just don't have the specific expertise to ask the important questions? What does "previously addressed the safety relief valve issue" mean. You trust the NRC to be completely truthful to you? These so called new replacement valves really are of a disgraced design...prone to be broken and not detectable and issues with leaking. The two stage valves are dogs. They don't manufacture these valves anymore, they are probably many decades old. These two stage Target Rock safety relief valves (4 of them) were old defective valve the so called new three stage Target replaced. The three stage reliefs have been out of manufacturing for decades also, they get all the two and three stage relief valves from the nuclear junk yards and refurbish them with unreliable foreign parts.

 

Pilgrim nuclear plant safety rating downgraded NRC cites valve problems and shutdowns

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Wednesday that it had downgraded the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station’s safety rating after repeated unplanned shutdowns at the Plymouth facility and recurring problems with the plant’s safety relief valves. 

The plant is now one of just three nuclear power reactors nationwide ranked in the next-to-lowest performance category, officials said. There are no plants in the lowest category.

“They are one step removed from the column where they would be at risk of being shut down by the NRC,” said NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan. 

Pilgrim will now be subject to more stringent oversight by regulators, who will conduct an inspection to determine what problems — equipment failures, procedural trouble, or human error — led to the shutdowns in 2013 and 2015.
“Pilgrim is going to receive scrutiny at the highest levels,” said Sheehan. Despite the downgrade, he said, regulators do not believe there is a pressing safety risk associated with operating the plant. “If we did, we’d intervene. But we do believe there are enough problems that need addressing that this level of attention was warranted.” 

Attorney General Maura Healey called the downgrade “disturbing” and said her primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the people living near the plant, which is owned and operated by Entergy Corp. 

“Entergy must act swiftly and decisively to correct these issues and restore the public’s trust in its ability to safely operate this plant,” she said in a statement.
The 680-megawatt Pilgrim plant opened in 1972. In 2012, its operating license was extended to 2032. 

Regulators will increase the frequency of inspections at Pilgrim, and Entergy will be required to present its performance improvement plan to regulators at a public meeting. 

“Over the coming days Entergy will review the details of the NRC’s decision to consider what actions we need to take to enable Pilgrim Station to return to normal NRC oversight,” Bill Mohl, president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities, said in a statement.

This below little paragraph is all that is wrong with our news media. The just don't have the specific expertise to ask the important questions? What does "previously addressed the safety relief valve issue" mean. You trust the NRC to be completely truthful to you? These so called new replacement valves really are of a disgraced design...prone to be broken and not detectable and issues with leaking. The two stage valves are dogs. They don't manufacture these valves anymore, they are probably many decades old. These two stage Target Rock safety relief valves (4 of them) were old defective valve the so called new three stage Target replaced. The three stage reliefs have been out of manufacturing for decades also, they get all the two and three stage relief valves from the nuclear junk yards and refurbish them with unreliable foreign parts.          

Mohl said that the plant has previously addressed the safety relief valve issue and the plant is operating safely. 

The plant has four safety relief valves, Sheehan said, which alleviate pressure and facilitate the cooling of the reactor. If the reactor cannot be sufficiently cooled, the fuel can begin to melt, which can lead to a radiation leak, though Pilgrim has many redundant systems that would kick in if a valve stopped working, said a spokeswoman. 

“There are backups to backups,” said Pilgrim spokeswoman Lauren Burmin an e-mail. 

All US nuclear power plants are equipped with containment structures to help prevent the release of radioactive material to the environment in the event of an accident, said Sheehan. 

In February 2013, said Sheehan, one of the valves at Pilgrim failed to open during a cooldown, though the station was not cited at the time. The plant’s safety rating was downgraded in 2014 after a series of unplanned shutdowns in late 2013

The problem with the safety valves should have been fully addressed in 2013, said Sheehan, but on Jan. 27 of this year, during a shutdown amid a major snowstorm, another safety relief valve failed to open. 

“They had an opportunity in 2013 to identify the problem, and they failed to do so,” said Sheehan. The plant has since replaced all four valves, Sheehan said, but the repeated failures “point to some programmatic and cultural issues that we believe deserve a closer look.” 

Burm said in an e-mail that the company recognizes the need to strengthen its corrective action program. 

“We work hard every day to find and fix problems in a timely manner,” said Burm. 

Governor Charlie Baker, who recently toured Pilgrim, said Wednesday that he was confident in the plant.

“I do believe it’s safe, yeah,” said Baker, the State House News Service said. “I certainly view the issues that have been raised by this most recent report [as] something we need to pay attention to and be careful and thoughtful about, but the NRC is the most knowledgeable enterprise involved in this oversight activity. We’re going to let them lead this one.” 

The downgrade drew calls for the NRC to continue its aggressive oversight of the plant until Entergy can prove that it has dedicated the proper resources and training to the safe operation of the plant. 

“For decades, I have raised concerns about Pilgrim’s operations, security preparedness, the safety of the surrounding communities in the event of a nuclear accident, and the willingness of Entergy to dedicate sufficient resources to run the reactor safely,” US Senator Edward J. Markey said in a statement. “Pilgrim has had longstanding and repetitive safety problems and unplanned shutdowns that require this increased level of NRC oversight, especially since it is the same design as the reactors that melted down during the Fukushima nuclear disaster.” 

Markey said that Entergy should be required to pay for the distribution of potassium iodide, an anti-radiation drug that can prevent thyroid cancer caused by radiation released during a reactor meltdown, to any Massachusetts community that requests it. 

Mary Lampert, director of Pilgrim Watch, a group that has long sought to close the plant, said trouble has been brewing at Pilgrim for years. 

“This is an old reactor, and like old people such as myself, it requires a lot of money and maintenance,” said Lampert. “Entergy, because it is not able to effectively compete with natural gas and wind, is not making the money that it panned to, is not spending the money for maintenance.” 

Lampert, who can see Pilgrim from her home in Duxbury, said she feared an accident at the plant. 

“You recognize accidents can and do happen,” she said. “That’s something you don’t like to think about, because you’re here.”