The first bad news for Entergy and Vermont Yankee was detailed by VPR'S John Dillon in Regulators Question Underwater Cables At Vermont Yankee notes that Federal inspectors have called attention to a new potential safety problem at Vermont Yankee.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant has electric cables that are frequently submerged in water. That raises the possibility they could short-circuit and disable safety systems.
VPR's John Dillon has more:
(Dillon) The NRC flagged the issue of the electric cables in a May 10 inspection report. The document says Entergy Vermont Yankee has allowed cables that control safety systems to be continually submerged in underground trenches.
The problem is the cables are not designed to be soaked in water. The NRC said this could cause the cables to degrade and fail. The report said - quote - "this finding is more than minor because if left uncorrected, the performance deficiency has the potential to lead to a more significant safety concern."
Dillon is not just talking about reliability issues, but he is talking about the dreaded word safety concern.
The second shoe to drop for Entergy involves a submittal to the Public Service Board docket by the environmental advocacy group Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) against the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant claiming the facility has violated the state's latest groundwater public trust law. , according to the Brattleboro Reformer
In a testimony filed with the state's Public Service Board today, the Vermont Natural Resources Council asserts the tritium leak at the Vernon-based nuclear station breaches a 2008 act approved by the Legislature declaring groundwater is a public trust resource.
"Every Vermonter owns Vermont's groundwater," said Jon Groveman, the VNRC water program co-director.
"If Vermont Yankee is claiming they have not violated Vermont law because the groundwater they have polluted has not spread to drinking water wells off their property, they are wrong," he said.
Third, it was announced today that NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko may visit Vermont Yankee in July according to the Rutland Herald.
NRC spokesperson Neil Sheehan said it is not unusual for Jaczko and other NRC commissioners to visit nuclear plants, troubled or otherwise, but it coincides with some of the more troubled months of Vermont Yankee's history, since a radioactive leak of tritium and other radioactive isotopes was confirmed in January.
"The chairman and Commissioners visit nuclear power plants all the time. It affords them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with specific sites and, on occasion, meet with stakeholders to hear their concerns," Sheehan said in an e-mail.
No wonder Vermont Yankee did not want to let all the press know about more contaminated fish and needed some DOH help with the NEWS DUMP. Hope folks along the Connecticut River aren't planning any fish fries for the holiday weekend. Best to throw them back. |
