Flood berm collapses at Nebraska nuclear plant

[Fledermaus]

A berm holding the flooded Missouri River back from a Nebraska nuclear power station collapsed early Sunday, but federal regulators said they were monitoring the situation and there was no danger........



The berm's collapse didn't affect the reactor shutdown cooling or the spent fuel pool cooling, but the power supply was cut after water surrounded the main electrical transformers, the NRC said. Emergency generators powered the plant Sunday while workers tried to restore power.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/26/2975978/flood-berm-collapses-at-nebraska.html#ixzz1QPMJEJKt

[MineralMan]

1. Some discussion already going on about this at the link below:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1366426

[Fledermaus]

2. Thanks, nuclear power has a "special" place here, BTW they have been on generator power from 1:30 am

The power has been knocked out.

[MineralMan]

3. Yah. That wasn't in the other story.

Thanks.

[oldbanjo]

4. where is the special place?

[Nihil]

6. Not sure but I suspect his head is already there ...

... no doubt searching for the "corium" that he keeps squawking about ...

[Fledermaus]

10. The nuclear grocery store clerks send their errand boys here to lie to motivated voters.

[kristopher]

5. K&R

[madokie]

7. Get on up to the greatest page

How long can they run on emergency generators when its going to be pretty difficult getting fuel to those generators. Last I looked it doesn't look like the rain up there is ending anytime soon.

rec'd

[FBaggins]

8. Indefinitely

This isn't a situation where the infrastructure has been devastated for scores of miles around.

They reportedly had fuel for weeks on-site and there isn't any reason to believe that getting more diesel fuel there would be a problem.

And... since the plant has been shut down for a couple months now, even a loss of diesel power would take quite some time to have an impact.

On edit - Reporting from a week or so ago said that there's normally fuel for two weeks of diesel operation, but that they had boosted it to four weeks in preparation for the flooding.

[Throckmorton]

9. The plant has not actually lost off-site power,

But its off-site sources can no longer meet the technical specification definition of Operable per the Fort Calhoun Tech Specs.

Therefore the 4160 VAC Safety Busses are being powered by the emergency diesels.

Per this mornings NRC Event Report:

BOTH EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATORS SUPPLYING PLANT EMERGENCY BUSES PER PLANT PROCEDURE

"At approximately 0125 , the AquaDam providing enhanced flood protection for FCS Unit 1 failed. At 0221, as a precautionary measure, DG-2 was automatically started per plant procedure to divorce bus 1A4 from offsite power. At 0250, DG-1 was automatically started to divorce bus 1A3. Both Emergency Diesel Generators loaded on buses as designed. 345KV and 161KV offsite power remain available.

"This is reportable pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A), 'System Actuation of the Emergency Diesel Generators'. All safety related flood protection barriers remain in place.

"Current river level is 1006.5' MSL and stable. FCS remains in a NOUE due to high river level.

"NRC personnel stationed onsite for flood monitoring have been informed."

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/en.html