bad news at the Seabrook, N.H. nuke plant

[ensho]

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/05/30/nuclear_regulatory_commission_says_seabrook_tunnel_weakened/?page=full


Water weakened Seabrook tunnel

Work underway to assess plant; reactor remains safe, NRC says


Concrete surrounding an electric tunnel at Seabrook Station nuclear power plant has lost almost 22 percent of its strength because it has been saturated with ground water for more than a decade, according to a new Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection report.

-snip-


Random cracks allow water to sometimes pool up to 2 inches deep in the tunnel interior, NextEra found, and the NRC says the company has had “limited success’’ in halting ground water seepage problems around the tunnel and elsewhere under the plant.


The problem is coming to light just months after Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis, an event that prompted politicians and the public in the United States to focus closer attention on the nation’s 104 reactors.

-snip-

The tunnel and other areas where water seepage was found are part of a safety system used to help cool the reactor when it is being shut down. In addition to the concrete tunnel problem, NextEra found corroded steel supports, piping, and anchor bolts in other areas they inspected but none have degraded concrete or in any way endanger the plant, said NextEra.
-snip-
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note about the article: one paragraph says everything is safe and the next tells of some degradation and then back to everything is safe. and ending with a sentence saying:

“These things keep surfacing,’’ Lochbaum said. “There is no one person responsible for this area.’’

[Arugula Latte]

1. Don't worry! I'm sure it's clean and safe!

I'm assured there will be no negative consequences. Carry on!

[nonperson]

2. What could possibly go wrong?

It's next generation technology now!

[Shagbark Hickory]

3. Yay! Go Nukes!

:sarcasm:

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Nice to know, since it's only about 20 miles away from the house

[immoderate]

5. Given enough time, the unlikely becomes inevitable.

--imm

[underseasurveyor]

6. With all the numerous layers of safety checks and balances

Nothing could ever go wrong in a nuke plant.

:eyes:

[aquart]

7. And we wondered why NH voters seem to be insane.

[RadiationTherapy]

8. It is intereting to note that IF a meltdown did happen

the groundwater is right there. *sploosh*

[meow mix]

9. wow this sounds so safe!! at least they said so a dozen times..

so it must be true :scared: