NRC INVESTIGATION REPORT NOS. 1-2012-012, 1-2012-043, 1-2011-030, AND
NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000387;388/2013013; AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Download ML13269A254
Monday, September 30, 2013
Nuclear Costs; Dangers
High Repair Costs and Lower Power Prices Drive Nuclear Retirements:
U.S. Energy Information Administration, September 23, 2013
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/update
Since October 2012, electric power companies have announced the retirement of five nuclear reactors at four power plants. The five reactors have a combined capacity of nearly 4,200 megawatts. The recent retirements are the first since 1998. Decisions to retire the units involved concerns over maintenance and repair costs and declining profitability. Units that operated as merchant generators, meaning that the costs associated with running and maintaining the plants cannot be recovered through regulated cost-of-service rates, have been particularly sensitive to declining profitability. Low wholesale electricity prices, driven in part by lower natural gas prices, have been cited more often in the retirement decisions of these plants while repair costs have been drivers of retirements at nuclear power plants owned by utilities. The recent reactor retirements will decrease the total number of operating nuclear reactors to 99 and will reduce total U.S nuclear net summer capacity by almost 4%.
====================================
More Than 36 GW of U.S. Nuclear Capacity in Hurricane Zones:
Power Engineering, September 23, 2013
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/09/more-than-36-gw-of-us-nuclear-capacity-in-hurricane-zones.html
A report from SNL Energy says that 36,471 MW of nuclear capacity could be at risk from hurricanes in the continental United States. The report uses hurricane hazard zones defined by the American Red Cross stretching from Maine and down the coast to Texas. The report says two nuclear plants are at the highest risk due to proximity to hurricane zones: the 2,032 MW St. Lucie plant in Florida, which is majority owned by NextEra Energy Inc. and the 1,928 MW Brunhswick plant in North Carolina, owned by Duke Energy.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, September 23, 2013
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/update
Since October 2012, electric power companies have announced the retirement of five nuclear reactors at four power plants. The five reactors have a combined capacity of nearly 4,200 megawatts. The recent retirements are the first since 1998. Decisions to retire the units involved concerns over maintenance and repair costs and declining profitability. Units that operated as merchant generators, meaning that the costs associated with running and maintaining the plants cannot be recovered through regulated cost-of-service rates, have been particularly sensitive to declining profitability. Low wholesale electricity prices, driven in part by lower natural gas prices, have been cited more often in the retirement decisions of these plants while repair costs have been drivers of retirements at nuclear power plants owned by utilities. The recent reactor retirements will decrease the total number of operating nuclear reactors to 99 and will reduce total U.S nuclear net summer capacity by almost 4%.
====================================
More Than 36 GW of U.S. Nuclear Capacity in Hurricane Zones:
Power Engineering, September 23, 2013
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/09/more-than-36-gw-of-us-nuclear-capacity-in-hurricane-zones.html
A report from SNL Energy says that 36,471 MW of nuclear capacity could be at risk from hurricanes in the continental United States. The report uses hurricane hazard zones defined by the American Red Cross stretching from Maine and down the coast to Texas. The report says two nuclear plants are at the highest risk due to proximity to hurricane zones: the 2,032 MW St. Lucie plant in Florida, which is majority owned by NextEra Energy Inc. and the 1,928 MW Brunhswick plant in North Carolina, owned by Duke Energy.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request for Extended Power Uprate (TAC Nos. ME9631 and ME9632)
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Request for
Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request for Extended
Power Uprate (TAC Nos. ME9631 and ME9632)
Download ML13253A416
Download ML13253A416
Monday, September 16, 2013
California Energy Bill Passes, Awaits Gov. Brown's Signature
Lawmakers in the California state legislature granted their final
approval to a package of energy legislation. The bill, AB 327, will now
head to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. It passed the state Senate September 9
with a vote of 33-5 after passing the Assembly in May by wide margins.
The bill's centerpiece would essentially remove the "cap" from California's renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), which is already one of the most aggressive in the nation.
California state law requires power companies to generate 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. AB 327, once signed into law, will empower the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to raise that percentage without the need for legislative action.
"This is a banner day in California. Once again, state lawmakers have set the bar high when it comes to the adoption of renewable energy. AB 327 provides a clear pathway for the continued growth of solar generation in California, which ranks No. 1 in the nation in total installed solar capacity with 3,761 MW," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The bill allows for adjustments to the state's net metering program, which lets customers who generate their own electricity via rooftop solar to be compensated for energy that flows back onto the grid from such distributed generation sources.
The bill would allow the CPUC to redesign utility billing rates, potentially cutting monthly bills for end users living in the hotter interior parts of California. Large investor-owned utilities, such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) would collectively bargain among themselves for sought-after billing changes.
The assembly also passed SB 4, a law that would require energy companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracking, as well as require permits for fracking as well as acidizing — techniques used to extract oil from shale rock deposits like California's Montgomery Shale reserves.
Read Article
The bill's centerpiece would essentially remove the "cap" from California's renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), which is already one of the most aggressive in the nation.
California state law requires power companies to generate 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. AB 327, once signed into law, will empower the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to raise that percentage without the need for legislative action.
"This is a banner day in California. Once again, state lawmakers have set the bar high when it comes to the adoption of renewable energy. AB 327 provides a clear pathway for the continued growth of solar generation in California, which ranks No. 1 in the nation in total installed solar capacity with 3,761 MW," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The bill allows for adjustments to the state's net metering program, which lets customers who generate their own electricity via rooftop solar to be compensated for energy that flows back onto the grid from such distributed generation sources.
The bill would allow the CPUC to redesign utility billing rates, potentially cutting monthly bills for end users living in the hotter interior parts of California. Large investor-owned utilities, such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) would collectively bargain among themselves for sought-after billing changes.
The assembly also passed SB 4, a law that would require energy companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracking, as well as require permits for fracking as well as acidizing — techniques used to extract oil from shale rock deposits like California's Montgomery Shale reserves.
Read Article
PJM Emergency
PJM Sets Record Sept. Peak Power Use
Weather and Local Grid Conditions Require Load Reductions PJM Monitoring Grid Closely Today as Power Supplies Remain Tight
(Valley Forge, Pa. – Sept. 11, 2013) – Due to unseasonably hot weather, PJM Interconnection, the electricity grid operator for 13 states and the District of Columbia, set a new record for September peak power use yesterday by meeting the demand for 144,370 megawatts. By comparison, the 2012 September peak demand was 129, 959 MW, and the PJM peak demand in July of this year was 157,509 MW. The hot weather continues in many areas today and electricity supplies remain tight.
PJM is responsible for keeping the grid running safely and reliably. Tuesday’s unusual, extreme heat combined with local equipment problems to create emergency conditions in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. PJM was forced to direct local utilities in those areas to immediately and temporarily cut electricity to some customers to avoid the possibility of an uncontrolled blackout over a larger area that would have affected many more people. Continued heat in some areas today will require load reductions through demand response, but PJM and its members are working to prevent additional emergency customer curtailments.
Download PDF
Weather and Local Grid Conditions Require Load Reductions PJM Monitoring Grid Closely Today as Power Supplies Remain Tight
(Valley Forge, Pa. – Sept. 11, 2013) – Due to unseasonably hot weather, PJM Interconnection, the electricity grid operator for 13 states and the District of Columbia, set a new record for September peak power use yesterday by meeting the demand for 144,370 megawatts. By comparison, the 2012 September peak demand was 129, 959 MW, and the PJM peak demand in July of this year was 157,509 MW. The hot weather continues in many areas today and electricity supplies remain tight.
PJM is responsible for keeping the grid running safely and reliably. Tuesday’s unusual, extreme heat combined with local equipment problems to create emergency conditions in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. PJM was forced to direct local utilities in those areas to immediately and temporarily cut electricity to some customers to avoid the possibility of an uncontrolled blackout over a larger area that would have affected many more people. Continued heat in some areas today will require load reductions through demand response, but PJM and its members are working to prevent additional emergency customer curtailments.
Download PDF
EPA Documents Raise Doubts Over Intent of New Nuclear-Response Guide
Destroyed unit 3 reactor building of Tokyo Electric Power
Co.'s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant is seen in
Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. Japan
next month marks one year since the March 11 tsunami and earthquake,
which triggered the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.
(AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool)
WASHINGTON -- Newly obtained government documents are prompting concern among critics that Environmental Protection Agency officials are seeking to use the organization’s new guide for nuclear-incident response to relax public health standards, but the agency is denying the claim.
Douglas P. Guarino
Senior Reporter
National Journal Group
Global Security Newswire
Read Article
Monday, September 9, 2013
PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION: NRC EVALUATION OF CHANGES, TESTS, AND EXPERIMENTS AND PERMANENT MODIFICATIONS TEAM INSPECTION REPORT 05000277/2013010 AND 05000278/2013010
PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION: NRC EVALUATION OF CHANGES, TESTS,
AND EXPERIMENTS AND PERMANENT MODIFICATIONS TEAM INSPECTION REPORT
05000277/2013010 AND 05000278/2013010
Download ML13199A295
Download ML13199A295
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station - NRC Integrated Inspection Report 05000277/2013003 and 05000278/2013003 and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Report 07200029/2013001
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station - NRC Integrated Inspection Report
05000277/2013003 and 05000278/2013003 and Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation Report 07200029/2013001
Download ML13213A239
Download ML13213A239
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 - Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000289/2013006)
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 - Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000289/2013006)
Download ML13246A131
Download ML13246A131
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 - Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000387/2013006 and 05000388/2013006)
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 - Mid-Cycle
Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000387/2013006 and
05000388/2013006)
Download ML13246A163
Download ML13246A163
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Units 2 and 3 - Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000277/2013006 and 05000278/2013006)
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Units 2 and 3 - Mid-Cycle
Performance Review and Inspection Plan (Report 05000277/2013006 and
05000278/2013006)
Download ML13240A170
Download ML13240A170
Trip Report: Site Visit Regarding the Indiana Bat Summer Survey Plan For The Proposed Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant Site
On May 8, 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a
site visit held at the Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant site, near Berwick,
Pennsylvania. Enclosure 1 provides a summary of the site visit. The
purpose of the site visit was to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to finalize the Indiana Bat Summer Survey Plan in order for the
applicant, PPL Bell Bend, LLC, to begin surveys in May or June 2013. The
data collected in the survey will be used by the NRC and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to support the biological assessment for the project
as required by the Endangered Species Act. Enclosure 2 contains the
agenda for the site visit; Enclosure 3 contains an attendance sheet from
the site visit; Enclosure 4 contains a revised survey locations map
that reflected the changes discussed at the beginning of the site visit;
and Enclosure 5 contains a revised survey locations map that reflected
the changes that were discussed during the site visit.
Download PDF
Download PDF
Entergy closing Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant – economic decision
Entergy to Close, Decommission Vermont Yankee
Decision driven by sustained low power prices, high cost structure and wholesale electricity market design flaws for Vermont Yankee plant
Focus to remain on safety during remaining operation and after shutdown
New Orleans, La. – Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today said it plans to close and decommission its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vt. The station is expected to cease power production after its current fuel cycle and move to safe shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2014. The station will remain under the oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission throughout the decommissioning process.
Read article
Decision driven by sustained low power prices, high cost structure and wholesale electricity market design flaws for Vermont Yankee plant
Focus to remain on safety during remaining operation and after shutdown
New Orleans, La. – Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today said it plans to close and decommission its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vt. The station is expected to cease power production after its current fuel cycle and move to safe shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2014. The station will remain under the oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission throughout the decommissioning process.
Read article
Clarification Regarding the Timing of Submittal of a Decommissioning Funding Plan Per Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 72.30(b) for Future Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations
Clarification Regarding the Timing of Submittal of a Decommissioning
Funding Plan Per Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section
72.30(b) for Future Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations
Download ML13234A559
Download ML13234A559
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station: NRC Inspection Report 05000387/2013012 and 05000388/2013012; and Notice of Violation
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station: NRC Inspection Report 05000387/2013012 and 05000388/2013012; and Notice of Violation
Download ML13241A027
Download ML13241A027
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 - Relief Request VR-01, Proposed Alternative Testing of the Pressurizer Pilot Operated Relief Valve (TAC No. ME9819)
THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - RELIEF REQUEST VR-01,
PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TESTING OF THE PRESSURIZER PILOT OPERATED RELIEF
VALVE (TAC NO. ME9819)
Download ML13232A051
Download ML13232A051
Monday, September 2, 2013
Will Three Mile Island Ever Be Cleaned Up?
Testimony of Eric Epstein Re: Three Mile Island, Unit 2, (TMI-2)
Post-Shutdown Decommissiong Activities Report (PSDAR) August 28, 2014
I. Introduction
Within two years after submitting the certification of permanent closure to the NRC,* nuclear power plants are required to file a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report ("PSDAR"). GPU Nuclear Inc., ("GPU") te plant's owner, neglected to do that by the required date of September 14, 1995. On February 13, 2013, over seventeen years after the Report was due and thirty years after GPU caused a meldown, the NRC decided to give TMI-2 the benefit of the doubt. The NRC stated, "..after reviewing the circumstances for the company's failure to submit a PSDAR." the NRC downgraded the Security Level III violation to a slap on the wrist and issued a non-cited notice of violation.
This is like being awarded a Ph.D. for flunking out of first grade.
Thank goodness the NRC is not a probation officer.
Download PDF
I. Introduction
Within two years after submitting the certification of permanent closure to the NRC,* nuclear power plants are required to file a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report ("PSDAR"). GPU Nuclear Inc., ("GPU") te plant's owner, neglected to do that by the required date of September 14, 1995. On February 13, 2013, over seventeen years after the Report was due and thirty years after GPU caused a meldown, the NRC decided to give TMI-2 the benefit of the doubt. The NRC stated, "..after reviewing the circumstances for the company's failure to submit a PSDAR." the NRC downgraded the Security Level III violation to a slap on the wrist and issued a non-cited notice of violation.
This is like being awarded a Ph.D. for flunking out of first grade.
Thank goodness the NRC is not a probation officer.
Download PDF
Three Mile Island News Release - Siren Test Scheduled
Contact:
Ralph DeSantis
Three Mile Island Generating Station
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Three Mile Island Sirens to be Tested Aug. 29
Additional test required to qualify the new, upgraded system for service
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, PA (Aug. 27, 2013) – Three Mile Island, in cooperation with the counties around the plant, will conduct a test of its new, upgraded emergency notification siren system on Thursday, August 29 at 12:15 p.m. (EDT). The test is part of the process of qualifying the new, upgraded system for service. The original siren system will remain in service until all future testing of the new system is completed.
During the test, all 96 sirens that are part of the new system will be sounded for 3 minutes. Exelon is conducting the tests in cooperation with Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York Counties and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
The new system includes battery backup capability that allows the sirens to sound even during power outages.
The purpose of the sirens is to notify residents to tune into an Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station in case of an emergency.
# # #
Download File
Ralph DeSantis
Three Mile Island Generating Station
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Three Mile Island Sirens to be Tested Aug. 29
Additional test required to qualify the new, upgraded system for service
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, PA (Aug. 27, 2013) – Three Mile Island, in cooperation with the counties around the plant, will conduct a test of its new, upgraded emergency notification siren system on Thursday, August 29 at 12:15 p.m. (EDT). The test is part of the process of qualifying the new, upgraded system for service. The original siren system will remain in service until all future testing of the new system is completed.
During the test, all 96 sirens that are part of the new system will be sounded for 3 minutes. Exelon is conducting the tests in cooperation with Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York Counties and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
The new system includes battery backup capability that allows the sirens to sound even during power outages.
The purpose of the sirens is to notify residents to tune into an Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station in case of an emergency.
# # #
Download File
SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 and 2 NRC INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000387/2013301; 05000388/2013301
SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 and 2 NRC INITIAL
OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000387/2013301; 05000388/2013301
Download ML13238A315
Download ML13238A315
THREE MILE ISLAND STATION - NRC EVALUATION OF CHANGES, TESTS, OR EXPERIMENTS AND PERMANENT PLANT MODIFICATIONS TEAM INSPECTION REPORT 05000289/2013007
THREE MILE ISLAND STATION - NRC EVALUATION OF CHANGES, TESTS, OR
EXPERIMENTS AND PERMANENT PLANT MODIFICATIONS TEAM INSPECTION REPORT
05000289/2013007
Download ML13233A228
Download ML13233A228
NRC to conduct meeting in Aug. 28 re: Three Mile Island Unit 2 nuclear plant decommissioning plans
FYI: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff will hold a
public meeting on Wednesday, Aug . 28 in Hershey, Pa. regarding the
eventual decommissioning plans for the Three Mile Island Unit 2 nuclear
power plant. Unit 2 was the site of the March 1979 accident at the site
and never operated again after that event.
Within two years after submitting the certification of permanent closure to the NRC, nuclear power plants are required to file a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR). GPU Nuclear Inc., the plant’s owner, neglected to do that by the required date of Sept. 14, 1995. Last February, after reviewing the circumstances for the company’s failure to submit a PSDAR by the deadline, the NRC issued a non-cited notice of violation to GPU Nuclear for not doing so (attached). One of the mitigating factors was the company’s plans to address the deficiency, which included the submittal of a PSDAR in June 2013 (attached). That report will be the subject of discussion at the Aug. 28th meeting.
A PSDAR provides a description of the planned decommissioning activities, a schedule for accomplishing them and an estimate of the expected costs.
The current decommissioning plan for TMI-2 calls for maintaining the plant in the post-defueling monitored storage state up to an additional 20 years to coincide with the end of the TMI-1 Operating License in order to synchronize the decommissioning of TMI-1 and TMI-2. The NRC approved a 20-year extension to the TMI-1 Operating License in October 2009. As a result, the TMI-1 Operating License has been extended until April 19, 2034. The TMI-2 PSDAR establishes the schedule for the
decommissioning of TMI-2 to commence following the expiration of the current TMI-1 Operating License.
The schedule for decommissioning of TMI-2 has been developed in order to achieve the termination of license by September 14, 2053.
If you need additional information, please let me know
Neil Sheehan
NRC Public Affairs Officer
Region I
Download Meeting Notice PDF
Download Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report PDF
Download Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report Violation PDF
Within two years after submitting the certification of permanent closure to the NRC, nuclear power plants are required to file a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR). GPU Nuclear Inc., the plant’s owner, neglected to do that by the required date of Sept. 14, 1995. Last February, after reviewing the circumstances for the company’s failure to submit a PSDAR by the deadline, the NRC issued a non-cited notice of violation to GPU Nuclear for not doing so (attached). One of the mitigating factors was the company’s plans to address the deficiency, which included the submittal of a PSDAR in June 2013 (attached). That report will be the subject of discussion at the Aug. 28th meeting.
A PSDAR provides a description of the planned decommissioning activities, a schedule for accomplishing them and an estimate of the expected costs.
The current decommissioning plan for TMI-2 calls for maintaining the plant in the post-defueling monitored storage state up to an additional 20 years to coincide with the end of the TMI-1 Operating License in order to synchronize the decommissioning of TMI-1 and TMI-2. The NRC approved a 20-year extension to the TMI-1 Operating License in October 2009. As a result, the TMI-1 Operating License has been extended until April 19, 2034. The TMI-2 PSDAR establishes the schedule for the
decommissioning of TMI-2 to commence following the expiration of the current TMI-1 Operating License.
The schedule for decommissioning of TMI-2 has been developed in order to achieve the termination of license by September 14, 2053.
If you need additional information, please let me know
Neil Sheehan
NRC Public Affairs Officer
Region I
Download Meeting Notice PDF
Download Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report PDF
Download Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report Violation PDF
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