The
NRC is prepared for the Hurricane Sandy, with inspectors at all nuclear
power plants that could potentially experience impacts from the storm.
The inspectors are independently verifying that plant operators are
making the proper preparations, are following relevant procedures and
are taking appropriate actions to ensure plant safety before, during and
after the storm.
In
addition, the NRC is monitoring the storm from the Incident Response
Center at its Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa., and from the
Operations Center at the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. And the
agency is in contact with FEMA.
Activities
at all nuclear power plants are overseen on an ongoing basis by at
least two NRC resident inspectors. In response to the storm, the agency
will dispatch additional inspectors, with others on standby. The plants
to receive enhanced oversight during the storm include: Calvert Cliffs,
in Lusby, Md.; Salem and Hope Creek, in Hancocks Bridge, N.J.; Oyster
Creek, in Lacey Township, N.J.; Peach Bottom, in Delta, Pa.; Three Mile
Island 1, in Middletown, Pa.; Susquehanna, in Salem Township, Pa.;
Indian Point, in Buchanan, N.Y.; and Millstone, in Waterford, Conn.
To ensure that lines of communications are maintained, the on-site inspectors are equipped with satellite phones.
Nuclear
power plant procedures require that the facilities be shut down prior
to any projected hurricane-force winds on-site. The plants’ emergency
diesel generators are available if off-site power is lost during the
storm. Also, all plants have flood protection above the predicted storm
surge, and key components and systems are housed in watertight buildings
capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and flooding.
The
storm has forced the closure of the agency’s headquarters and Region I,
with the exception of emergency personnel. The NRC's independent
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has already cancelled
its subcommittee meetings for Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The ACRS
currently expects to be able to continue as planned for the meeting of
the Fukushima Subcommittee on Wednesday afternoon, and the full
committee meeting on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Also
because of the storm, the NRC has postponed Tuesday's scheduled
Commission briefing on the status of the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant. The
briefing will be rescheduled. Please check our Public Meetings Page and
the Commission Schedule on our website for updates. The meeting between
NRC officials and officials of the Omaha Public Power is still
scheduled for Nov. 15 in Blair, Neb.
Residents in the path of the storm can get information on hurricane preparedness at
www.ready.gov
.
Eliot Brenner
Public Affairs Director
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