[ RadSafe ] Katrina Aftermath

[McMahan, Kimberly L.]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission posted the following information
on their web site yesterday. I'd be interested to learn of any other
effects Hurricane Katrina has had with nuclear or radiological
consequences.

 

Kim McMahan

External Dosimetry Program

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

 

 

NRC CONTINUES TO MONITOR NUCLEAR PLANTS AFFECTED BY 

HURRICANE KATRINA

 

 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is working closely with operators at
three nuclear plants to ensure continued safe and secure operations in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

 

As a precautionary measure, the Waterford 3 nuclear plant near Taft,
La., shut down when a hurricane warning was issued for St. Charles
Parish on Saturday. It remains in an Unusual Event, the lowest of four
emergency action levels. Electrical power for key safety systems on site
is being supplied by the plant's standby diesel generators, following a
loss of off-site power caused by instability in the regional electrical
grid. 

 

NRC staff have independently verified that key plant systems and
structures, are undamaged and able to support current plant operations.
At the direction of the NRC, the nation's nuclear plants, which are
among the most robust structures in the critical infrastructure, have
increased security preparedness and capabilities available during
emergencies. 

 

A member of the NRC staff plans to accompany officials from the State of
Louisiana and the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a survey of
the site within the next 48 hours. NRC approval is needed before the
plant can be restarted. This survey will include off-site evacuation
routes and emergency sirens.

 

The Grand Gulf nuclear plant near Port Gibson, Miss., and River Bend
Nuclear Station near Baton Rouge, La., were both operating at reduced
power this morning. The plants operated through the storm, but
voluntarily reduced power generation to assist in restoring stability to
the electrical grid when a drop in energy consumption caused grid
voltage to fluctuate. 

 

Some emergency sirens were unavailable at Grand Gulf and River Bend, but
Entergy Nuclear has informed the NRC they can make offsite notifications
in the event of an emergency, should the need arise. The NRC will work
with FEMA to independently verify siren operability.

 

NRC staff continue to monitor the situation from its incident response
center at its Region IV office in Arlington, Texas.