FYI -- Press release from Scotland...

[Robin_Siskel@notes.ymp.gov]

STORM SPARKS MAJOR NUCLEAR ALERT AT PLANT

A FULL-SCALE emergency was declared at a Scots nuclear station when fierce
winds knocked out the power to cool its reactors.   Last night, the plant
remained shut after bosses pressed the alarm button on Sunday.

They couldn't restart the back-up generators, vital to keep the reactors'
two cores from overheating.

Frightened staff were called from their homes and battled for five hours to
manually try to reset the safety systems before the cores went "critical".
A boss was also rushed under police escort to Hunterston B, in Ayrshire, it
was claimed.

The astonishing situation - sparking fears of a Chernobyl-type reactor
meltdown - happened after storms took out the national grid twice in the
space of 12 hours.

The first time - at 11pm on Saturday - the emergency back-up generators in
the nuclear plant switched on automatically.

But there were not enough staff on duty to manually reset them before the
grid went down a second time at 11am on Sunday - leaving plant bosses
helpless.

An investigation is being carried out by the Nuclear Installations
Inspectorate.

A spokeswoman said last night: "Two of our inspectors were called in as
soon as the alarm was raised on Sunday and our investigations continue.

"There was no power to the system that cools the reactor for a number of
hours and we do consider this a serious incident."

It's a major embarrassment for Scottish Nuclear, who claim their safety
systems cover all eventualities.

Roseanna Cunningham, the SNP's environment spokeswoman, said: "Holiday
period or not, you can't afford to take risks with nuclear energy.

"Questions must be answered on why Hunterston B was understaffed."

Earlier this year, the back-up at Dounreay, in Caithness, failed when a
digger cut power cables.

That disaster was one of the reasons Scots Secretary Donald Dewar ordered
the plant be closed.

A Hunterston worker, who asked not to be named, said the situation had been
terrifying.

He said: "The sirens were sounding all over the plant and there were
police, fire and ambulance crew arriving. We didn't know what was going on.

"It is the most serious incident I have ever seen."

Kevin Dunion, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, called for a full
inquiry into the role of the management.

He said people would be "astounded" to find fail safe procedures hadn't
been worked out for the holiday.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Nuclear said at no time was any member of the
public or staff at risk.

Meanwhile, after days of bad weather, Hogmanay revellers have been warned
to wrap up to avoid tragedy at this year's huge outdoor parties.

The alert comes after Perth teenager Sally Greig froze to death walking
home from a festive party.

Ambulance services are on standby amid fears that temperatures could plunge
to as low as 2C (34F).

Police urged party-goers to make sure they wear layers of warm clothes on
Edinburgh's streets.

Around 150,000 people are expected to crowd the city-centre party, which is
ticket-only.

Weather experts say Edinburgh will be colder than Glasgow, where
temperatures will reach around 3C (36F).

Last night, north Scotland was battered by more storms, with the islands,
Aberdeen and Dundee being worst hit with winds of up to 65mph.

And more than 4000 families were still without electricity yesterday as
power bosses faced calls to quit.

Today, the weather will be dull across Scotland, with strong winds,
particularly in the north-east. It will be mild everywhere.
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