Earthquake concerns prompt call to shut nuclear plant

[yuiyoshida]

Shut Diablo Canyon, federal expert advises
A senior federal nuclear expert is urging regulators to shut down the state's last operating nuclear plant, at Diablo Canyon on the central coast, until they can determine whether the facility's twin reactors can withstand powerful shaking from any one of several nearby earthquake faults.

Michael Peck, who for five years was Diablo Canyon's lead on-site inspector, says in a 42-page, confidential report that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not applying the safety rules it set out for the plant's operation.

The document does not say the plant itself is unsafe. Instead, according to Peck's analysis, no one knows whether the plant's equipment can withstand strong shaking from nearby faults.

In many cases, Peck notes, the potential for such shaking was discovered after Diablo Canyon was built.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Earthquake-concerns-prompt-call-to-shut-nuclear-5711717.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=4ce89978913c100abe

[Cleita]

1. It won't happen until they figure out a way to replace the 1400

jobs that PG & E provides this county. This is the cork in progress that has caused our county board of supervisors to look the other way every time activists try to get the plant decommissioned.

[pinto]

2. A primary concern, iirc, is used fuel rod containers on the site.

[Cleita]

3. They are both serious concerns.

If we get a big earthquake the used fuel rods are also at risk yes, but if we have a tsunami the whole plant is at risk.

[pinto]

4. I don't think a tsunami is a big risk. The plant is too far above sea level,

and there's that huge, solid vertical ocean facing cliff as a buffer.

[Cleita]

5. I hope you are right, but a big earthquake can reorganize the landscape

and if it lowers it..... I saw such a thing in Alaska where the 1964 earthquake dropped a whole forested valley into the sound bringing it to sea level. It was a 9.2. You know anything above 7.5 for Diablo Canyon will compromise the plant and probably the canyon itself.

[Auggie]

6. Only thing shutting down DC will be old age IMO

PG&E counts on that thing for too much power