Reply #13: How can they inspect the pipe if it's under the earth?

[bushmeister0]

"Mel Gray, a branch chief at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who oversees inspections at Indian Point, confirmed in a telephone interview that inspectors 'have not dug up and laid eyes visually' on the pipes.

Mr. Gray acknowledged that the 12-inch line that delivers water from the 600,000 gallon tank during a shutdown might be rusted in places, too, but he said it was unlikely to fail suddenly when called on. But Mr. Blanch warned that if gravel or dirt leaked into the 12-inch supply pipe when the pumps started up, that could make them shut down."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/nyregion/02nuke.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=nyregion

That, to me is a problem.