Some problems could start in the 1,010- to 1,012-foot range. And at 1,009 feet, if damage were to occur, OPPD would shift to the second-lowest of four alert classifications. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission expects flooding — based on current release rates and with normal to higher-than-normal rainfall — to peak between the current level and 1,008 feet.
The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station turned to diesel-powered generators Sunday after disconnecting from the main grid because of rising floodwaters. That move came after water surrounded several buildings when a temporary levee collapsed. OPPD officials said the switch was precautionary because of water leaking around the concrete berm surrounding the main transformers.The plant, about 19 miles north of Omaha, remains safe, Omaha Public Power District officials said Sunday afternoon.
Sunday's development offers even more evidence that the relentlessly rising Missouri River is testing the flood-worthiness of an American nuclear power plant like never before. The now-idle plant has become an island. And unlike other plants affected by high water, Fort Calhoun faces months of flooding. Plant operators later reconnected to off-site power once all safety checks had been completed.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is monitoring the Missouri River at the plant, which has been shut down since early April for refueling. The Fort Calhoun plant will remain surrounded at least through August as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues dumping unprecedented amounts of water from upstream dams.
The Aqua Dam provided supplemental flood protection and was not required under NRC regulations. “We put up the aqua-berm as additional protection. (The plant) is in the same situation it would have been in if the berm had not been added. We're still within NRC regulations.” The NRC says its inspectors were at the plant when the berm failed and have confirmed that the flooding has had no impact on the cooling of the idled reactor or the spent fuel pool. The NRC said there is a separate earthen berm to protect the electrical switchyard and a concrete barrier surrounding electrical transformers. Last week, the NRC augmented its inspection staff at Fort Calhoun. In addition to the two resident inspectors, three more inspectors and a branch chief were added to provide around-the-clock coverage of plant activities.
The generators have weeks of fuel on site. The generators are protected against flooding to 1,014 feet above sea level, which means they should be able to provide energy to the plant if the river rises 7.5 feet above its current level. At another location on the plant site, a temporary levee has been built around the storage area where casks containing older and cooler used nuclear fuel are kept. At some point above 1,014 feet, the Missouri River would overflow that berm. Also at 1,014, floodwater would incapacitate OPPD's backup generators if they were still being used to power the plant after the switchyard flooded. The utility has developed plans for tying directly into the transmission lines above the plant, if necessary. It also could shift to secondary backup generators, which are stationed about 22 feet above the worst-case design standard — at an elevation of 1,036 feet. Water would have to rise to 1,038.5 feet above sea level to reach the spent fuel pool, a water-filled pool that holds the plant's most recently used uranium fuel. If floodwater made it to the reactor, it couldn't get inside. That's because the reactor is itself a watertight vessel that holds nuclear fuel in its own deep pool of water. The Missouri would have to rise further still — more than 53 feet from its current level — to reach the top of the reactor. River levels at this height are nearly inconceivable: The river at Omaha would be some 50 feet higher than it is now.
Because the reactor went offline in April for routine maintenance, nuclear fission hadn't taken place for weeks when it became apparent that flooding would prevent restarting the plant. As a result, the reactor had cooled to about 80 degrees, whereas normally it would have been about 560 degrees. Should something catastrophic happen, OPPD would have more time to act because it would take longer for water in the reactor to heat to a dangerous level.
An aggressive federal inspection of Fort Calhoun in June 2009 uncovered problems with OPPD's flood preparedness. As a result, the utility was required to modernize its flood-fighting arsenal, including better and easier-to-install watertight doors and barriers, additional pumps and sandbagging equipment. OPPD had put the finishing touches on those protections and was preparing for what it hoped would be a final inspection this June when floodwaters arrived. NRC review uncovered a mistake in calculating the level of catastrophic flooding that could occur, an error that OPPD has acknowledged. According to the NRC review, OPPD was prepared for flooding up to a level of 1,009 feet above sea level — five feet below what the NRC required. Additionally, the federal agency said, OPPD's plans for protecting the plant to the required 1,014 feet were flawed and subject to failure. An NRC risk analysis released last year determined that under OPPD's now-discarded plans, flooding above 1,010 feet would have led to a 100 percent chance of a fuel damage if the emergency gasoline pumps didn't work. With the pumps in place, the NRC calculates that the pumping plan had a 97.5 percent chance of success of protecting the reactor core.
The Fort Calhoun plant isn't alone in battling the Missouri. Near Brownville, about 90 miles downstream, sandbags and other barriers have been installed to protect Cooper Nuclear Station from the rising waters. Based on current information from the Corps of Engineers, NPPD thinks Cooper will be able to operate throughout the summer. Cooper was built higher, off the flood plain, but over the past week the river has come within 6 inches to 18 inches of the level that would require a plant shutdown.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Center has said the odds favor a rainier-than-normal summer for the upper Missouri River basin, which could worsen flooding. However, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service said the river has gotten so wide from flooding that it rises more slowly after rainfall or dam releases.
Nebraska's two nuclear plants aren't being factored into the Army Corps of Engineers schedule of dam releases. “Flood-risk reduction is our priority right now. We are working closely with OPPD and NPPD, so I would never say that we wouldn't consider adjusting releases, but I can't imagine all the possible scenarios. Currently, there is just no flexibility in the system.”
Running water is beautiful water.
So be a channel.**
English Proverb
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.5 TONGA
Yesterday -
6/26/11 -
5.0 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.4 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.0 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.4 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
6.4 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.5 PAGAN REG., N. MARIANA ISLANDS
5.3 SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA
NEW ZEALAND - Another earthquake in Christchurch could prove the most costly yet, with the city's insurance policies expiring on Thursday and no commercial insurers willing to touch Canterbury.
TROPICAL STORMS -
TROPICAL DEPRESSION 07W (MEARI) was LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 115 NM WEST-NORTHWEST OF SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE SYSTEM IS ON THE VERGE OF MAKING LANDFALL IN NORTH KOREA AND IS EXPECTED TO FALL APART FURTHER AS THE SYSTEM CROSSES THE ROUGH TERRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HAMGYEONG MOUNTAIN RANGE.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
NEW MEXICO - 'Very, very big concern': 3500 acre wildfire nears Los Alamos lab. A wind-driven wildfire has forced the closure of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the evacuations of about 100 people in northern New Mexico early today.
Heatwave in South West France - This weekend saw the start of what could be record breaking temperatures covering the whole of the south west of France, including Midi-Pyrenees. With temperatures expected to reach 40°c in some parts and roads to the coast & lakes bumper to bumper with people trying to get to the water’s edge, it’s surprising that a Level 2 Heatwave plan hasn’t been declared.
After the devastating loss of life during the 2003 heatwave in France (over 15,000) a new plan was put in place to prevent the same recurring. This health plan is automatically set off on 1st June every year at Level 1. Each department controls its own alerts in case of high temperatures. In order for the alert to be raised to Level 2, temperatures must reach above 34°c for three consecutive days and 21°c during the night. If it continues for longer, Level 3 is announced. However, regardless of the level of alert, the fact remains that across the region it is incredibly hot.
HEALTH THREATS -
Bolivia moves to end dependence on foreign seed firms - Bolivian President Evo Morales, has signed a new law which aims to ensure food security for his country. Under the plan, state-owned companies will be set up to produce seeds and fertilisers. The government aims to safeguard biodiversity and protect native foodstuffs, as well as ending dependence on foreign seed companies.
Early this year, there were violent protests across the country, sparked by food shortages and spiralling prices.
The recent rise in global food prices forced many Bolivians to abandon their indigenous staples, such as quinoa, in favour of cheaper, imported products. The government plans to invest $5bn (£3.1bn) over 10 years, with generous credits to small farmers, in order to bring about what it calls a food revolution to ensure Bolivians can feed themselves for generations to come. Bolivia is home to thousands of native varieties of crops, including potato and corn. The Morales government wants to improve genetic stock through natural selection. It rejects what it describes as an invasion of genetically-modified seeds, fearing they will contaminate indigenous species, and prove to be too expensive for small farmers to buy.
Bolivia has been far from immune to the recent volatility in food prices. Sugar prices doubled earlier this year. Some highland communities have taken to eating rice and pasta instead of their traditional crops, such as quinoa, because of price rises. In February, President Morales abandoned a public appearance in the mining city of Oruro, in the face of an angry protests over food shortages and price rises. There were violent demonstrations in a number of Bolivian cities.
