May 15, 2025: Data Centers and Nuclear Power on the Susquehanna River: More Questions than Answers

Sep 29, 2024: The case against restarting Three Mile Island’s Unit-1

Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island

Did you catch "The Meltdown: Three Mile Island" on Netflix?
TMI remains a danger and TMIA is working hard to ensure the safety of our communities and the surrounding areas.
Learn more on this site and support our efforts. Join TMIA. To contact the TMIA office, call 717-233-7897.

    

Op-Ed: "The Dark Side of Nuclear Power, (May, 20, 2022)

The Dark Side of Nuclear Power*

By Eric J. Epstein
 
In a place far way, not long ago, atomic scientists predicted the
dawn of a new day where automobiles would be powered by nuclear fuel
and weather could be controlled by atomic clouds. Their high priest
promoted nuclear energy as "electricity too cheap to meter.”
 
Admiral Lewis L. Strauss, Chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, September 16th, 1954, in
a speech by National Association of Science Writer
 
Well, the fairy tale is baaaaack! Actually it never died, and has been replaying itself in your
pocketbook for the last 40 years. Nuclear power never went away, it just devised a snazzier marketing
mantra. A little richer and older, but the industry is still peddling the same snake oil: The healing
power of nuclear generation.
 
The industry argues that the problem of greenhouse gases can be solved by building more
nuclear power plants which they claim” do not emit green house gasses ...at the point of production.
What they don’t tell you is what happens to the nuclear wonder pill before it is magically transformed
into green penicillin.
 
The nuclear-carbon shell game only works if you ignore the environmental cost on the “front
end” and “back end” of nuclear power production. From the moment uranium is mined, milled,
enriched, fabricated and transported it releases large quantities of airborne pollutants.
 
With a nuclear friendly administration in Washington and Harrisburg - but not Wall Street -
fanciful myths about nuclear energy abound and multiply. Consumers, taxpayers and citizens have
been told that nuclear power deserves a second chance because it is now environmentally friendly. Of
course this argument is disingenuous, and ignores the factual reality of nuclear power’s legacy of air
pollution, contamination of water resources and long-lived nuclear waste.
 
The “clean air myth” was demolished on May 13, 1999 when the Nuclear Energy Institute’s
advertising campaign was deemed “misleading” by the National Advertising Division of the Better
Business Bureau. The specific ad in question was displayed in The Atlantic Monthly (December,
1998). The commercial featured a cute owl singing the praises of nuclear power. Hootie then thanked
the NEI for clean air. The Business Bureau stated: “The process currently used to produce at least
some, if not most, of the uranium enriched fuels that are necessary to power nuclear energy plants
emits substantial amounts of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases.” The NEI did not appeal the
decision.
 
When it comes to water consumption, fish kills, thermal inversion and effluent discharges,
nuclear plants are water hogs. Nuclear power plants use millions of gallons daily to cool their
superheated reactor core. There are three nuclear generation stations on the Susquehanna River. Two
plants with three units are located on the Lower Susquehanna, and have the capacity to draw in as
much as half the flow of a River in a day.
 
Production of nuclear fuel creates more terrorist targets, more dependency on Russian fuel,
more toxic waste, but less safety, less security and fewer resources for alternative energy development.
 
Currently there are 80,000 tons high-level radioactive garbage scattered among 72 sites
including five de facto nuclear wastes in Pennsylvania. There are over 8,000 metric tons of high-level
radioactive waste stored on site in cooling pools and temporary casks in Pennsylvania. The waste is
toxic for thousands of years, and has no forwarding address.
 
Nuclear power’s greenhouse gas “cure” claims must be examined by tracing its fuel cycle. It is
clear that the production of nuclear electricity is not “clean”, “green” or “carbon free. ”
 
Nuclear energy is not the answer. We need to focus on internal sources of energy and deploying
renewable energy. We need to view water as a precious resource and limited commodity; not a
nuclear subsidy. The next time someone tells you nuclear power does not harm the environment, tell
them where they can recycle their “junk science”
 
* Eric Epstein was the Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., tmia.com, a safe-energy
organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and founded in 1977. TMIA monitors Peach
Bottom, Susquehanna, and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations.
 
By admin at Mon, 05/30/2022 - 00:48

Peach Bottom - AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
 
EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/17/2022 - 05/18/2022
 
55899
Power Reactor
Event Number: 55899
Facility: Peach Bottom
Region: 1     State: PA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Linell, Bill
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith Notification Date: 05/16/2022
Notification Time: 19:51 [ET]
Event Date: 05/16/2022
Event Time: 15:52 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/16/2022 Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation Person (Organization):
Lilliendahl, Jon (R1DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby
Event Text
AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS
 
The following information was provided by the licensee via fax:
 
"Unit 2 experienced multiple electrical transients resulting in a Group I Primary Containment Isolation Signal (PCIS) isolation and subsequent unit reactor scram. Low reactor water level during the automatic scram caused PCIS Group II and III isolation signals. Following the PCIS Group I isolation, all main steam lines isolated. All control rods inserted and all systems operated as designed."
 
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee via phone in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
 
Peach Bottom Unit 2 automatically scrammed from 100 percent power due to an electrical transient and subsequent PCIS Group I isolation (Main Steam Isolation Valve closure). Unit 2 lost main feedwater due to the PCIS Group I isolation, however, all other systems responded as expected following the scram. High Pressure Coolant Injection is maintaining pressure control while Condensate Pumps are maintaining inventory. The unit is currently stable and in Mode 3. Peach Bottom Unit 3's Adjustable Speed Drives were impacted by the electrical transients and the unit reduced power to 98 percent power.
 
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.
By admin at Fri, 05/20/2022 - 01:55

Peach Bottom - AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
 
EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/17/2022 - 05/18/2022
 
55899
Power Reactor
Event Number: 55899
Facility: Peach Bottom
Region: 1     State: PA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: Linell, Bill
HQ OPS Officer: Brian P. Smith Notification Date: 05/16/2022
Notification Time: 19:51 [ET]
Event Date: 05/16/2022
Event Time: 15:52 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 05/16/2022 Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(iv)(B) - RPS Actuation - Critical
50.72(b)(3)(iv)(A) - Valid Specif Sys Actuation Person (Organization):
Lilliendahl, Jon (R1DO)
Power Reactor Unit Info
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 A/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby
Event Text
AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO ELECTRICAL TRANSIENTS
 
The following information was provided by the licensee via fax:
 
"Unit 2 experienced multiple electrical transients resulting in a Group I Primary Containment Isolation Signal (PCIS) isolation and subsequent unit reactor scram. Low reactor water level during the automatic scram caused PCIS Group II and III isolation signals. Following the PCIS Group I isolation, all main steam lines isolated. All control rods inserted and all systems operated as designed."
 
The following additional information was obtained from the licensee via phone in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance:
 
Peach Bottom Unit 2 automatically scrammed from 100 percent power due to an electrical transient and subsequent PCIS Group I isolation (Main Steam Isolation Valve closure). Unit 2 lost main feedwater due to the PCIS Group I isolation, however, all other systems responded as expected following the scram. High Pressure Coolant Injection is maintaining pressure control while Condensate Pumps are maintaining inventory. The unit is currently stable and in Mode 3. Peach Bottom Unit 3's Adjustable Speed Drives were impacted by the electrical transients and the unit reduced power to 98 percent power.
 
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.
By admin at Fri, 05/20/2022 - 01:55

Summary of Current TMI-2 Legal Issues, (5/6/22)

Summary of legal issues, (3_21_22).docx

FileSummary of legal issues, (3_21_22).docx

By admin at Sun, 05/08/2022 - 12:44

May 10th - Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation

Dear CIS & Decommissioning Working Groups,
05/10/22
9:00AM -
12:00PM ET
By admin at Sun, 05/08/2022 - 12:20

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Integrated Inspection Report 05000277/2022001 and 05000278/2022001

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Integrated Inspection Report 05000277/2022001 and 05000278/2022001

ADAMS Accession No.  ML22117A036
 
By admin at Fri, 04/29/2022 - 04:30

TMI - I, Issuance of Amendment

Zip of three placed into ADAMS today
 
 
Three Mile Island Unit 1 Issuance of Amendment 304 to Revise License Conditions and the Permanently Defueled Technical Specifications to Align rqts for Permanent Removal of Spent Fuel from Spent Fuel Pool
 
N2
MJK
By admin at Thu, 04/28/2022 - 00:00

PA DEP News Release : Pennsylvania Enters the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

DEP Newsroom
 
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/22/2022
 
CONTACT:
Neil Shader, DEP
717-787-1323

 
Pennsylvania Enters the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Participating in the multi-state initiative will cut pollution and fight climate change

 
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration has finalized the regulation to combat climate change and allow Pennsylvania to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), fulfilling a promise made in a 2019 Executive Order to take part in the market-based program.
 
“Today we are already experiencing the effects of climate change and those impacts are only going to get worse. Our children and their children are going to look back at our decisions and by participating in RGGI, we have begun to set Pennsylvania on the path forward to addressing this threat,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Climate change caused by pollution remains the most critical environmental threat confronting us and we are already paying the price.”
 
DEP’s CO2 Budget Trading Program regulation, which will enter Pennsylvania into RGGI, will be published in the April 23, 2022 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
 
“This regulation has the support of businesses and residents, and will save lives and millions of dollars by cutting air pollution,” said McDonnell. “This is only one step necessary to fight climate change, and while Pennsylvania cannot singlehandedly solve the global climate crisis, the world cannot solve the crisis without Pennsylvania.”
 
Some of the benefits of RGGI for Pennsylvania include:
• Reducing up to 225 million tons of carbon pollution from Pennsylvania power plants by 2030
• Preventing up to 30,000 hospital visits for respiratory illnesses like asthma
• An increase in Pennsylvania’s Gross State Product of nearly $2 billion, and a net increase of 30,000 jobs by 2030
 
Nearly 14,000 people commented on the regulation, including the hundreds that participated in the 10 virtual public hearings DEP held. Throughout the regulatory process, DEP held over 15 public discussions on the regulation with a range of expert advisory committees. The final regulation was supported by both the Citizens Advisory Council and the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee.
 
“The reaction from Pennsylvanians during the development of this regulation was clear – they want us to take action on climate. Communities and businesses are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and those impacts will only accelerate between now and 2050. Most Pennsylvanians realize we need to do something about that,” said McDonnell. “Reducing the carbon pollution that drives climate change is critical to preventing some of the worst impacts of climate change.”
 
“RGGI is also important for environmental justice communities,” said McDonnell. “The initiative creates a financial incentive to reduce carbon pollution to which environmental justice communities are often more vulnerable due to social and economic factors. Communities facing environmental justice issues are likely the first communities to feel the effects of climate change through heat waves and flooding, while also likely being communities with the fewest financial resources to adapt.”
 
RGGI is an initiative of 11 New England and Mid-Atlantic states that began in 2009 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector while generating economic growth. Together Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia cap and reduce their power sector carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This is achieved by setting a regional cap or limit on CO2 emissions from electric power plants in the participating states. That cap decreases year over year to reduce overall carbon emissions. Pennsylvania’s participation will increase the size of the program approximately 40 percent.
 
Qualifying power plants must acquire CO2 allowances equal to the amount of CO2 they emit. And while each state has its own allowance budget, the only firm cap is the regional one. Entities in each of the qualifying states can purchase and trade allowances- allowing for the most efficient and cost-effective emissions reductions. Also, since RGGI is a market-based approach, the quarterly auction sets the price for the purchase of allowances to ensure transparency.
 
DEP will now determine the number of allowances for carbon pollution required for each power plant. Power plants must start accounting for their CO2 emissions starting on July 1, 2022. Facilities have until March 1, 2023, to account for 50 percent of their 2022 emissions and until March 1, 2024, to account for 100 percent of their 2022 emissions. Power plants will be required to have 50 percent of their 2022 required allowances by March 1, 2023, and 100 percent of required allowances by March 1, 2024.
 
More information is available at www.dep.pa.gov/rggi
By admin at Mon, 04/25/2022 - 04:11

NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: III-22-006 April 21, 2022
Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng, 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil, 630-829-9663
 
NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to the Department of Veterans Affairs
 
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a Confirmatory Order to the Department of Veterans Affairs documenting an agreed upon set of actions to address two apparent violations of NRC requirements.
 
The apparent violations occurred when a nuclear medicine technician at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System facility deliberately failed to complete a required test and falsified records related to that test. The VA holds a Master Materials License from the NRC, which authorizes federal organizations to use nuclear material at multiple sites.
 
The organization’s officials requested the NRC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution process, where a neutral mediator assists the NRC and its licensee in reaching an agreement regarding the corrective and preventative actions to be taken by the organization. The NRC could refrain from issuing a Notice of Violation or a Civil Penalty for the apparent violations.
 
The Order documents the commitments made by the VA following the March 2, 2022, ADR mediation session. The commitments include conducting a nationwide anonymous safety culture survey of VA employees working with nuclear materials; conducting safety culture training; and re- energizing the VA’s employee concerns program related to reporting of radioactive program allegations or adverse events.
 
The agency’s Dec. 2, 2021, investigation report describes the circumstances of the apparent violations and the VA’s actions following the incident.
 
By admin at Mon, 04/25/2022 - 03:41

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/the-meltdown-trailer-three-mile-island-accident-netflix-1234717456/

‘The Meltdown: Three Mile Island’ Trailer: An Explosive Atomic Conspiracy Is Untangled
The worst nuclear event in U.S. history took place on Three Mile Island in Middletown, PA, in 1979, and now a new Netflix documentary revisits what exactly went wrong.

Samantha Bergeson
Apr 19, 2022 10:31 am
 
The Meltdown"The Meltdown: Three Mile Island”
Netflix
 
A four-part Netflix documentary sheds new light on the staggering effects of the near-catastrophe at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979.
 
The Middletown, Pennsylvania-based plant suffered a breakdown in 1979, and series “Meltdown: Three Mile Island” reexamines the series of missteps that led to the national cover-up. Academy Award–nominated director Kief Davidson (“The Ivory Game”) collaborates with “Erin Brockovich” producers Michael and Carla Shamberg and Moxie Pictures to tell the true story of what happened at Three Mile Island’s “first step in a nuclear nightmare,” as the trailer states. “Meltdown” premieres May 4.
 
The four-part documentary reveals how it all unfolded in real time, the impact on the community, and the personal account of chief engineer and whistleblower, Richard Parks, who had the courage to speak up and prevent a near catastrophe for the East Coast. Dramatic reenactments, archival footage, never-before-seen home video, and in-depth interviews bring viewers into the worst nuclear incident in U.S. history.
 
From radioactivity seeping into the control room to plant operatives hiding the nuclear disaster from the general public, the events behind “Meltdown” are of a staggering conspiratorial scale. The accident was the partial meltdown of an atomic reactor in March 1979, marking the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history. But was the accident preventable?
 
“I believe the lessons of ‘Meltdown’ resonate far beyond the events of 1979,” said director Davidson, who also serves as an executive producer. “Even as we expose the complex web of corporate greed which nearly led to our radioactive ruin, we find the small acts of bravery that changed the course of history. We need to learn from the Three Mile Island disaster as we face the current climate and energy crisis.”
The plant’s parent company, Metropolitan Edison, reportedly downplayed the crisis and claimed no radiation had been detected off plant grounds. However, inspectors tracked increased levels of radiation as well as a contaminated water leak.
 
Executive producers Carla and Michael Shamberg added, “Whistleblowers are real-life superheroes. They risk their lives or livelihoods when they speak truth to power to protect the rest of us.”
 
Robert Fernandez and Dan Levinson also executive produce.
 
“Meltdown: Three Mile Island” premieres May 4 on Netflix. Check out the trailer below.
 
By admin at Mon, 04/25/2022 - 00:11

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