News

Good Day:

This morning, my commentary was posted to the UCS blog about decision-making using incomplete and potentially inaccurate information. See http://allthingsnuclear.org/nuclear-risk-assessments-and-regulatory-bias/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+allthingsnuclear%2Ffeed+%28All+Things+Nuclear%29

Bias fills in missing information gaps with rosy or dire projections, clearly affecting decisions made.

Bias had the NRC paint a far more dire picture of the situation at Fukushima than did the Japanese regulator.

Bias had the NRC paint a rosy picture of the current situation at Diablo Canyon. Wonder what the Japanese regulator would recommend about the known earthquake and fire protection shortcomings at this plant? Bet they'd not be as nonchalant as the NRC has been.

 
Thanks,
Dave Lochbaum
UCS

Greetings,

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published the final rule, “Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel” (RIN 3150-AJ20; NRC-2012-0246).  As discussed in a previous e-mail dated September 10, 2014, the NRC prepared a final generic environmental impact statement that provides a regulatory basis for this final rule: NUREG-2157, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel.” 

The final rule is available in the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML14262A011: http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1426/ML14262A011.pdf.  The final rule is also available on the Federal Register website: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/19/2014-22215/continued-storage-of-spent-nuclear-fuel.

NUREG-2157 is also available in ADAMS:

·         NUREG-2157, Vol. 1 (Accession No. ML14196A105)  http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1419/ML14196A105.pdf

·         NUREG-2157, Vol. 2 (Accession No. ML14196A107)  http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1419/ML14196A107.pdf

For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.

If you have any questions regarding the final rule or NUREG-2157, please contact Sarah Lopas, however, please note that this is the last e-mail notification that will be sent from WCOutreach@nrc.gov.

Thank you,

Staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Waste Confidence Directorate

Greetings,

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published final NUREG-2157, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel.”  NUREG-2157 addresses the environmental impacts of continued storage of spent nuclear fuel beyond the licensed life for operations of a commercial nuclear reactor and provides a regulatory basis for the NRC’s final rule, “Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel” (RIN 3150-AJ20; NRC-2012-0246).
 
NUREG-2157—in two volumes—is available in the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS):
 
·         NUREG-2157, Vol. 1 (Accession No. ML14196A105)  http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1419/ML14196A105.pdf
 
·         NUREG-2157, Vol. 2 (Accession No. ML14196A107)  http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1419/ML14196A107.pdf
 
For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.
 
NUREG-2157 can also be accessed on the NRC’s website:  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/.
 
After its publication in the Federal Register later this month, you will receive one last e-mail with a link to the final rule, “Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel.”  If you have any questions regarding NUREG-2157, or to request a hardcopy of the document, please contact Sarah Lopas.
 
Thank you,
 
Staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Waste Confidence Directorate

No: I-14-034                                                                     September 15, 2014

CONTACT:

Diane Screnci 610-337-5330
Neil Sheehan 610-337-5331

NRC Launches Special Inspection at Millstone 3 Nuclear Power Plant In Response to Continuing Problems with Pump

Problems affecting a pump that is part of a reactor safety system will be the focus of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Special Inspection at the Millstone Unit 3 nuclear power plant. The Waterford, Conn., plant is operated by Dominion Nuclear.

The Special Inspection team will have three members and will begin its work today (Sept. 15). The component of interest is the plant’s turbine-driven auxiliary, or back-up, feedwater pump. That pump is one of several that can be used to help cool down the reactor after a shutdown by pumping water into the secondary side of the plant’s steam generators. The steam generators are essentially large heat exchangers that convert heat generated by the reactor into steam, which in turn is used to spin the turbine and produce electricity.

The basis for this Special Inspection is the failure of the turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump to pass quarterly surveillance tests on July 15 and Sept. 10. During both tests, the pump started and then unexpectedly stopped. It then restarted without operator intervention and reached rated speed approximately 15 minutes later. The pump has since undergone repairs and been restored to service.

“A key objective of this inspection will be to learn more about this latest malfunctioning of this safety-related component,” NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. “The repetitive problems affecting the pump continue to give the NRC concern.”

Areas to be reviewed during the Special Inspection will include the adequacy and completeness of testing on the pump and causal evaluations of the problems. The results of the Special Inspection will be discussed in a report expected to be issued within 45 days after the completion of the review.

The NRC conducted a Special Inspection earlier this year into what appear to be unrelated issues with the same pump. That inspection report was issued Aug. 28.

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All,

At its Sept. 11, 2014 Public Meeting, the Commission adopted for public comment the proposed 2015 Technical Reference Manual (TRM).  Comments are due within 30 days of the entry date of the Tentative Order.  Reply comments are due within 40 days of the entry date of the Tentative Order.  These documents, as well as a redlined version of the manual, will be posted to the Technical Reference Manual page of the Commission’s website in the near future.  I have also included below links to the documents.  I should note that we are having technical difficulties making Appendix D, the Motor and Variable Frequency Drive Tool, publicly available.  We hope to have this resolved soon.  I will notify you when it is available.  I apologize for the delay.
 
2015 TRM Tentative Order

Proposed 2015 Technical Reference Manual

Proposed 2015 TRM Appendix C - Lighting Audit and Design Tool

Proposed 2015 TRM Appendix E - Lighting Audit and Design Tool for New Construction

Please contact me with any questions.
 
Thanks!
Megan
 
Megan G. Good
PA Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Technical Utility Services
Policy & Planning

Exelon Given “BBB+” Credit Rating by Morningstar (EXC)

September 9th, 2014 - 0 comments - Filed Under - by Nicole Kennedy

Exelon (NYSE:EXC) has earned a “BBB+” credit ratinghttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png from Morningstar. The agency’s “BBB+” rating indicates that the company is a moderate default risk. They also issued a positive credit outlook for the company and gave their stock a four star rating.

A number of other analystshttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png have also recently weighed in on EXC. Analysts at SunTrust raised their price target on shares of Exelon from $33.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Separately, analysts at Tigress Financial initiated coverage on shares of Exelon in a research note on Friday, August 8th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Exelon currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $32.35.

Exelon (NYSE:EXC) opened at 33.44 on Tuesday. Exelon has a 52-week low of $26.45 and a 52-week high of $37.73. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $32.11 and its 200-day moving average is $33.69. The companyhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png has a market cap of $28.732 billion and a P/E ratio of 15.81. Exelon also was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 82,565,730 shares, a decline of 3.5% from the July 31st total of 85,541,227 shares. Currently, 9.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 6,670,687 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 12.4 days.

Exelon (NYSE:EXC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.51. The company had revenue of $6.02 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.53 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Exelon will post $2.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 13th.

Visit website

No: 14-054                                                                           August 25, 2014

CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

NRC Approves Power Uprate For Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a request by Exelon Generation Co. to increase the generating capacity of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, by 12.4 percent each.

The NRC staff determined Exelon could safely increase the reactors’ output primarily by upgrading certain plant systems and components. NRC staff also reviewed Exelon’s evaluations showing the plant’s design can handle the increased power level.

The NRC’s safety evaluation of the plant’s proposed power uprate focused on several areas, such as the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, operations and training, testing, and technical specification changes. For added confidence in the analysis, the NRC staff also conducted independent confirmatory calculations and audits of selected areas.

The power uprate authorizes Peach Bottom, located approximately 18 miles south of Lancaster, Pa., to increase each boiling water reactor’s generating capacity by approximately 140 megawatts electric. Exelon plans to implement Unit 2’s uprate during the fall 2014 refueling outage and Unit 3’s uprate during the fall 2015 refueling outage.

The NRC published a notice about the power uprate application in the Federal Register on April 9, 2013. The agency’s evaluation of the Peach Bottom uprate will be available through the NRC’s ADAMS electronic document database by entering Accession Number ML14133A046.

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BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING BOARD

ERIC JOSEPH EPSTEIN, Pro se                     :

                                      Appellant                     :    EHB DOCKET NO. _______ 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,       :

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL            :

PROTECTION; EXELON GENERATION          :

CORPORATION, LLC; EXELON                       :

CORPORATION AND PSEG NUCLEAR, LLC  :
 

NOTICE OF APPEAL

AND NOW, comes Appellant Eric Joseph Epstein, Pro se , (“Appellant,” “Epstein,” or “Mr. Epstein,”) in this matter, and sets forth the following Notice of Appeal from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Approval of Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act for the Extended Power Uprate for Exelon Generation Company, LLC’s Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station.

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Commission approves publication of the Final Rule and Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

Greetings,