News

Good Day:

David Wright, the co-director of the Global Security Program at UCS and one of my bosses, posted commentary on the draft spent fuel storage study released earlier this week by the NRC. David's post is online at: http://allthingsnuclear.org/new-nrc-study-shows-benefits-of-transferring...

UCS plans to submit formal comments on the draft study to the NRC before the ongoing 30-day comment period ends.

Thanks,
Dave Lochbaum
UCS

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Nuclear Regulatory Commission Problem Identification and Resolution Report 05000277/2013008 and 05000278/2013008

Download ML13176A401

PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3- REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE: OVERALL INTEGRATED PLAN IN RESPONSE TO ORDER EA-12-051, "RELIABLE SPENT FUEL POOL INSTRUMENTATION" (TAC NOS.'MF0849 AND MF0850)

Download ML13171A354

LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, PA (June 25, 2013) – Three Mile Island, in cooperation with the counties around the plant, will conduct two separate tests of its emergency notification siren system on Thursday, June 27.

The first sounding will occur at 12:15 p.m. (EDT) and will test the original siren system. The second test will take place at 1:15 p.m. and will test the new, upgraded siren system that Exelon has installed. The new system includes battery backup capability that allows the sirens to sound even during power outages. The test of the new system is part of the process to gain Federal Emergency Management Agency approval to place the system in service.

Download PDF

April 24, 2013

The Honorable Allison M. Macfarlane
Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555

Dear Chariman Macfarlane:

In the wake of the nuclear power plant accident in Japan, I called on the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a report on safety preparations and emergency procedures in the event of an incident at a nuclear power plant in the United States. The GAO report, released this month, makes clear that the U.S.  Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must study the public's understanding of emergency preparedness outside the standard 10-mile emergency planning zone around nuclear power plants.

Download Casey Letter to NRC evacuations

June 17, 2013

The Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Casey:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter of April 24, 2013, regarding the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled “Emergency Preparedness: NRC Needs to Better Understand Likely Public Response to Radiological Incidents.” You expressed particular interest in ensuring that the Federal Government understands how “shadow evacuations” of populations outside the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) around a nuclear power plant would impact the evacuation times for those closest to the plant. A shadow evacuation is the evacuation by persons outside of any officially declared evacuation zone.

Download NRC's Response Letter

ACTION ALERT
Demand Enforcement of Nuclear Power Fire Safety Regulations

Dear Craig,

Last week, Dave Lochbaum, the director of the UCS Nuclear Safety Project, wrote to your governor about a very serious risk at the nuclear power plants in your state and dozens of others nationwide. He asked your governor to speak out—and we hope you will as well.

The risk is fire and the complete failure of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enforce critical fire protection regulations.Today, 46 nuclear reactors, almost half of the U.S. nuclear fleet, continue to operate despite being in violation of these regulations, which the NRC first adopted more than 30 years ago—after a dangerous fire at Alabama's Browns Ferry plant—and then updated in 2004.

The NRC estimates that the risk of reactor meltdown due to fire is about 50 percent—roughly equal to all other risk factors combined. Yet the NRC has repeatedly failed to enforce fire regulations, opting to grant extensions rather than issue violation notices—including at Browns Ferry.

It is simply unacceptable that an agency that is supposed to protect the public is allowing these "nuclear crimes" to continue. And, as such, we asked your governor to write to the NRC and demand that the agency enforce its fire safety regulations and establish a clear, realistic timeline for compliance by all reactors.

We think action is more likely if you ask your governor to get involved and speak out on this common sense issue that impacts your family and community's health and safety.

Take action today! Urge your governor to demand that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission enforce its fire safety regulations.

Sincerely,

Sean Meyer
Strategic Campaigns Manager
Global Security Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

NRC INVESTIGATION REPORT NO. 1-2012-056 AND NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 05000278/2013-011

Download ML13171A193

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/20/2013

CONTACT:
Amanda Witman, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323

DEP Releases Draft Public Participation Policy for Public Comment

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection has submitted a draft of its public participation policy for the Permit Review Process for publication in the June 22 Pennsylvania Bulletin. The policy is open for public comment until July 22.

The draft policy proposes guidelines for public participation during DEP’s permit review process. The policy includes procedures for public hearings and receiving and responding to public comments.

“This new policy will emphasize the importance and benefits of engaging the public, regulated community and other stakeholders in a meaningful and upfront manner,” Acting DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said.

The policy will apply to all permits and authorizations that are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the commonwealth’s official informational gazette published by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau.

For more information about the public participation policy, or to review the draft policy, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Proposals.

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SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING OVERALL INTEGRATED PLAN FOR RELIABLE SPENT FUEL POOL INSTRUMENTATION (ORDER NUMBER EA-12-051) (TAC NOS. MF0890 AND MF0891)

Download ML13163A003

Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 - Proposed Alternative RR-12-02 Regarding Weld Overlay of the Lower Cold Leg Letdown Nozzle Dissimilar Metal Welds and Alloy 600 Safe-End (TAC No. ME9818)

Download ML13134A467