Chernobyl On The Hudson

10 Comments on "Chernobyl On The Hudson"

onlooker on Fri, 26th Feb 2016 10:08 am 



Well, this is personal. Indian Point is very near to where I live. Guess what I really do not care. I have ceased to be bothered by so many dangers and irregularities now present on this planet. Just something for nuclear proponents to consider how many nuclear reactors may manifest malfunctions now that many in the US are reaching obsolescence and useful/expiration time duration dates.

Practicalmaina on Fri, 26th Feb 2016 5:55 pm 



One million dollar fines, what a joke. Big buisnesses control of everything is sickening.

makati1 on Fri, 26th Feb 2016 6:55 pm 



Coming to some 100+ locations near you. I’m expecting Godzilla to appear any time now… LOL

SilentRunning on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 8:35 am 



Some facts, from a person with a science background.

Tritium means they have a coolant leak from the reactor.

The fact that the plant is still operating means the leak is at a low rate.

The stated amount of the tritium in the water samples means that the leak is at a low rate.

The stated amount of tritium, when diluted by millions of gallons of flowing water in the Hudson, poses absolutely no danger to the public.

The problem that this leak exposes is not the current situation – rather it is the problem of operating aging reactors – with accompanying neutron embrittlement, by companies only concerned with the bottom line, and regulated by an increasingly lax government agencies.

ghung on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 8:57 am 



Some speculation added to SR’s ‘facts’ from someone who had a lot of experience with high-pressure steam systems, cooling systems, valves, pumps, etc.(slept 45 feet from a reactor core for years):

Any leak in a nuclear reactor cooling system is a serious fault, no matter how small. Just the fact that this is detectable proves this isn’t a ‘drip’.

Leaks generally get worse with time as the area of the leak erodes, or as SR mentioned, get more brittle.

If left in operation, continuing leakage, erosion, and vibration can eventually cause catastrophic failure of the joint, fitting, or valve; wherever the leak is occurring.

It appears they are going to drive this puppy until it breaks if they aren’t forced to shut it down, assess the source of the leak and the condition of the associated systems, and determine if the entire plant is beyond it’s useful safe operating life. That they haven’t done this is astounding. No leak in a nuclear plant cooling system is acceptable by any determination, IMO.

SilentRunning on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 9:46 am 



ghung – I agree with your statements. I assume you served on a nuclear sub?

Yes – the fact that this leak exists calls for an orderly shutdown and investigation. The result of that investigation may well be “do not repair, do not restart”

Kenz300 on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 10:07 am 



Nuclear energy’s legacy……

poisoned land, water and air…….

ghung on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 10:25 am 



688 class. The only thing between my rack and the reactor compartment was the aux machinery room and a couple of bulkheads. I guess guys like me take these things more seriously than politicians, corporate execs and their bean counters. Money talks……

“Indian Point provides 39% of the state’s nuclear capacity. Nuclear power produces 34.2% of the state’s electricity, higher than the US average of 20.6%. As of 2015, Indian Point generates approximately 10% of the state’s electricity needs, and 4-6% of the electricity used in New York City and Westchester County….

…..A June 2015 report by the Nuclear Energy Institute found that the operation of Indian Point generates $1.3 billion of annual economic output in local counties, $1.6 billion statewide, and $2.5 billion across the United States. In 2014, Entergy paid $30 million in state and local property taxes. The total tax revenue (direct and secondary) was nearly $340 million to local, state, and federal governments….

…The original 40-year operating licenses for units 2 and 3 expired in September 2013 and December 2015, respectively. Entergy has applied for license extensions and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is moving toward granting a twenty-year extension for each reactor. Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, however, wants the units shut down at the end of their current license periods.[5] As of midnight on September 28, 2013, Unit 2 has entered its “Period of Extended Operation” (PEO) until the NRC makes a final determination on its license renewal application.” [wikipedia]

twocats on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 11:04 am 



tremendous info ghung, thanks.

JuanP on Sat, 27th Feb 2016 5:44 pm 



I remembered reading this a couple of weeks ago, https://www.rt.com/usa/332087-indian-point-tritium-leak/