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("Could delay." If it were my car getting inspected, there might even be a risk of not getting approved. - promoted by elwood)
From the Hampton Union via seacoast online
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed Friday that the discovery of deteriorating concrete in below-ground-level structures at the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant made public earlier this year could delay the granting of a license extension that would allow the plant to operate until 2050.
"The walk-down inspections discovered the following plant material conditions; (a) large amount of groundwater infiltration, (b) large amount of calcium carbonate deposits, (c) corroded steel supports, base plates and piping, (d) corroded anchor bolts, (e) pooling of water and (f) cracking and spalling of concrete," the NRC report indicated. "The inspection further noted that the below-grade, exterior walls in the Control Building B Electrical Tunnel ... have random cracking and for several years have been saturated by groundwater infiltration.
"The severity of the cracking and groundwater infiltration varies from location to location," the report said. "A comparison of the 2010 concrete compression test results to the 1979 concrete compression test results indicated a 21.7 percent reduction in the compressive strength of the concrete."
The deterioration was spotted by an employee, who filed a report, dated May 23. We're just now hearing about it, two months later. That gives you confidence in the plant management and the NRC, doesn't it?
As Doug Bogen of SAPL points out in the article, the nuke has only been operating for about a third of it's potential lifespan, and that's without the 20 year extension the owners are desperate to get. If the plant has these problems at this stage in its lifespan, it certainly doesn't bode well for the immediate future, never mind the 20 year extension. I don't think I can sound too alarmist here - the bottom is rotting out from underneath a nuclear power plant placed on our 17 miles of coast. This is SERIOUS.
Where the hell is Frank Guinta? When Vermont Yankee was leaking cesium, Paul Hodes was all over it. Frank hasn't uttered a peep about this serious safety issue.
The NRC has proven to be something less than an actual regulatory agency where nuclear power plants are concerned. It's just a shill for the industry. There is no way this nuke should ever get a 20 year extension - but I'd bet my life's savings of $3.89 that it will.