ML17309A604

Summarizes Editorial Error within Improved TS Believed to Be Candidate for Correction Outside License Amend Process

ML17309A604
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	09/12/1996
From:	Flaherty M ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
To:	ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
References
NUDOCS 9609120190
Download: ML17309A604 (209)

Text

CATEGORY 1 REGULA INFORMATION DISTRIBUTIOWSTEM (RIDE)

II ACCESSION NBR:9609120190 'OC.DATE: 96/09/12 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET FACIL:50-244 Robert Emmet Ginna Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, Rochester G 05000244 AUTH. NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION FLAHERTY,M. Rochester Gas a Electric Corp.

RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION Vl55/ jig p ~i g~

pent

SUBJECT:

Summarizes edi'torial error within Improved TS believed to be candidate for correction outside license amend process.

DISTRIBUTION CODE: A001D TITLE: OR COPIES RECEIVED:LTR Submittal: General Distribution M ENCL / SIZE: /2 T

NOTES:License Exp date in accordance with 10CFR2,2.109(9/19/72). 05000244 E

RECIPIENT COPIES RECIPIENT COPIES ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL PDl-1 1 1 PD1-1 PD 1 1 LA'ISSING,G.

1 1 INTERNAL ILE CENTER 0 1 1 NRR/DE/EMCB 1 1 1 NRR/DSSA/SPLB "1 1 NRR/DSSA/SRXB 1 1 NUDOCS-ABSTRACT 1 1 OGC/HDS3 1 0 EXTERNAL: NOAC 1 1 NRC PDR 1 1 D

E N

NOTE TO ALL "RIDS" RECIPIENTS:

PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE! CONTACT THE DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK/

ROOM OWFN SD-S(EXT. 415-2083) TO ELIMINATE YOUR NAME FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS FOR DOCUMENTS YOU DON'T NEED!

TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED: LTTR 12 ENCL .11

/YD//

Guy, g ~l As we discussed on the phone today, here is a summary of an editorial error within the Improved Technical Specifications (ITS) which we believe is a candidate for correction outside the license amendment process. Enclosed are three sets of documents as follows:

Section A - this contains page 3.5-10 of the "old" TS. As can be seen for function 3.e, the instrumentation for "Trip of Both Feedwater Pumps Starts Motor Driven AFW Pumps" was required to be operable above 5% power (this equates to MODE 1 in the ITS as shown on page 1.1-7 of the ITS).

Section B - this contains page 3.3-27 of the ITS. As can be seen for function 6.f; the instrumenation for "Trip of Both Main Feedwater Pumps (Motor driven AFW pumps only)" is required to be operable in MODES 1 and 2. This increased applicability is consistent with NUREG-1431 (i.e., NUREG-1431 has an applicability of MODES 1 and 2 for this function).

3. Section C - this contains the marked up "old" TS along with the justification pages included within the December 28, 1995 submittal. As can be seen, RGkE did not intend to change the applicability to include MODE 2.

Essentially, the NUI&G-1431 (and the electronic copy of NUREG-1431 used for Ginna Station's ITS) require the associated function for both MODES 1 and 2 while the "old" TS only require it for MODE 1. RGkE inadvertantly failed to update the electronic copy of NUIREG-1431 to make it applicable to only MODE 1. NUREG-1431 was written for a 4-loo Westinghouse plant which must use the MFW pumps prior to reaching MOD+2 o provide the necessary core cooling. In a 2-loop plant like Ginna, the AFW pumps provide the necessary core cooling until approximately 4% power at which time the MFW pumps are placed into service. In order to implement the ITS, RGEcE has been forced to "jumper" the necessary AFW start instrumentation as documented in a forthcoming LER (¹96-008). Therefore, the applicability for this function should be changed to MODE 1.

Mark Flaherty (716) 724-8512 ol

(

qb09120iqo 0 5000244 poR ADOCK P,

P.:)

II I

J J

'.9609120190 "i,t "<

'l I c g

TABI.E 3.5-2 (Continued)

FNGINEFRED SAFFTY FEATURE ACTUATION lHSTRUMEHTATIOH 5

OPFRATOR ACTlOH TOTAL NO. of Hl N. PF.RH I SS I BI.F. IF CONDITIONS OF CNAHHEI.

NO. of CIIANHE I,S OPERABI.E BYPASS COI.UHN I OR 3 OPF.RABLF.

NO. FUNCTIONAL UHIT CHANNEI.S TO TRIP CIIANNF.I,S CONDITIONS CANNOT BE HET ABOVE

3. AUXILIARY FEFDWATFR Motor and T>>rhi>>e Driven a ~ Hs>nua I I/puml> I/pump I/pump T 350oF I>. Stm. Grn. Watrr I.> vr I- loM-loM

i. Start. Motor 3/stm.gcn. 2/stm.gcn. 2/stm.grn. "ltCS I) r I vt. n I'ump s r.i thur gr.n. I>oth g>.n.

i i. Start Turbine 3/stm.gcn. 2/stm.gcn. 2/stm.gcn. 12 RCSS

=

Driven Pump both gcu. eit.hcr gcn.

c. Loss of 4 KV 2/bus 1/bus 2/bus 12 RCS Volt.age St.art (l>oth buses) (citltcr bus)

Turbine Driven Pump Safety Injection (scc Item I)

Start. Hotor Driven Pumps

e. Trip of both Fecd- 2/pump I/pump 2/pump 5'/ pour r ussor pumps susrss both pumps either pump iiosor D>ivos Pumps Standby Mvtor l)riven Hs>nu'> I I/pump I/1>>>ml> I/p>>mp

\

~

t 4g I

i li

!4 i I

'1 I

I 41,

',b n

>S I

IL P

1.

,t t

I C

I

't "'

't l

I h

1 t

1,

'I

ESFAS Instrumentation 3 3 2 Table 3.3.2-1 (page 3 of 3)

Engineered Safety Feature Actuation System Instrunentation APPLICABLE KGDES OR OTHER SPECIFIED REOUIRED SURVEILLANCE ALLOMABLE TRIP CONDITIONS CHAHHELS COND IT I OHS REOJIREKEHTS VALUE SETPOINT FUNCTION

5. Fecdwater Isolation

a. Automatic 1,2 ) 3 2 trains E,G SR 3.3.2.7 HA HA Actuation Logic and Actuation Relays

b. SG Mater 1,2( 3 3 per SG F,G, SR 3.3.2.1 s 94X s 85X Level -High SR 3.3.2.2 SR 3.3.2.5

c. Safety Injection Refer to Fmction 1 (Safety Injection) for all initiation fmct ions and requirements.

6. Auxiliary Feedwater (AFM)

a. Kanual Initiation AF'M 'l,2,3 1 per SR 3.3.2.4 HA pump 3.3.2.4 HA

( Standby AFM 1,2,3 1 per SR NA pItp

b. Automatic 1,2,3 2 trains E,G SR 3.3.2.7 NA NA Actuation Logic and Actuation Relays

c. SG Mater 1,2,3 3 per SG D,G SR 3.3.2.1 r. 16X z 17X Level -Low Low SR 3.3.2.2 SR 3.3.2.5

d. Safety Injection Refer to Function 1 (Safety Injection) for all (Kotor driven initiation functions and requirements.

lxmps only) co Undcrvol'tagc Bus 1,2,3 2 per D,G SR 3.3.2.3 K 2450 V R 2579 V 11A and 11B bus with s 3.6 with S 3.6 (Turbine driven scc 'time scc time only) delay delay

)

pump

t. Trip of Both Hain 1,2 2 pcr B,C , SR 3.3.2.4 HA Feedwater Pumps KFM perp (Kotor driven pumps only)

(c) Except when all Hain Feedwater Regulating and associated bypass valves are closed and de-activated or isolated by a closed manual valve.

(

R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant 3.3-27 Amendment No. Pg, 63

J!

'I

'J

h 1

, t (M(w~4~S 2~4~ Az<h t

The following changes were made to TS 3.5.2, Table 3.5-2, or Table 3.5-4:

TS 3.5.2.2, 3.5.2.3 and Table 3.5-2, Columns I, 2, and 3 - The details describing the operability acceptance criteria for Trip Setpoints including the co'lumns for the "Total Number of Channels," the "Number of Channels to Trip," and the "Minimum Operable Channels" were not added for each of the functional units. The columns were replaced with a new column denoting "Required Channels." System design and operational details are not directly related to the operability of the instrumentation and were relocated to the bases or are described in the UFSAR. This is a Ginna TS Category (iii) change.

b. Table 3.5-2, Column 6 - The column for the "Channel Operable Above" was r'evised consistent with the changes to the Mode table definitions in ITS Chapter 1.0. Changes to the Applicability different from those discussed in Chapter 1.0 are discussed with the specific changes to the Functional Units. This is a Ginna TS Category (vi) change.

c~ Table 3.5-2, Functional Unit Pl.b - The Mode of Applicability was revised to be RCS > 200 F. The SI High Containment Pressure Function is used,to actuate containment isolation below 350'F such that this Function must be operable. The Manual SI Function does not actuate Containment Isolation while the remaining functions are blocked when RCS pressure is

< 2000 psig. This is a Ginna TS Category (v.a) change.

d. TabTe 3'.5-2, Functional Units Pl.c and 8l.d - The notes or remarks which describe operational details for the Pressurizer Pressure interlock, were reformatted as Mode Applicabilities and default condi'tions in the new specifications. A new SR 3.3.2'.6, was added to specifically denote the operability requirements for the Pressurizer Pressure interlock. This is a Ginna TS Category (iii) change.

- 196- December 1995

TAOI.F.~ 3.5-2 (Continued)

IS,u,'.4 FHGINEFRFD SAFFTY FEATURE ACTUATIOH INSTRUtIEHTATION

~ ~ ~

IS i>',.~

I 2 3 5 OPFRAI'OR ACTION TOTA I. NO. of II I H. PERtIISSIBI.E IF CONDITIOHS OF CIIAHHEL NO. of CIIAHHEI.S OPERABr.r; BYPASS COI.I)tIN I OR 3 OPF.RABLF.

NO. FUNCTIONAL UNIT CIIANNEI.S TO TRIP CIIAHNF.I,S CONDITIONS CANNOT OE tIET Al30VE

3. AUXILIARY FEFDWATFR and Turbine Driven 'lotor 4.o, ~> ~ tI>>> >>>a I I/pump I /piio>p I /piimp 3.o,5 T = 350oF I>. Stm. G< n. Walt r I.< v< I - I oM- Iou I

i. SL'irt tlntnr 3/stm.gcn. 2/stm.g<.o. 2/stm.g< n.

>5 ~ i;,0 T , = 350~F l)riv<.i> I'lli>>ps <>> t llr.>'<.'ll hot I> g<>o

>> ~

ii. Start Turbine 3/sLm.gcn. 2/stm.gco. 2/stm.gco. 12 T CSS 350~F either gcn.

~+ g g c. Loss of 4 KV Driven Voltage Si.art Pump 2/bus b<>LI> grii.

I/bos l>ot.l> l>us<.s) 2/hos (citlicr hi>s)

TRC '5 Turbine Driven Piimp Safety Io jecti on cc It<.m I)

StarL tlotor Driven Pumps

e. Trip of both Feed- 2/pomp I /pomp 2/piimp 5'/ p< >;rr Fil)) L.e Matcr Pumps start,s hot.li pumps ei I.lier piimp l5.'t<>>n tloLor Drive<> pumps

.'it>>n<ll>y t)utor I)rive>> 4~a v 'f .. =:I>o I/po>np F

>>> tl>>>1>l> ~ > I I/pomp I /p<imp RCS

>~~cd4 4m Z,vS. ~

5'.<I

Rochester oes em E~

GlNNA STATlON STEANI GENERATOR REPLACEMENT PROJECT FACT SHEET GINNA STATION Commercial Operation June 1970 Power Output 470 MegaWatts (electric)

Percent of RGE Capacity 50%

License Period (40 Yrs) 1969 - 2009 Lifetime Capacity Factor 76.0%

Recent Capacity Factor (1/83 to 12/96) 83.6%

e ~ Plant Type Westinghouse Pressurized

~ Water Reactor Number of Steam Generators 2

~ Tubes Repaired 36%

I NEW STEAM GENERATORS Manufacturer Babcock 8c Wilcox International Cost $ 40,000,000 Weight 316 Tons Height 63 ft Maximum Diameter 13 ft 6 in Tube Material Inconel 690, Thermally Treated Number of Tubes 4766 Each Tube Diameter 0.760 in Z

)

I I

L4lytPSON LTL 'f2 0 SER(ES 24 CR4NE Manufacturer Neil F. Lampson Co.

Maximum Lift Capacity 1200 Tons Counterweight 1500 Tons Boom Length 310 ft Mast Length 190 ft Stinger Length 120 ft Maximum Lift Height (Facade 117 Ft) 185 ft Weight of Crane 2600 Tons Trucks to Transport 120 Assembty Time 4 Weeks Number of Transilift Style Cranes 30 Value S10,000,000 Number of Operators 4 Maximum Ground Speed 1/2 Mite per Hr Cable Length 6 Mites Crane Base Size 36 ft x 160 ft CONTAINMENTOPENINGS Steam Generator A Hexagon Steam Generator B Hexagon with Slot Maximum Diameter 22 ft Slot Width 9 ft6 in e Slot l.ength 25 ft 9in Dome Construction 30 in Reinforced Concrete 3 Layers of 2 1/4 in Steel Bar 3/8 in Thick Steel Liner Plate STEAM GENERATOR LIFT INFORMATION Test Lift 445 Tons S/G Lift (includes Rigging) 350 Tons S/G Lift Radius 250 ft Time for Lift 12 Hrs Average Hook Speed 2 ft per min Ground Loading 12,900 lbs. per sq ft Foundations (Reinforced Concrete)

Front 48 ft x 52 ft x 3 ft 9 in Rear 50 ft x 80 ft x 3 ft

TRANSPORTATlQN Route Cambridge, Ont. to Hamilton, Ont. Multi Axle Transporter Hamilton, Ont. to Bear Creek Barge Bear Creek to Ginna Multi Axle -Transporter Barge (Black Carrier)

Size ~

43 ft x 200 ft Draft 5 ft Powered By 3 - Tugboats Transporters (2 Required)

Tractors 1 Front, 1 Rear Length (including Tractors) 153 ft 2 in / 143 Width ft 4 in Tires 21 ft 224 / 192 Axles 14/ 12 Speed (Average) 1 Mile per Hr Load (Including Trailer) 920,400 Lbs / 884,400 Lbs OUTAGE Start Date April 1, 1995 Approximate Length 67 Days Construction Contractor Bechtel Power Corp.

Normal Plant Complement 400 Additional Replacement Personnel 450 C "LwpwinldatiltsCtshl I /6I96

4 a

<<0 ea rg lh 00% +Ol OOO Ore OOOO

Part 1s Background information This Laspson LTL 1200 Series 2A Crane vas built by F. Laapson Company in Keunevick near Richlandr Mashington. This 2600 ton crane can lift up to 1200 tons. The company makes 30 different transilift style cranes that it liflif

<ill be ting t between 350 and 2000 generator plus rigging.

tons. At Ginna, 350 tons at a time for each steam The Neil F. Lampson Company has built cranes for other countries besides the United States. Xf a country needs to use one of their cranes, the company sells the crane to that country instead of taking and then having to ship it it overseas, back to the United States,

~lot

~

which costs of money.

Part 2s Visual Information Lampson Crane:

Assembly time 4 veeks

~ Trucks to transport 120

~ Weight of Crane 2600 Tons Counterveight 1500 Tons

~ Boom Length 310

~ Mast Length 190

~ Max. Lift Height (Facade 117 ft) 185 ft ft Stinger Length 120 Max. Lift Capacity 1200 Tons

~ Cable Length 6 Miles

~ Crane Base Size 36 ft x 160 ft Max. Ground Speed 1/2 MPH

~ Number of Operators VALUE Sio, 000, 000 Containment Openings!

~ Steam Generator h Hexagon

~ Steam Generator B Hexagon v/slot

~ Max. Diameter Slot Midth 9 22 ft ftft6 in Slot Length 25 9 in Dome Construction 30 in Reinforced Concrete - 3 Layers of 2 1/4 in Steel Bar - 3/8 in Thick Steel Liner Plate Steam Generator Lift Znformation t

~ Teat Lift 445 Tone

~ S/G Lift (Xncludee Rigging) 350 Tone

~ S/G Lift Radiue 250

~ Togae ior Lift 12 Hre

~ hverage Hook Speed Gnnand Loading 2 ft per sin 12,900 lhe per sq ft

~ Feandatione (Reinforced Concrete)

- Front

- Rear 48 50 ft xx 52 ft x 3 ft 9 80 ft x 3 in

i BIBLZOGRgPHY Fitxsiamonsi Nark. R G and E employee. gave me information about the Lampaon crane.

Prospect.

"Ginna Station Steam Generator Replacement "

fact sheet. Rochester Gae and Electric, Rochester, Nev York. 3/96 Nacaulay, David. The Way Things cwork, Boston: Houghton Nifflin Company;..1988-. pp'. 60-61 "Nachinee", Colliers Encyclopedia. Crovell-Collier Educational Cooperation, 1970. volume 15, pp 168-169.

Baton, hnthea; et. al. Exploring Physical Science (textbook). Englevood, Nev Jersey: Pretice Hall Incorporated, 1995. pp 386-387.

lf IN A PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR, WATER IS HEATED BY THE NUCLEAR FUEL. IT IS KEPT UNDER PRESSURE SO THAT IT W'ILL NOT BOIL.. THE. WATER IS PIPED FROM THE PRESSURE VESSEL TO A STEAM GENERATOR. THERE IT TRANSFERS ITS HEAT TO A SECOND SUPPLY'F WATER, WHICH BOILS TO MAKE STEAM FOR THE TURBINE. THE STEAM SPINS THE TURBINE WHICH THEN DRIVES AN ELECTRIC GENERATOR. THE END PRODUCT IS ELEC'.IGUCITY.

THE FUNCTION OF THE STEAM l" EN'EQUATORS IS TO PRODUCE DRY'ATURATEDSTEAM. THAT [S STEAM WITH MO MOISTURE CONTENT. IT DIRECTS THE STEAM TO THE STEAM DRIVEN COMPONENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS.

MOST OF THE STEAM IS USED BY'HE MAINTURBINE-THE STEAM GENERATORS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF CARBON STEEL. THEY EACH WEIGH 300 TONS. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE STEAM GENERATOR INCLUDES THE FEED RING (A WATER INLET); A BLOWDOWN CONNECTION (THIS REGULATES CHEMISTRY OF THE SECONDARY SIDE WATER}; TUBE BUNDLE W'RAPPER (ENCLOSES THE TUBE BUNDLE OF 3,260 TUBES. THIS NUMBER OF TUBES IS INCREASED IN THE NEW'TEAM GENERATORS AT GINNA TO 4765 TUBES. IT DIRECTS THE FEED WATER TO THE BOY'OM OF THE TUBES); MOISTURE SEPERATORS (THFY'EMOVE MOISTURE FROM THE STEAM}; STEAM FLOW VENTURIS (THEY REGULATE AND LIMITTHE AMOUNTOF STEAMFLOW IN A STEMS LINE BREAK)-

THE R.E- GINNA STATION PO%'ER PLANT IS LOCATED .

IN ONTARIO, NEW YORK." I'HIS YEAR"IT IS REPLACING ITS TWO STEAM GENERATORS. IN 1992 ROCHESTER GAS @

ELECTRIC ANNOUNCED THAT I'HEY W'OULD REPK.ACE THE O'I'EAM GENERATORS IN 1996.

IN RECENT YEARS, GINNA STATION HAS EXPERIENCED A DEGRADATION IN SOME OF THE 3i260 TUBES THAT MAKE UP EACH STEAM GENERATOR. ABOUT 30% HAVE REQUIRED REPAIR. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A CHEMICAK. SUK,DUP IN SOME OF THE TUBES. THIS REDUCED THE HEAT TRANSFER CAPACITY IN THE TUBES.

BO I'H OF THESE CONDITIONS W'OULD CONTINUE TO ERODE THE PK.ANT'S PERFORMANCE IF THE GENERATORS WERE NOT REPLACED.

THERE WERE MANV'TUDIESON OTHER SOI UTIONS.

THEY'OUND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PROSPECT WOULD BE THE LEAST EXPENSIV'E FOR THE CUSTOMERS. IT W'OULD ALSO CrIVE THE PK.ANT THE HIGHEST ABILITYTO SUPPORT GENERATING OF ELECTRICITY. THE OTHER SOLUTIONS %'OULD HAVE REQUIRED RGBrE TO BUY ELECTRIC PO%'ER FROM OTHER SOURCES AT A HIGH COST.

THE NEW STEAM GENERATORS %'ILL REDUCE MAINTENANCECOSTS AN D IMPROVE GINhlA'S E FFIC I E NC Y'.

THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A NEFD FOR AN ANNUAL SHUTDOWN FOR REPAIRS- -THIS WILL PE EXTENDED TO AN 18 MONTH CYCLE.

BECHTEL POWER CORPORATION DID THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING WORK. lT WILL AI SO OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. BABCOCK AND %'ILCOX OF CAMBRIDGE, ON'I'ARIO, CANADABUILTTHE NEW STEAM GENERATORS.

THERE HAS BEEN MANY HOURS OF ~MNING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. A CONCRETE STORAGE BUILDINGWAS BUILT FOR STORING THE OLD STEAM GENERATOR PARTS. THERE HAVE AK.SO BEEN hGQIY BUILDINGS ERECTED AT GINNA FOR A %'AREHOUSE, FABRICATION SHOP AND OUTAGE SUPPORT STAFF.

THE OK.D STEAM GENERATORS WILK. BE REMOVED BY CUTTING TWO HOK.ES THROUGH THE STEEL-REINFORCED CONCRETE DOME AND AN INTERIOR STEEL LINER PLATE .THERE IS NO RADIOLOGICALHAZARD TO THF. PUBLIC.

THE REPK;ACEMENT OF- THE STEAM. GENERATORS O'ILI. BE ACCOMPLISHED 6Y USE OF A K.ARGE CK'WE-fHF. CRANE ARRIVED AT GIN NA IN 100 TRUCKS. IT IS ONE

8 OF THE %'ORLD'S LARGEST CRANES. [T HAS A BOOED QP'[0 FEET. A [90 FOOT MAST AND A 120 FOOT STINGER.

TOOK FOUR %'EEKS TO ASSEMBLE AND LOAD TEST THE'RANE.

ONCE THE REPL ACEhtENT PROCESS BEGINS, THREE CRANE OPERATORS WILL LOWER THE CRANE HOOK [NTO CONTAINMENT-ANDREMOVE-THE OLD STEAM GENERATORS.THE PROCESS WILL BE REVERSED To

[NSTALL THE NE%'TEAM GENERATORS.

U.S. COUNCIL FOR ENERGY AWARENESS, "PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR (PWR)"

o p- 3-4e JULY'990-Z. ROCHESTER'GAS 8c'LECTRIC PERSONNEL'.

, RGBcE, ROCHESTER, NY FEBRUARY 3, 1995. p 1-3.

3. "REPLACING GINNA'S STEAM GENERATORS".

ROCHESTER GAS dc ELE~uC CORPORATION;

. SPRING 1995. p.i 8c 4

4. MACAULAY'AVID, THE WAYTHINGS WORK, SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN.

COMPANY', 1988, p. 304-305

I I

~ ~

+ ~

y ~ ~ ~

~ l1)L,~~~,

pl jH) LS/

Jl..'L Qi p ~ W ~ ~

~~

~ '

~

\~ I:."fbi l'

f- Ul

~

Il li I

lax..g l ~

j~C

'l

)ll

~'kr IQ Dl

~

~

~

3

~

~

0

. ~

iC lg 2/

I

'I 0 ~

J l

~ r I

.,MM

~ e c(

11 \ L'a a

~ 0 l~

l g I

~ ~ ~

( I'Q yet< 1' 'tt g hv y vy<7 v  %< v ~ 1 ~

~~ 'I P433 l It ttj.

< 'cP t '(P )

3 I> g y> 1 <p<'"v>t @

jO j

~ I j v.

4~

~ 'j ~

vt

.~

c

<, .)

I v 3

~:.

~

1 <tx Ct ~

j 41<

g.t<

~~ ~

What's New In Electrici LMc. "

RGB F.'s New Nuclear Plant lt's not in operation yet, but you can see it being built. There is a perfect view of the constructIon from the Brookwood Science information Center observation platform.

After you hove seen the construction, browse around the informa- BROOKWOOD SCIENCE tion Center where the whole tableau of the prnduction. of elec INFORMATION CENTER tricity and peaceful uses of nuclear energy is shown. Animated models, semi-animated displays, slide talks and films are used, Brookwood is designed to please the whole family. OPEN ALL YEAR Take a leisurely trip with your family east on Lake Road through 16 miles of beautiful scenery. Or drive east on Rt. 104 to Ontario VrEO.-SUXJ~O a.M.-4 ~.m.

Center Road and turn north to the Lake Road. Signs show the way. Closed Nonday and Tuesday PHONE ROCHESTER GAS and ELECTRIC 54 6.2700 89 EAST AYE.

AN INVESTOR.OWNEO COMPANY WITH MORE THAN 26,000.SHAREHOLDERS

C~

~ ~

~ \

g3

~ 'w~

~ ~

4<gi YQ

~ 's A

. It's obvious-the Rochester area js growtng by leaps and bounds. Look around you wher-ever you are-you'l see new homes, new high-ways, >>ew apartment houses, new office build- Yott are invited ings, new restaurants, new industrial plants.

%e at the Rocht;st'er Gas and Electric are to visit Brookwood proud to serve and to be a part of this dynamic community of people on tile grow. RC5E's Science Infortnatinn Center, located right at lhe plaiit site, was designed lo slinw ynu Anil Illat's wily Ihe RGB'E is building the liow nuclear power works for you. Tlicte are exlu-Holi<It l;>>l>>ll.tt Gi>>lta Nut'lear l'ower Plant. bits, aniniatcd ilistilays, slide sho<<s, and films L'll'ctticity is an essential elelne>>t in each of available for ynur c<<joyinc>>t. Ailniission is free, and you are invited lu vi. il the center any Wcd>>cs.

tllese prtijects. Tile electricity ge>>crated at the day through Sunilay lliinl 10 A.ith uiilil 4 I'.M.

Gitttta 1'la>>t will provide some of the thou- Just drive cast nn Hidgc Road East, through Web.

sands of kilowatts that our growi>>g communi- ster to the Ontario Cciltcr Road, where you turn ties demand. left. Or drive north on the Seabrecze Expressway to the Lake Road and east for about 13 miles.

Watch for the Brookwood sign to your left.

. Nuclear power is the most up-to-date metltod for the generation of electricity and, as such, fits in with the modern and progressive Rochester community.

PHONE ROCHESTER GAS and ELECTRIC 546-2700 hN INVESTOR OYlNED COMPANY NOH MORE THAN 25,000 SHAREHOLDERS 89 EAST AVE.

Old Out, New In Ilc lli<<<lest pi<< I Is <I<'>>lc. I Ilc ()I(l aIL'>>ll C I IC I Its. all)(l O>>. s< IC Ii)<>> Ill < <I < I I a! s'< i)C I) li gac>>L'I;ttori h;lvc. hcc>> litle(l (>>It. Il)c I wo>>cw I.il>>ll)so>> cli>>lc <II'IVL'I Allc>> N';)tls LL:l~ <<I'<<<lv<'>>> La<a>>L.'I'allot s all'L'I a<<l(l alll thai) IL'I'na<<>>!i I>> evCI'y I<< I tl<<4 I).>> I << I IhL'lla>>lt 4 <'>>Ill<(!La IL'L'O>>>>L'L'l<<)g (ICI:Iil.;Is c< IIIII>>)lc>>I .>> I< I << IIL'"I It y ILat >>I <'1l l lie I L'L <>> lst I <<L I<.'(I

~1 IIC Lvol<I<I (l<>>>>c;>>)<I LL el>. 'I'llc (>>>;I I'ower I'Ii>>lt Lvill hc >>);the tile h;IL'k <<I h<<'st>>css a<<l(l I <<lt>>lt)ga hcllcl'h;>>) cvcr co>>)e I <<I;II

.\

lu>>c. (lccisio>>.

II yo>> allIC>>(le(l a<<)y OI IhC IIII!ia<<ld Wallch<.'d II'O>>1  !'llho<<gh lhc ptlhliL. vicwi>>g;lrc;I ol'I' Il.i Road. you could the winds t'l

>>ot help hut he <<wed by thc sire ol'he Lal>>pso>> WCI(a C, Cfi<<IC a<<)d .ilealnl gC>>CI'altot;i IOO>>)<<)g OVCI lh< blowi>>g at horizon. Wh lt you could>>'t sec Iro>>1 lhe viewi>>g kugrr Kuticr, k6'&l I'rr<i<tri<ta<id r'I tt.

area w'I~ the unount ot work going on to lnove those n)ileS-per- r(>><grat>>tatrr.'irNI'>>ni<ngrr Juh>>.'i>>>>tt<

3 I 6-lo>> stet)In genera)lors. hour, the after tlirfiirnl.<tra>>i ta<aarratar l<Jt.

Inside thc Containment Access f';lcility(CAF), the job could be done up to 35>>) ph. I>>;ldditio>>. tl)c st))ging area for people involved in the lil't. employ- wind was blowi>>g dileelly it)to tl)c cra>>e. r'llhcl Ill;lt) ees worked on a number of;lspccts ol the Steam from the side, lesse>>i>>g its CI lect.

Generator'Replacement Project (SGRP). Also in the CA f w ls;I p>>lcl of vi(leo I>><>>) I l.or ex;<<>>pie, the day of the l<

>I views ol'he co>>till>>>>IL'>>I I<>>'howing windy an(l all sorts of prccautio>>s>>ceded to he taken do>>le afld cfa>>c. Two>>lo>>llol'vL'I'c belorc thc lil'I could t;Ike pl;lcc. Weather it)foll>>i)lion lookl>>g i>>: two otl)L ls wet'c o>> oul!il(IL'o>>lilt>>>>lent, wal.i contltluallly cheeked IA)ln sever;II dlllerent er'tne l(>>lki>>g <Iow>> <lt)l<< III< .Ic'>>I) aacilct.l IIIL'ridge ~ s(>>trees, i>>L l<<(li>>g the N')tint);II We;)ther Scrvicc, al>>d lour WCI'L'>><IL'III<.' <ll') I II<,'IL '>>>> L< IIL I '<I<>>~ + )v()KI( ( hi>>l>>cl I 3 .'i spcclill Lvcillhef scl'vlcc lo look)ill! Ill) I l)c'ic 6 clc I)lovl(I('.d lo V I('.w thc stcilll'I ( I lllllil. LL n(. I'i<<Of i tl'on) OI<<il(IC COnlil<<llllCnl, Allolllcrpowcl'on)piln'( Ai lhc IIII I)cl!I)l). Oil)el cll)I)loyccs nlilllllcd I)fcpilflog fof sic;In) I!cncfa-lo I))onitol Illc Iil't. Ail<<)i)g others.;I crew Ior rcpl;iccinent is Arioso<<;I lllcll't;)lions '6 his Nt((tiol)c(I 'L( <<ll iiul ( c% II'I" c(IIIII)n)cnt tl'I)i<<cd on I'iil lic I.ltilitvCon)pi(nh'. Illc <<mnc lo clicck lhc illnvcnlcnl. I hcy took rc;ldings power conip;iny in Ih';irgcst lion'I vllfi()uipolnls on lllc CI'iu)c to cl)cck fof tlic thc l.lnitcd St<<les. Rich hcigllt. <<n)ilc;lild any tiI)pinI!. IIadsgard. the Senior Robert Sn)ith. Senior Vice I'rcsidci)t ol'I)ner)!y I:.nginccr of tlie rcplacclncnt ()peri)tion!I. s;ll(l ill(It thc people wofklng on ll)('. project at the P;ilo Verde SGRP arc whlit nl'idc il work. -I believe lhc Icvcl ol Nuclc (r Generator St;ltioil. j~f~ 'on)- pl )i)ning as well as thc quality ol the <<rat'ts-people paid off. It is very rc(varding t() I)ave the lifts pleted s;)fcl> llils;)Iso I)cen on h)lnd lo witness thc Ginn:i proje(:t. I{is conip;iny owns tllrcc nuclear power st;<<ions ouls)dc of Phoenix. Al'llona. ilnd on and plans to repl:icc tlic schcd. stean) generators in one of i ule.- them in.2($ 2. 11)e SGRP at 4 ThCfC Ginna allows him to view l.ampson crane dnrcr Allen tVatts d<rccts the were also the process and estin)ate the "1".Stcam Gcncrator into position. several time and P rocedures needed I'or a successful replace-spectators ment. Even though they are not relnoving their stea)n on and generators through the roof like Ginna, our project jl ~ from still holds imporlant information for him. corpora- Despite delays from inclemenl weather. the Ginna tions project has been a complete success. fron) the around construction of the steam generators rigl<<down to the globe the operation of the crane. Everything is right on who were schedule. interested n)c pipe weld>> will be tested with non-destructive in the methods. using x-ray>> and imaging syslenis. 11)c pr J containment dome will also hc tested hy pressurizing Thc ncw "A".Stcam Gcncrator begins to cntcr Ihc containmcnt dome. Rcprc- containn)ent to rccoinn)ended lc) cls:<<ld check)ng Industries, I'or leliks around ihc steel li>>cr l)l;<<c N, licrc thc accc>> scntativcs from Mitsubislli I{cavy 8;Ihcock and Wilcox.;II)d Shokliku Electric I'ron) holes were <<ut. J:)p'In werc just a fcw. Sliokuku's Ak:It(l Nuclc'lr c estlnlill( lllil'Ipliil)l ill)11 ill) A I I I Ii)kc plilcc il II i i I( ll((llllc))) c 1]Ii I iii Pl)lnl ii pl)Ill<<in}.'nf(.'l)I'i<<Ill)!Illcillcill)1I!encl:Itolb ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ r I'I ~ +~ I 4'% I, t >e ~a+ ~ ls ~y ~ ~ k t go ..o ~ %g t o l)> s~ J ~% )l 0 C N ~. Sc,' ~ ~+ k ql ~t Lg l I I ' o ~ ~ I %o I 'il-I~Pii g f ~ ~ ~ .. ~ .y go ~ 1 ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~I ~ ~ e ~ ~ 4 eW I ' ~ 's'a r ~ i' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ \ ~ ~ 'P>> ~ P ~ 4 '0 I' l, I ~ ~ ~ ~ J ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ p~ ~ 'l t~ ql ~ ' ~ ~l:I v ~ ~ J ~ Q i'. ri Lg I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ g 4'V~~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ s I ~ ~ eo ~ ' ~ ~ I 'I ~ ~ ~ ~,OQ yy ~ 1 s eJ pal o~]~l ~ ~ ~ ~a '0' ~ lo ~ "I ~ ~ ~j ~ )<< ~ +~ +~ ~ g~> s, I~re irma ea a ea ro em Corrosion blamed at Rf'&E nuclear pmoer plant, 14 others The R. E Ginna nuclear power plant 16 miles east . shut" down while engineers search for the leaking af Rochester has been shut down five times since 1%5 pipe because of radioactive water leaking into the steam Sometimes. engineers have to probe hundmch of geaerator system pipes before they find the problem pipe,- Lappan The Cinna plant. run by Rochester Gas and said. Electric Corp.. is one ol 15 nuclear plants across the When they find it. they plug it, Lappan said. ccstntty suf fcrmg from corrosion problems that cause Since 1975.the plant approached the linut five pipes to crack and leak small amounts ol radioactive times. and each time. the plant was shut 'down until water. the pipe was located and plugged. Lappan said. George!appan. spokesman for RGhE. said Jan- The five times the plant was shut down for that uary 1978. was the last time Cmna has shut down lor reason arc March 1975. January and April of 1976 and tMt reason. July and January nf 19VB We average down Since then. RG6iE engineers think they'e solved time was i0 days. the problem with a filtration system that removes the ln addition, more pipes have been plugged dunng corrosive chemicals from the water. regular mamtenance shutdowns - when engineers "We think we have the problem defeated," he said check pipes for corrosion. ll the pipe wall ts more than 40 percent corroded, then it's plugged, The actual releases of radiation through Lappan said. generator and into the atmosphere were the'team As a result, about 2 percent ol the 6,520 pipes have very small. he said. been plugged. Lappan said. "We'e looking at very low level of radiation- The rcirrosion happens from the outside in. Lappan and any problems we'e had with rc leases were well said. meaning the corrosive chemicals come from the wtiun the levels set by the Vuclear Regulatory "clean" water RGdcE engineers mstalled the filter. Coninussion (NRC i mg system alter the last shuHfown, and there have Lappan said the releases were "fractions of a been nn mnre problems. Lappan said. nullirem" A typical chest X ray ts about 40 mil- The pipes. he said. are made of an alloy called ltrerns. he said. ineonel. which is 70 percent nickel, 20 percent chrome Staff members of the NRC told commission and 10 percent iron. members yesterday the problem has caused exten. Darrel) Eisenhut, deputy director of the NRC's sive pipe damage in steam generators ol five nuclear division ol operating reactors, said a chemical plants and "minor" tn'"moderate" damage to pipes reaction imnlving acids. chlorine and salt causes the at 10 other plants. including Ginna corrosive buildup between the pipes and theit'etal Lappan said the problem comes in the heat fittings, creating pressure which leads to the transfer system. leak The highly pressurized. extremely hot "dirty" He i~id ttie only solution now appears tn be ioac'.ivei water from inside the reactor is piped replacina the pipes Scientists have been unable to from the reactor mto two steam generators which develop a chemical to disso) ve the corrosion buildup. have a tata'. ol 6.520 sma! l pipes, each with a diameter he added of 'i As ~ pi~ ol an mch. pass thrniigh the steam generator system. they re.submerged m '-'clean" inon.radioac. uvei water The heat from the pipes is transferred into the clean water. which turns into steam and moves on to Jie steam generatnr to make electricity The problem comes when one nf the pipes ~uig the -dirty" water cnrrodes and radioactive water leaks mto the "clean" water When that happens. the RC6iE instruments pick up the leak. Lappan said 1f the leak approaches the ltttut a tenth ol a ttallon per fQJQQJg 'the platit ls o~ a reactor d'or s Thi'(liflili)nU<<4'al piiwer filet <n the the Three Mile island plant occurred town i>f ()ntarn>. Way>>i Cnunty. i>> iiiie ;ifter the water levrl inside the reacinr of/3 preiiuriviwl waier reactors in tlie frll ilangerou>>ly low. l.~nit('ll Stalr4>>hiil to i'rn<<r;ite el<<ctri<<. 'l'he superheated. radioactive water it y. "heat ex-is pumped into a system o'. The proposed Yterlint. iiuclear power change" pipes. These pipes run through plan(, which )KC~8cE and three other a reservoir of clean water. heating it utihties want tii build iii Cayuga Coun- and creating steam sort of a "tea ty, wn>>lil .use ih>> same tylie iif sys ~ kettle" effect. 'tp,ni ln a press>>rived watrr rrartnr. radio- This clean ste'ini is let cut through a active furl iii th<<rrac iiir vessel creates turhino to generate electricity. The h<<aI steiim is condensed and the <<lean water Tlii li<<al ii i,>>iii~l liv ilir sphtinig of ~ is ri <<irc>>latwl aionls. <"Ill<<il fli~lon il s carl leil iiway 'l'lir rra<<>or vriirl;ind snme internal 1lw 'L'i at i I 'i vi'rai~lliit 5 f n 6tlo 8r ~ pari>> of it the pities carrying heated. ln <<s g ~ radina<<tive water tn the heat ex-prri~lll'I/ail<>>i ('halnti<<l lli evrtli>> ihanger: the prrsi>>rization chamber; ihi wai<<r. <<ontaminatrd witli bits iif aiiil liarts of the cylindrical building radina<<t ivr "criid." from turning t)iat houses the ri actor, called the steam. containment building would be re-The water prevrnts the fuel from miived if the plant were dismantled. overheatinlt. Lait sprint,'s accident at pc'cElfbhg / /g7Q II18' e 0 azar But Cost Set at $280,000 a Day Thp (eillna n<<elc ill'nwc'r plant wa>> snutaown, but Pwk said thc additional cost shut dcicc~ Scinday after tc<hnictans at the will not he refit ted o>> bills until two months Rochester (la>> and Electric Corp. facility frnm now detcctecl "a vc iy slight leakage" in a steam The plant i>> located along Lake Ontario. g<<neratnr le mih s northeast of Rochester in the %ayne tube'tiehard Perk. an Rci8cF.: spokesman. said t'niinty town cif ()ntano today that the cond)tion clos not pcii<<any (tinna technicians dctectecl the -very hazard tn eiiher plant personnc l nr the ~light transfer of 0<<cd from the primary piiblic % iiti Ahraham. public affairs nffi<<er system tii thc s<<<<nndary system which sup-at th<<N<<rlc ar fb giilatnry ( ommcssinn's lilics stesni to 'lhe tell'h'inc. d<<ring 'routine r<<gional nffi<<c in King nPrcissia. Pa . said nuinitnrlicg. f'<<C k Said. "there is no rc le;c~ nf r:iclinaclive material ~ "What lhc y disc cwc rnid wns very tiny at all" tnnhnle leak>> in tile stcam jenerator." said t:irma is c spec ic< tn r<<main rinsed fnr as thc NR("s Ahraham "lt's not at all unusual bing as lo days tn twn w<<<<ks while repairs ;it th<<sc lil;lnt>> In this rase. the leakage ~ are bing made. Pc~k said ;illloilil'ts 'to oiie Ilclnc'e nf wat<<r a minute' Fnr <<very clay thc plant l>> shut'clnwn. <<lli<<h iS vc ri. v<<ry slight R(e8cE v ill pay all addi'tlnnal 5'DA.ALN'I tn biiv .i>>nilar sh<<tdncvns were ordered sev. more espenSwe fuel from other snurces. eral tune~ scviral years agii at Ginna, Pec'k braid lait th<<prohlc:ni s<<cmed to hc alleviated R(itkY. hai not nimputed wh:ct thc;iver. cchcn the cnnip:cny chlcnged the chemical age ciisliimet may wind up paying foi th<< nl;ikculi iif tluid in the reactor. Peck said. Jecel<lb<.g a<<, 1<leg as s ermission to use p utonium-Bi xl iRK 't'PERT ue at !y dropped the '.est after controversy :u<<l i; <<idet!. irma used in E top<'re; R<xhe.ier GJ. 4 El<cc.'flu Corp says arose oier (liing plutonium from Bntain and Prance have reg,rove.~in ii p.'ans tn a.-k the x'ucl<<ar Regulatory England into x'ew York City's Kennedy mdustries and have ri ported no heal!. <.'vmm..~-inn f<<r perrmssicn to use some A:rport RGhE had planned to buy the or aecurity problems he -aid plu:orium!ad<<n f:i<<l in a test at its plutonium from England That uas our <the t;nited States Girl's nuclear pi<<er plant Plinonium is virtually unknouw in plan in the old fuel cycle. '~iidsi>>: The test cnu!d nous at!e,t'An <lr. the ".a'. irt mn-t of n being prooui:ed in ~ said

<:.>>'.inrc of <<hat:n do u:tl. l ed rucle. II Qi '. Thai changed <<hen Carter scam pouer p!ant fuel ard whether the sotope that reactors produce as president

<r<'lie (ederal government should allo<< the a uaste. plutonium%9. isn't easily He ordered an indcfimte moratoriur recychng of plutomum. formed as a destroyed by nature lt has a half life of on reprocesStng on Apnl 7. 19< . citm byproduct of nuclear reactions at 24.000 years the possible danger o( nuclear weap'. power plants and other nuclear An average reactor produces about proliferation. les 9X pounds of plutonium a year. 1V!th There also were quest ions aboi RGKE spokesman Richard Peck said out reprocessmg. it must be stored wth uorker safety in reprocesstng plants utihti and its customers uould ~ other wastes x'ew York state is now negotiatm

ave abiut 5" mil!ion if it's allowed to "There's a tremendous resource (ur a federal takeover and cleanup c use the mixed oxide fuel

~ available <m plutomum)". Peck said ',he nation's first commercial reprc L'nhke the much more expensive ura. "Our chairman iFrancis Drake> says iessing plant at IVest Valley. Ca: nium thai's u. ually used !o (uel rcac in our reactor that's thc safest place taraugus County '<M'4 'llulo1lllni ls con~:dered highly tn store the plutonium x'nbody can Those in the industrx blamed tl; toxic if inhale One of the reasons steal it there"  !<lant's 19 6 closing on government ii P. t sident Can>>r cited uhen he stopped t.'sing plutonium as a reactor fuel decision and regulation. uhile enviri wa=te recycling in 19" was that a isn't that exotic anymore. said Carl mentalists said reprocessing uaste .mall amount nf plutonium could be Goldstein. vice president o( the Atomic <<asn't economically feasible made into a nuclear <<capon industrial Forum. the nuclear mdus. Peck said if RG&E's request is at Peck said %'est inghouse Electric try's trade organization proved. the mixed oxide (uet uould t Corp told RGE.E three months ago the After plutomum is recovered from plavW in four o( Ginna's 121 fuel a fuel << ould hav e to be moved by Dec. 31 spent (ucl. tt's converted to an oxide wmblics. (r~ n the Chesusck, Pa.. facility uvre f'orm and added to uranium oxide tn A third of the aswmhhes are r it uas made make "mixed oxide" fuel. placed dunng the plant's annual spnr The x'uclear Regulatory Commission f4RC spokesman John Kopeck said refueling. Peck said aai>> RG4E pe. mission '.o use the fuel mixed owtde fuel has been tested in )le .aid it was unlikely the XR af he Nayne County pnuer plant on uter U S r"actors would approve RGE;E's u~e o( the oxide f<a, uranium Au=-trians signed by Louis V. Nosenzo. then e..riched in the Soviet Union has wound up in deputy assi~tant secretary of state for nucle-R.~he ler Gas 4 Electric C'oro.'s Cinna nucle. ar energy. Wolf said it gave the official ar power olant in Wayne County. assurance of the U.S. government that the Paul W. Brig'. chairman and chief exec. uranium would not be used for weapons. ui:ve offiicer of RG&E. said that uranium is Such assurances are required under the

n. ~ producing electricity. non-proliferation treatv of l978. which is li is the first time that uranium enriched aimed at halting the spread of nuclear weap.

n the SOvlet UniOn waS SOld fOr uSe in an ons. Thc United States and the Soviet Union American nuclear power plant. the Commerce signed the treaty. And the Austrians were not De parunent said yesterday. a0owed to ship the uranium without these And as an added brightener, it's sang you money a0 told. about $ 2 mi0ion.

assurances. According to the Commerce Department, How did RGKE get it? Walt Wolf, president of Separative Work U.S. firms bought $ 43.6 mi0ion of urani ~ L'nit Corp. of Gaithersburg, Md., arranged for um from the Soviet Union in l980. Val Zabija-thc sale to RME His finn fabricates fuel rods ka, an analyst of Sovie trade for the depart-and is a broker fo'r utdities. ment, said he could not find a record of Wolf said the uranium was mined in South any prerious purchases and that there had Africa, then was sold by South Africa, been none in the first four months of this year ~ enriched in the Somet Union and sold to the latest period on which he had informa. Austria. Newly mined uranium contains only tion. ~

0. percent of uranium 235 thc hnd that Thc other uranium imported into the Unit-actually makes the reactor work. The ore has ed States was fabricated into fuel rods and to be concentrated, or enriched. until the level sent to a West German utility, according to reaches about 3 percent before it can be Thc'eL York Times.

used. Zabijaka added that Soviet plants for en-Austria had to sell the enriched uranium riching uriuuum have outpaced the construc-after a referendum in i4ovembcr 1978 pre- tion of power planta to usc it in the Soviet vented use of nuclear power there. Union, so Moscow is eager to have other RGB;E bought 31,800 pounds of the fuel for countries buy its enrichment service. $ 12 miJion. about $2 mi0ion less than'he Sue Pittman, a State Department press company would have paid from convention-al U.S. sources, said George Lapp'. RG8;E oHiccr, said the department's only comment spokesman. The company emphasized that no was that no government regulation prohib-money was given to the Soviets. its the import of uranium enriched by the The savings ai11 be reflected in fuel adjust- Soviets. ment clauses on customers'iQs, the company Only since 1978 have US. ut0ities been has said. allowed to import uranium used in nuclear - power plants. Once the transaction had been arranged through Wolfs firm. the uranium, which had RG8'E's import license was approved in been stored for two years in Egest Germany, February 1980 by thc Nuclear Rectory o a~ shipped to the Gaithersburg. lM. Wolt s Commission. company fabricated it into fuel rods. The RGEcE had an option to buy an additional completed rods were put in special containers 62,800 pounds. but decided not to exercise and taken to Ginna by truck last year. ~ thc option, Briggs said. Uranium prices have Wolf told the Associated Press that the fa0cn in the meantime. and foreign uranium is 'o ~ Q.S government had to give assurances that longer a bargain. he said. the uranium would only be used for peaceful puff%~ 8 8 ~c, 4 The nuclear process 'a ~+VO+kg gg /CPP~ ~ ae I)o<<>s Ihe power D au< lrur ra e<rtur? prod od A. A pfiai ~i a)ltd fiI>uc>n A >a what miiki a n>>a II'ar )la'iwc'f tali<>>t rein. 4 w '(i4<sao I h'e<4I I was:eo>salle'f p>vc th 1'h>s splitting Nl.'4> a is'w>c'4 ><<e lifc'i'ss>el>>'l(e G ~ ><4 ~ sec I c's>lli'cl >>>'o'cs ,:i)I' I Is o>erat oolseefl>>>>l c'ac>>i)win('i>l >o n ooc'Irs>f ~'. i 'sa 'I )sse<<sf )ilw>il s tiie I >4 i>n >~<isa)w>>f ~ ~ 'eilhsl ) I ";I!s - ~ >>ruo>ii>>i I l>r. Iivuvy Ntcinus eel at I ~ io>>e> that acv spl>t 'I'h>~ >~st ~ spe>>f a>fwnium make>sa op el><sot .I )sac<sail isl Il>v li>i) N C<<>>< Ic C 'l'hv f>>vl is a ae>>leal>>>'cl o> ~ 'i'ie>i>>>a'w'Ils'Isee Ihc ~ )H'Ils'><4 ks i) i>i I>rs' s>>ii>i>> ilci'ts>)hey li>lww II>><I <Kl >>> W ri w< teer iio'hie 'Phhe (cintta Whs>> sio >>les>>> <s( ll .I.s Hphlia. >I fisc>>>s plant complex includes: (A) tho containmc.nt alccintiu>o to >>>i IN)br vlv>oi ol), xv>>on )>> a'hi ui)ding housing the nuclear rcuctor; niis Nllv iiini live gwsl >uid thr<<e nciilfis>>s. v>sator intako building (I)) offioos; (C'.) thv. A Ifi siii>><le> si>>wsi>iil cif <<nvftm and l'iltcring room'0) t gab('o till >>> I)sr I af>>> sef hc'hl s>less >s( tng: ( .) auxiliary building and b'i N>>c) gi>>B>nh favs. spc nt Cuol storage', piiul; ( ') control room; ((x) tcchnical ~ N lcsiiii isf ra>i>We>> Aii<) Ih(~( uililitw>>wil tiiiilriins c'merge ncy goneruturs; support ccntcr; (II) gn is)I'>>el (I) l.ukc Ontario frontage.. a)ilil islh>'r>>lse>>>4. c'se>>t >oo>>>g n piss('c'w4 thai's ra)le(l o hioo rvw< lwwi hLc N lint cil <himi. ')'hv sh gc('< ti> wh>i Ii OSKW fealliiig Ilwswlmium/l>ssf<<n any othrr purl>>>>s Ihw>> I<a Nrry lt s i>>>) wert>>iit Ie Lvc p Ihe nor)< Nf rc iw lies>> ~ >'<Kl'a s>r<<>>>si'flc'c) I'as>> If(s)'i WI>ilt .'a Iliv f<<a<<le>> i>> I>i>)s)>c'>>>o 'o I,>>> IhNI ii rvc'ntus>IIV Usa'cl I<> ~ ~ swssv hrat 'rc'e>t c' 'la'a'Ir>c'> al ) eo>ils> gsso>g sl ~ 'li(lilyIcl sp)il i>lci>ns io>il or>>iron )uiisoo thv r<K)s ih n ty'I >I liter>>)le rula the c vrntsuillv >>saki i h e Ic>r>ty " earl)is ir>>t lv >>4 c)c>>. pncl> <<'<s II s ss)4>>>)wsf>.a>>l Ies ~ 's>f~'lw's<'eat p see(i)<I<<. uwe>y hs ki s )s thi'c'ess'tee< 4 Ia<< I s ce sl <hi giinl is tis l>><vv <<wrh C>sasicso Q I)ut exantlv how heep i>>>>iiiwl Ilw lc <sales f<<><<cs e.t <lss <<ee>i I>a r C>~~>eio. Wlw <> I lie rrvntc'uwil IK c'Ic'ctr<c>tv pro slfsli>>>fl Illa'isc'I >4 slee as> ~ sx> ~ Ie >', ~ ~ ~ c cc art ii>>I ios>sla w durA at ~ I Is ~ I>rli Nr Cc ws'I<sr f< we)as~ Ih>s( )ia >nt, ~ >I s >Kiwi I (ai>>ns<<', I s>ss Ii>'sil fc'ls'III(ec) >tsvll >sea c<, li e> whalie is.ie', ~ e i 4 e.;e.ee s,a lusvc rs wi'hi >e'.il >s>s>sew ~ s wh>'o >i. i>ft spht >>> ~ ~ ~ e >e~ ~ < ~ ~ s.a>iii <sag . h si>>>>>> n w('I(ir i>> cnrrivcl w<< s>aerfisg>i>g w)4eiil ecscl cia gse ewi Ills iy liy wat<<r s ~ i>>4< le e I Cp. I)ut how c'Ni> lhst happc n <<hen split- Ws>ICC Irseiii this "primary the I>fa'le>>>i>>>i ill)say i<K)4 Ii 'Is)slag >I>e'>f ~ el<leis>> ting one U-'s:I;> sys(lr>>>" i>> fi>O atom create>> three nru- Ihrisi>gh N ss'ric's >if )>>)w.e c sll)a'cl C ><Cia.h>() )se lk >4 troc>a? hrNI \'x ~ I )sever. Iw esi>isis<> c ee)4 <<ill l>ss'I> sii;else<>I c hi>i>ga'fse. <tc'wo> ths>t ~ ~ A. Scso>t ss fcsf>>ic'cl >i> Ihv rx' thill el< gf<<4, S(<e>4>>S>e, W O We >i it) <lust <if Iliv oi i>trio>h arv se>>>>)<lv >>>(ivi>>g )ii>>>g<'fs )<Sf 4<'S'(SO<4(CV ) Whet(e>>> I C>i>>S i> li>f. ~ Ca'~>>lst tcs spht ii>> wt ~ s>>>, <<'h>li'etha'Cs i>fv Is>>w' wh>a h < >i> l>>fo, a'ce>>>>a'c'cc'al o> Ihc'sef>>><I<>ee>s ~ el <'ale)e>>sa<'<cali<ega>> A>wl al>4(sf)>> d >>>I ~ > flic ic s(a I<if's wwlls. a )a c I f >a i>l ga>>a Cist<sf e las iai> thr c'es>>lice) fe4)'a <<<Il ciw I> . '.Ks>O ) hc'stc'C>>> Ih< Cvwc'I ~ >f alias< Hl<swh Il>c'. ~ 'I'Ii( NIc <as>> >s ('vc'ots>s>lly Clvgfc S'4 ((i<ic)(>>s<<<). iiiwiig neutrs(nss. I>vlpii>g t.s n>as)( rate lliv l>ss>s<n prai. <a(Ala c ffas>>> I 4<4('. ()>>Iaaf>>>, I ha'a>s'I sil e aa>)) cs'>>i as>< st<<<> ~ 's > sio ~ i >)sr > <<ss< sg)see>>t '.l.l )s<'fe ~ '>>I ~ el (ill n<<chwc cs'.i<>s ~ >>a a 4< ~ 'I'I' ~ I le<< >ii is>sse <sag ils(. () print Ih>>>a'fgy ga'i>c'cat('ll few<i<sf'~ see<itis I c<<)4. ~ c'c>>>lice) Ih> rvs><'Iaaf Iiy>>4>>ig I'l i O> i> f>>>i'li'Sif fa '>l'I~ SC i>i'l>>i>l)V ~ ~ >lee aa.ats'>>i> ~ ~ s<3 <etc >lee. ('>><IS>>p iue fv(ia Iesf )Se( ISS IK'e'Iet Insn>Ngt>i't.'> tfs O> S fl tisls n>A<IV In<>>> is>el r>> li)VI)W 4'>>>>( Il>a C'li'<'f>>i)V e ~ <> ~ a<l.e>eieg nl>ion s>o>l hi<fico thut Nfc'If<a)l)w'al IK't<<ars'>> t>>C>>is iel le ~ ti<<'Wl g( iie Seat > >i >><'VgL>as>lie'f 'I e>'a'a >s >he"ie lese >4 ii ~ es 't >~ ~ we' aa)ea ce ee i ~ 'ell C isu> furl s( lls IP. ))<svs Ihv wsts r i<> Ihv ra we >sar 4< rav ~ else fss>sec~ wc<' ~ el<I. <a)4 ~ a ~ a l.e . > ~ ~ k~ ~ Ie sl ~ ~ghfUgRy g3 /982 Robert E. Ginna, shown in a 196th photo, influenced the building of a nuclear power plant in the Rochester area, down to the color of paint on the buildings green in honor of his irish J r ancestry. Ginna named for ex-RGLE chairman You Yc heard the name a loi gion to build the plant Qinna. The plant was not only named in art the. complete offic;al title of his honor but painted green RLw".ester Gas Ind Elect ric Corp.'s pinna's favnrttc color because it re. nuc,eitr power plant is the Robert E. minded him of his irish ancestrv. Q..;ra s~ation It also was Ginna's decision to re. Zt's riarned for Robert. Gin>>a. ~ho tain rhe orchards on the site and build w'as RCE E's chairman of ihe board a facade hidiiig the reactor'a contain. wnen the pia>>t w~ planned aiitl ment buildiiigfrom public view. The built plant would look more like ~ modern Gin>>a. 79, ot'!'Z San Rdckc.l Drive. school than a msgr indust.rial instal-Piitsforil. was an early and arde>>t lation." according to a company his: 5upporter of r uclear power. one of the ry. Thc RCkE Story. reasons ~hy 4heut'iliiy made rhedeci- MARK WERT 0 /juguS7 2 7 I'TSAR 2F. deficiencies at G>nna containment isolation valves that do not satisfy NRC's new requirements. 'A report on the nation's l 1 oldest nuclear Updating the isolation valves will probably be power plants sa>s that Rochester Gas and Elec- the toughest job. Peck said. "l'rn not sure what tric Corp.'s Ginna plant, located 16 ui0es north- they didn't like about them, but l know it takes eet ol Rochester in the 5'ayne County tovw of about two years to get new equipment like that Ontario, failed to meet 27 current Yiuclear Retm- de'igned and iratalled." iatory Commission licensing rules. The valves work during an emergency to shut But the NRC's Adriwry Committee on Reac- off contaminated water From the rest of the sys-tor Safety. in a letter to NRC Chairman Nunzio tem, aHoraing clean water to circulate to cool the Palladino, added that many of the deficiencies reactor. have hen resolved. That's just what happened during Ginna's Jan. RG&E spokesman Richard Peck said last night 25 accident in which a tube ruptured, sending a that Ginna, and the other older plants, were re- plume of radioactive steam into the atmosphere, viewed because they were built back before NRC Peck said. regubitions were as strict as they are today. As for the seismic detection system, the NRC Seven of the problems are still being studied. wants RG&E to drill holes measuring the sur-Sir involve the 12-year~id plant's structural de-NglL RG&E has agreed to fix all areas pinpointed be done fairly quickly." ~t rounding groundwater 270 feet deep, instead of the current KO feet; Peck said. should by the study, he said, but he couldn't say how The possibility of Deer Creek flooding and much that might cost. causing problems at the pbmt simply wasn't con-Peck said the NKC ~ants RG&E to look at sidered when Ginna was built, he said. three things: a seismic detection system; flooding RG&E will hire a consultant to do a Good that could be caused by Deer Greek; and several control study of the creek, he said. JRNuqwy 29,'99k SLI ieSWea S p Long-troubled steam generators "' 'a-.rw~4r~ '-'::~'isjii%.thi[to.~ ~ ",",,-.i,... bahur.'xg)k roc& may be replaced'y ~//LE-, w~-es@ ' Steve Orr Ocwoya iw Cy eye<<-.ee p g4~fgQy" ~ r ei ~i.':IBRSk.- .>8 i 4 ~ After fretting for two decsdes over the safety risk po.ed by <<hronically lro<<hied steanl generators at its <<) L ~)C~%:hs" " -'" Gii na p!ant. Rochester Gas and Elec- ~ >en n'+Q, n! nneine4)gt tric Corp. may be on the verge of a 1 ~e cr I -vlutinn. ja .4 2,POVe ')Ilgwu)-Xg ~pautling ground of Girna's ivorst r p" ' accident IO years a'o tomorrow. the r~,. '5@ 'izf e <<n pL.Vp'ia!rfyr'0 C< replaced with shiny new ta,sta models that would reduce the !lie!ellnliiinde ~dec!en odds of another f'~Q) majnr accident. .One neyennee nn! e nein But though Ant-..-.>-.  : eneenenenieny l%;nly . improved safety ,vQ+ISore .: l "casusac cantami~'.s ttat Is an Ghlectl ve ' -, corroded the tu~. Minute . N and a likely out. ':anount3 accumulated in tne cnme. the deci- S~  ; 5In trevlcie behNsen the sion . tuoes and ee tube is being sheet. forced hugely by seoe o ol o ee cans dnllars and cent+ safety issue as much as lt is an eco-nGmic or.e." md RGben C. nfecredy, H C)X E ace president for Cinna .u prGduction. The r placement project would "It s not a nucle.

Tuba~~'g'~

ahtCQ59"r (ftIN,."".pn;~ ~ e ~ 'I :,y 'ube Caustic siuCge Cyoss-sectlon of tl.beg:W -.. ct)cc about $ IQO lr'iUion, the Jube company says) ltlaltlng it by far the tnost expen. su f sive undertaking e'er at Ginna port'-tale) Put 'the ferie.'ator replacement is 'Qanhd4i ~ by no lneans a foregone conclusion. In 1act,'RGRK'6 initial economic analy. 4e . ~o'h~.~gr >S 4.OO--L ,v e S e ev:xo) SciC sis. which waghed a Cinna with new cOh+RLeoye generators against other options, 'hat e )C "Showed the caII to be Ron Liberty, an ofRciaJ ver close,"said a of the state Staayyi Public Service Commission. geneyaroy 'yaI,' It is posSible Ne new generators rA' =: P&ntrit@Anne ~ wiU nnt prove worth the 8 Gk E could optt'o run Ginna as long expense. ( cold ONff Ief to i-.'Tet er L ~ as its old flenerat'ols will hold up and -. bgguA,; then shutt'er the plant torever. ~ ItattieelIy manas ~ ~ ed SeC ~ JRIVIJQRc/ Qp gqq~ RES to declcks 0 ggrieratars'uture I I s '"Iliaclecision is probably the moss impor- f~ tant chat che company has made iil many yean and will make for many years io come." he ~ o~ ~ Scald ~ e Thc oompany has received and is analyzing bids for Cwo ncw generators from live mcnufac 0 as I curcrs. Ncw models wouLd have Co be ordered c wiclia the next several months. Buc no decision bas been made yct. RGZcE Chairman Roger W. Kobcr said this week. 4 y, ~ ~ ~ -lc becomes a fairly big deal because there' I 4 re e sigiidlcanc amount of money involved," J Kobcr said. "But in the overall scheme of I L 4 things. of generating power, it's not an awful le lot of money." Peter Bradford. chairmen of Chc utility. rcguiacing state PSC said th>> decision will be This cut-away view Ot a mechanical train-RG4E's alone. But if the company seeks to ing area shows the pipe systein that cools raise rates Co pay for nc<<generators, its eco- the nuclear plant's two steain generators. nomic justification had better be in order. "Our staff would be aggressively skeptical," stcam generators. 'De planta at issue in those Bradford pronusccL legal actions constitute 40 percent of aLI Wes-RME must weigh cost, opticinl tinghouse-built nuclear facilitiee in America. Of the utiiitica that o<<n the eight plants If RGgcE docs pursue replacement, Kobcr with identical generators, only RGfcE and the said, it would be done by 1995. The project Nc<<York Po<<er Authority have not cued. would take the plant out of service hr an . RGEcE officials say they considered the estimated three months. matter and decided against suing. They also It also may lllvolve cutting holes in the say they have not reached any radiation.tight containmcnt dome so workers out&~ settlement with Westinghouse related to stcam can lower the ne<<generators in a tactic only generator tube degradatioiL one ocher US. utilicy has ever attempted. "We'e tried to evaluate <<hethrr there real-Is it <<orth the ccet and <<hataver risk ly ia any merit to Litigation. To data <<e haven' accompanied the task? That'a what RGEcE scen any," Kobee said. must decide. comparing replacement to the There'a one <<iM card: the PSC, <<hich may costs of carrying on as before and the viability want to kno<<<<hy RQ4E didn'C seek damages of eltcrnati~ from Wasting}louse before asking consumers tion for innovation and s~ RG& 8 has earned an industry-wide reputa-in generator maintenance Kober proudly notecL in fact, to pay the freight. "Sure, that <<otild certainly be a q~loo that RGM ie one of the fe<<utilitica that has our staN... <<ould Look at," Bradford said. managed tllrough superior maintenance to keep its original generators in <<orking order. RGgiFs expertise e born of experience The liat problens <<ith a stcam generator tube wea detected et GInna in March I9Ti, lust iA Tubes examined, ftxed yeats i~tarch or April, when 't Repairing degraded stean generator tubes has become a cite of p t Gintia. Each Is shut do<<n for annuaL maintenance and refualitig. hun-M~ years atilt CN4hg began at a plant (bat was dcsigneaI ha Iasg four hil decade 1 heal h Ginne is hardly alone in its <<ocL Many dreds of workers s<<arm over the complex. pcrforining cacehliy orchestrated maneuvers. The pair of O'I-foot high strain generators attract many of the <<orkers, <<botet electroruc other utility <<hose nuclear p4nts <<ere built probes tnexamine ecch of the QNOee Nsstaarrt by Westinghouse Electric Corp m Ginna <<as, generator tubes that retnaln in service have replaced stcam generstorL Five of the Last year, they Looked fot lO cBferetlt cate-seven other planta <<ith the same model gener- gorice of degredatlotx in the tctbe <<aILs, <<hich ator cs Ginna have done sn already. are just one-t<<entiath of an inch thldt. They RCh,E, ho<<ever, has not pursued one found evidence of five typal of problems'and course of actiort that e gro<<lng nurllber of identified 233 tubes that needed <<orlt. other utilitiee have Legal acuon against In response. 2LO <<ere slaevecL a proc~ by Vfcstinghouse, which has been accused in high. which a metal Liner is inserted inside the ly charged Lawsuits of concealing internal degraded portion of the tuba An additional 23 knowledge that ics steam generator tubes vere v cre piugged and taken out of service, unreliable. As of today. $ LS tubes. Or 7.9 percent. have ht least IS utilities have filed or threatened been plugged: I2 (I9 percent haiz been to Qe lawsuits involving ~ total o(at test l3 sleek'. Neatly three~uarters of the problems VgjVU+kP Q + jqq~ B steam generator'aring the case ot iaalniainiiig Qlna S 0 Gingia'e fine ~ear Problems wefe Cc~geiags <<iih i}lecase af installing ae<<agigte cabined by trace demeata in water chat flows And ihes <<eight the caet af md ~~e 0 e thawing a n ~ early >970e, RC&E agidcd phae- waiia a( Power that now ca phatea es a biLtfcr. e 'tu+as,company af6cials say. are b mProblem but caiised the one fram naw to 2009 Th af +e tube walls fram buildup af cense 20 years beyond th ty deputy director of the PSC's power Passiblct tabby tttp~ g ++~ division. said he bclievea the aid stcam genera-n~~~ Iy can stumble dang with the existing The water flaw ~~de th ~b &m the s mi generator. But what happens is yau reactor is supcthw~ md d + P ' mare. leaks mate autagee, inare dawn sure, anil t be ~ y ~e m~rtf dlyd~'t~e~~tak~p ~~al~af~l ek s~ it and a buildup af Pressure Tht d ~ I d atmo l there nd keeP beyond the end af their hcensc ar is befaie operating any sp ere and. <<arse, diunage ta the nuclear cate. really han} to tell ft's Ne, when's the iiext The care was nevet uncovered ot damaged breakdown of your car goulg to be." . in irma's 1982 accident, but radioactive If the generators are replacegL RG&E affi. sieam i escape. lt was by'far the waist stcam cids say, it is hoped they<<auld last should ih generator leak the plant has suffered but corn fot nat the only one Betwce 1975 and 197 al ays felt... that ifwe did want to extend th u fatced unplanned shut- life of thc plant anothet 20 yeats, we onl owns far repairs. There was another in 1988. wanted to replace the steam generators once," Kobcr, ho as vice president for elecetlc production earlier in his career. ct e yeats, RG&E has invested more "But there's no question we'e gaing to look and more time and money in keeping the old at a life extension," he said. , for, example, one company document filet however. the US. Nuclear Regulatory Com-with thc PSC showed a budget of $ 19.2 tniHion mission ts just noet issuing 6nal regulations to for equipment rebttcd to generator rcpaitL govern license cztcnsiaaL The time it takes far inspection and repairs Those tules are controversial Responding is a factor as well; Mecrcdy said stcam gcneta- to industry complaints of overly harsh tcgula-tar work adds 10 days to the pbtnt's annual tion, the NRC is h td That 10 days wh en puma, Maet environmental im far in. Ginna is not earning its kee p, forcing RGfcE to stance, would be handled on a genetic basis-buy Power elsewhere. usually at higher cast. done just once, for the entire industry. OvcraU, the cast of operating and maintain>> 7he rules also would limit the ege-related ing Ginna has risen sharply in the last decade isa~ that cauldbe raised when a lant e lies fram $ 29.5 million in 1982 to $ 80.6 million in for an catena unpravcmcnta, many related to Ginna'a age. censing though they ate studying the ncw in the yeats 198248.Qinns was an industry rules and gathering information.'ctcar teeeatch group. Mecredy said. ave~ utb ~ spent nearly double the industry of the pmcsare taken ~to g s etune, Lbctty said, ind up as a test.case plant, one of the fust to invcs c~ million in the plant. go thtough the relicensing Thc nuclear fc<<ycarsb another expense relet- industry is seeking t<<o to the ¹eatn generators has an>en a two. teprescnt each of the basic types of lantL percent in pa<<et output. That represents One seems set, but the other, a ptessurised toughly Sf million a year. The problem is caused by fouling of the outside of the stcam gcneratot tuba, Mccredy water reactor such as Qinns, e not. The Yan-kceRoweplantinMaaaehusetts<<as do it, but has closed over sat cry concetnL 'o who oversees Qinna mat- Mectedy said a Vhy'nia plant nlayed that ters ot the ARC, said the power loca has been role in an industry telicensug stefy Ginna Progressing at about 1 pctccnt 4 year, though twncd down the chance and he asaumcs 'he Mccredy said there ate signs it is leveling off. that plant might be the losdi candidate. Ir <<ough tubes are plugged and sleeved, Michad Marriott. of tha No~case Informs ccr y said. that could )cad to a further lass tian and Resource Scarce in Washington. of power generating capacity at the plan< O.g.,saidGinnainightbeecandidatebccauge. af iis good opcratltlg record industry want% g kind of plant to go {ust ttuit's toing to be as gain ainpany anal an analysts w wcighthe futurebycoin- least contruhctsial as possible,"4e said. ~QIVUQRQ Qrtt /99+ How the MAC grades Ginna The Kuctear Regulatory Comctuastott Oonducta these overam assessmenls, caled SyslematIC Violations Aaaeasnrents ot Ucoraee PertomIence ounng hspecthrIs or at olhdr bmes, KRC otric (sALPa) al oechnuctev plant about every 18 months. dts RGIE hcs tered beat acl e poeaibte la 1 end ale worat 3. Yhet The may deters via@lions ol agency regdabons.vhldlKNls fac bveec in sonIII areas loot rating trtggera more hten4w KRG oversight. ILInothd<S Enxrpcncy prep<<ednvss are ranked Item Ihe retattyety nvnoc hda I tune Uorl I 65.II II Iy 01-4$ IS 00 aigcvscani l. 6, lo the most consctvcatty pdrnerod ihe fdwe N vio4bons. whee adtety asscrs~nent dnd Plant opecalans Since 1961, RG&E was cited toc Qvee violaII<<Is 2 2 2 2 2 h rtuahly V<<dirathnhave claimed IVInIOSI Radcrdoglcel control 2 2 2 class 3. M other violations were in cLIsses 4 4, 5 or 6. jtacntenance and Iesbng 1.5 1S RGIIF waa Sned ocul. h IIis time period. 1 1S 2 Avcrepe vtotdttuec fgwcgoncy pcepalednaaa 1 2 4 2 1 Plant tunctton pec SALP pdddd Seamanly SALP erlod Tblal violations 1 1 2 2 Sately assessnIdnt/ fnyneecrng and tectInicat support 2 2 2 quasty veniicauon Sately aaaeaunent end quaky V<<diCaten- 48 2 2 2 2 EngeeerdIg and Othec 13 1 1 technical support Ov<<W score 43 1.33 1.SS ).SO I.SO 1.54 1.IC 1.IC .Cs Il Plant operations Rddelopcal cuntrotS 34 Iaute TtW KRC CrIanged IIe Plant tunCIOn Categer res SeVeral tdneS OVer I ' l44T 36 Ve Periapt. Cernbtreng SOme LtavItd narv.'drte$ 404 ~ nd dang away w QI oewce AI scores are rcgected h ggs chvt, though serac <<4 averages ol ado oc ~ 1 Cg 34 tew sepdrate categorize. Tho orecal score ehoenhere ta gw ev<<age ot Scarce g green 4Irl phod ~ Ofge Secrvdt y l3 ~ .. v c. ~ 5 ~ ' i l EnIdrgency prcpdcddnc,ws 03 Ceucrar tadrcec ttayddrocy Cern~den ~ ~ ~ f C ~ Comparisons of Qinna's r'eliability ance safety License ty One measuc>> pt Glnlta'6 peltocttranC>> la Q catradty t~. thai epttctly. Sspressed IIIPercentage ta the pcoportiro ol iutso ln a gtv>>tt ygat ital >> Pbnt la Irt aervtt>>. Ptattta with ptt4iamc lend to operate Iesa rettabty-Event Reports Yddr I I ~ g661Ot yS, ittdttgtgy Itt<<c4g>> Glnna'6 lifetlms CapaClty taCtOr tr>>. Licensee F venl 51 Itgriottg corn parlcott grottpg Reports, or LERs, are ~ aa'L ( . ~ ~ ~ Incidents et power 19Lt  ! Ghne 16.1% plants that musl be yaatl 24 1&63 . AI other planta .',.sic,'.'6.1% r Sported lo the U.S. tel% other oldest planta 1$ 64 1g 63.895 Nuclear Regulatory 166S l& - tinetveat planta A.TW Commtsslon. They 24 41. 1466 Other yyeattnghouee PWRe Cy.s'L ranee trom relatively 1941 gyeettnghoua 1IyyRa~ wtth Item 42 ~ mhor problems to 94sy 1NN 14.4% NI% ~ arne ateant Qenecatore Other ttYS planta 6l595 5$ .6X serious accldefd s. INhen comparing lIII 1484 1989 ~3 alt tfjghest ettg opecaltng 64.65 plants, one should 1380 Industry preae h4nd 2. am'n, opvned tn I914 Intr QSe I'ye ~ verege C).l 44 0% I as 0% Lowest atilt operallng Bcodee fvrya.ate.np<<Idd In tart 32.6'k Anow.that ut9ICes have sonIe dkscrelton rc ver what lhey I aport I99I"'1 I dVCCCQd 'I ~ u eve "PIessIetted warv react tpg I Indurey evo(JQO unJIc+hre Vaeien vr 199 I 0 I 'I <<j esi ent raises 'won erful neighbor'he scoffs at fear, "We warcn't scared because nobody else seem>>d to be scared," she said. qeuqky Q9,'9tgg Despite the 1982 accident, Gates says she says company has luis no hesitation about living so close to that faciTity and praises the way the company has Is it the (nuclear) plant7'nd I'd ssy, ~st' probably where it gets the spirit to grow be-treated family well treated her family. "They have been just wonderful ncighborL cause it'a just cntight>>ned by that.'" Gates met her late husband, Luther, I don't think there's a neighbor that would ever through a classmsta his sister while sl>> comphun about them. They have been thc was a student atcoI>>ge in Gcncseo.'Bey were kind of neighbors that anyone wouM be proud married in 1937 ard built their house in 1941. ONI'hHIO hlthough Eluabeth Gates to have. hnd Q>>y've done everything to be Luther Gates, <<ILo was 78 when he died four hvcs about a half-mite down Lake Road from helpful in every way," sha said. years ago, was born in his parents'ouse nest the R.E Ginna nuclear power p4nt, the most But friends who atop by to ace Gates and door and had wor'ked on thc family'a 100 acre signiAicant occurrence in January 1982 for her tl>> Aowera that have gotten her into the farm since he was n young boy. was not the accident that drew national media newspaper in the past can't resist an occasional "Itwas a tally farrnfor as long as probably Bizabeth Gates stands amid her locaIy re ~ tlention to the planL. n>>rvous joke about the imposing structure the land along bcrowas ever developed from nowned flowers In Ontario, Wayne County She was in Vermont, where her 39 year. old clearly visible from her yard. the Indians. I don't know if anyone else ever daughter, Roifannc, died from a brain tumor "I feel safe because it's hever bothered me. I owned it," Gates sa:d. the properly, and other land n>>ar thc plant. ii r!is>>t <4'efore the Ginna accident. have a large Auwcr garden and so many people "hs his dsd grcvr old>>r, then Luther took accordance <<ith Nuclear ftgutstory Coninin -Qy son.in. lsw caine home from teaching, friim all around, from Roch>>ster and all the over the farm.....About that time <<as when sion regulations that require an "csrtinkv Iscteughi in 8urtinglon, and he had a pa+r viUagcs arouiid, stop here in the summer RG&E carne out and bought the property." son>>- around the facihty. ~ ndlhc daily paper had n picture of Ginna and time," she saicL Rochester Gas and Electric Corp., the oper. In the farm's heyday, the tsnd wss rrsnin~I ir was a picture of our barn aiid there <<e werc -Of course, the Aov ers have at<<ays ben ator of Ginna, now owns all but about 2 acres with <<ppte and cherry orchards sn" t<t*" in Vcrinorit,- th>> 79 year old Gate said during pretty iind everybody would say to me, 'I can' v here Gates lives of the farm, and hss <<heat, tuinwloes snd coin. Now Itt>&E r n an interview a> t lie kitchen table of h>>r horne. that,'nd (visitors) would say, th>> right of liat refusal un the rest. It buicht niost of the prot>erty to farmc~ 'ut grow things like +dif<<trig /7 gqqg >em e era ors Replacing the 'boilers'ocheeTar Gas and Electric Corp, h s announce replace the%so stearq Berg:rators at if'inna rtuclr.arpoiver to; t .,'..';.- = ltt 250- to ~ ~ Luke'nfanu tp srafion. A huge crane vill hit flic old stoanr gerterators Itlrough ~ << ~ 't lr; 300-foot .I.. ~ '~ holes cut rn~ t:otter Cte end steel dome of she eontairtrtiert \g l boom <<. L'"+ 'et <<<< t b ilding. Ihe rtew'stearA generates will be lowr.red ~ ~ '<rr<< t >hrbugh1he same holeS. ' t.'.1'uMtng Access holes cut m that houses the dome of the 100-foot-toll P.'g tt otectriaty.goneraung Staun turbines. outlet to contanment buildup <<tt,' g ~ -f44lnO ~alor t- Steam generator ~ ~ ib ~ ~ ~ ~ pp~QItv ~ "et w <<,) P<<R t) t i

M"a~~..', Is<<,'ube The iteam eenelators Crane's Steam generators are heat counter

'r balance exChangers that use the heat frorrt tie ~ system reactor to generate the steam that 'uctoer bundle urns the turbrnes. Superheated. high reactor ~ pressure water from the reactbr.loops through the heat exchange tubes. The surroundln9 clean water ftastNS ~o steam. /Q.
• jt %tLACH Steam QOhggf+pg ~it be tltem+nft ar Sear Cree@. f'rom the~e
~ht theyyn0 QQb~gg fb a ~ be rran~rTert by trucks JEST << The 13- by 63-foot steam generators +a flite.and a.hatf to'9e Ginna planr. the Aihfltcthe necdt d lo have a history of problems. In one 0utfitted wiA a 250-fo f00 lhffbaon~ baTransporTud in generator, about one-third the 3,260 ,q !. rornotre ahdfeptaceahe&o 350fon gonerat~s wll tiearuxcliange tubes have degraded. paces and aaernblSd on site. Primally (heart in'rimary Ieg%orn reactor) ('colrf fey ro roaau<) outlut A<oklQoam generatorstrnllbe stored Ina5prr telly 'who Qinrta -iro. bu~r Peeay&g gy Iqq~ Longer e sought for Ginna ZGZ Eto replace aging steam rators in% Rochester Gas and Electric But Kober said it Ecely ~< Corp. hopes to extend the Ufe not cost consumera a great deaL of tts Gima auc!ear power During the first th! ee or four phnt through the r"irst decade pars after the generators are of the next century by moving instated, customers should see now to r place the plant's ~wg electric rat~ rise by 2 percent am generators. 'or 3 percent, Kober said. The company ar aounced But offsetting that increase . yesterday aiternoon it vrill over the long run are improved spend $ 115. miUioa to replace efficienciee due to the rie~ C e pair of generators at the Ontario, Wayne County, facQi- equipment. tn fact, Kober said, ty in 1Q96. rapping the steam generators RG&E had previously an- coat consumers $ 30 million nounced it vfanted to continue less over the plant's lifetime to operate the plant, one of the than continuing to operate olctest nuclear installations in Ginna with ita relatively ineffi-the country, until its federal cient old generatorL operating L'cense expired in "Ne don't see it as hai~ a X09. big impact on the customer," But some officials were not Kober said yesterday. "It's in t:e~ that Ginrw's steam gen- the best interest of our custom-erators, plagued by tube degza- ers to 4Che this step." cfation that ia common in the About half the total elec-iadustry, could remain eco- tricty used by RGhE custom-nomically viable until that ers comes from the 22-yearning Ume. Ginna phnt, ehich has 350 em-Hy replacing the generators, ployers oa-site and 1$ 0 more RGh,E intends to erase any engineert and other support doubts about Ginna's ability to people. live out its planned useful life. Deteriorating steam generators "[ won't say this puLranteae have poeed serioua problems for a aumbei of U.S. nuclear planta, in-it. but it certainly enhances the cluding Ginna. About LO other utili-pLUit's abtiity to do so.'ompa ties have replaced steam generators ey President Roger Kober said. at their facilitiea, including at least We pro;ect, which mal re-. Qve of the sevea other planta with quire the plant to be shut down the aame tnodel generator aa Qiana for at least 90 days ia the spring 'Ve owner of a nuclear plant in of 1996. is t.".e largest single Oregon announced recently it mal undertaiung ever at Ginna. cloee the facility rather than bear the ccat of replacing steam genera-tors. DecungDeg /7, /O'W~ Longer Gama life souCbLt Many generators have The company also would need plsgued with craclang or dcgrada thc PSC's approval to use long-term tioo p f the thin heat-czchange tubes ~>aancing for the project. Kober said that form the core of the generators RG&E would finance part of the the spotwhere heat from the pro~ through outside sources. reactor core produces stcam to pow- PSC Chainmtn Peter Bradford er turbines. could not be reached for comment. About 7.5 percent of Qiana's The Olla million price tag in-tubes have bcca taken out of service cludee $ 40 million for the generators due to degradation. Cracked or de- and $ 60 miQion for instaUation, with graded tubes still in use increase the the rest going for engineering sad chances of a significant accident, OQM't ccetL awhile a permanent drop ia operat- RG&E will pay roughly $ 21 mil-ing efticicacy can result iftoo many hva moee to buy replacement elec-tubes are takea out of service. tricit during the 90My shutdown Another type of generator prob- planned for the oork. lem at Giana already has decreased Qiana now is shut down saaualIy their eEciency, leading to a drop ia for about 45 days for refueling and power output of about 3 percent. maintenance, with as much ss a The worst accident in Ginna's quarter of that time attributable to history occurred in oae of its stcam inspection and repairs of its stcam generators whaa, in January 1982, a generators. one-time error triggered a tube rup- It one feared that as the stcam ture. h small amount of radioactiva generator tubes continued to de-steam released durutg the episode grade, the outagee would last longer proved harmless, but underscored and longer, increasing operating the vulnerability of the gcncratorL coetL The decision to replace the gca- With the ncw generators, each crators was made formal yesterday shutdown will be of shorter dura-by RG&E's board of diaxtore. Com- tion. Smith said. pany ofHciala said they thea an- Preparation for the generator re-nounced the plans to employees and placement will begin at the nczt govcrnmcnt regulators. routine maintenance shutdown in Analyst Paul Gioia, a former bfarch. The company will begin an PSC chairman, said the decision NRC safety analysis of the project, likely will bc good for customers and although oHicials said the projc t stockholders. wiQ aot be much more risky than "It's hard to say without looking routine maintenance. at their analysis," said Gloia, senior The old generators, which willbe vice president at First Albany Corp. classified aa low"level radioactive "But I think ifthe analysis waa well waste, will be stored in a special done, it willbe poaitive in the sense building on the Ginna site. that it ends the uncertainty and RC&E will award bids for the proi~dce a reHahh source of power." generators by the cnd of the month. The project will be reviewccl by The generators oN be built by ei-the U3. Nuclca! Regulatory Com- .. ther Westinghouse Electric Corp. or mission but probably urill not re- Babcock and Wilcox Canada. quire a license amendment, said Neither company can deliver the Robert E. Smith, senior vice presi- encrators before late l995 ot l996, dent of production and engineering mith said. They'l be delivered by at RCAE barge to the plant, which sits on Project approval is aot required Lake Ontario's shore. The project from the Ncw York State. Public will provide about 500 short tenn Scmce Commission, but the corn. constuction jobe for unioa workers pany must haie the PSC's permis-sion in order tn charge ratcpeycrs for new generators. Old-age checkup sought for Ginna nuclear plant Feds name RG&E among 15 owners grail 3, /&B Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. Unwilling to make costly im-msy have to conduct a new study to provements to satisfy the commis-verify that the aging reactor vessel sion, the utility closed the plant last at its Ginna nuclear power plant is year. safe. The commission's staff decided The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory tn reassess vessel integrity after the Commission has asked the owners Massachusetts incident, -essential-ot'15 older nuclear plants, including ly, so we could avoid surprises like RG&E, to perform the special ana- Yankee Rowe," Ingram said. lyses, commission spokesman Frank The current discussion centers Ingram said yesterday. around one specific test of the dura-The analyses were ordered after bility of the reactor vessels, known the commission concluded that the as a Charpy test. 15 plants'eactor vessels might fail The test is performed by drop-a metal-toughness test.. ping a weight onto a sample of the Reactor vessels, made uf hard- metal used to make the vessels, and ened steel. encase the plants'adio- measuring thc metal sample's abili-active cores where the nuclear reac. ty to withstand thc impact. tions occur, Reactors are built with metal They are an integral part of nu- samples inside the veesel that ate clear plant safety, since one of the rem>>ved periodically and tv~ted. worst hypothetical nuclear acci- 'he commission safety standard dents would involve failure of a re- is that the samples must be able to actor vessel and a resulting loss of withstand a force of at least 50 foot-the reactor coolant. pounds. RG&E spokesman 1VIike Power RG&E, in its original analysis of said the utility is still discussing the three samples previously taken matter with federal regulators and from the reactor vessel, measured has not begun the new analysis. the value as low as 50.0 foot-pounds. Power also stressed that RG&E The average of the three was 51.8. believes Ginna's reactor vessel But commission staffers reana-meets current federal standards. lyzed Charpy test data submitted "We'e confident the vessel is by RG&E and thc other utilities safe." hc said. and came up with values below 50 There always has been concern font-pounds, Ingram said. about the integrity of the vessels in He said the agency has asked older plants like Ginna, because the utilities to use new methods to re-vessels tend to lose strength. becom. calculate. ing more brittle. as they arc bom- Coincidentally, RG&E workers bardcd with radiation from the core. removed a fourth metal sample Concerns about "cmbrittlemcnt" from inside Ginna's reactor veswl were heightened in late 1991 when on Monday. It was the first sample the nwners of the Yankee Rowc withdrawn in 13 years. nuclear plant in Massachusetts Power said testing of the met:d clo> ed the facility because of com- will not be completed t>>r at, least six mission concerns about vessel months. Q integri ty. U.S. more watch I at irma nuc ear p BAt r RG&E spokesman Mike Power Maintenance issues said the utility does not challenge the agency's view. lead to shutdowns "We share their concerns. There have been an unusual number of reactor trips (shutdowns) compared AoV'8'nf~g g /99/ to our previous 23 years of service," Power said. "We'e looking into it Federal regulators say they have closely." increased scrutiny of maintenance at the Ginna nuclear power plant in Martin said NRC officials also 4Vayne County because of a series of are concerned because a series of equipment problems there. staff reductions by RG&E could cut The troubles caused three un- into the maintenance force at the scheduled shutdowns of the plant's plant and exacerbate problems in nuclear reactor in the last year, said the future. Thomas T. Martin, regional admin- He said he did not believe the istrator for the U,S. Nuclear Regu- work force reductions had any im-latory Commission. Those reactor pact on the earlier maintenance shutdowns in turn led to four un- problems. planned service outages during Company spokesman Power said which Ginna did not generate elec- the Ginna work force, at the plant tricity. and in support roles elsewhere, has Martin said NRC officials were been cut over the last year from 492 surprised by the problems because to 447 positions, a reduction of 9 Rochester Gas and Electric Coro., percent. The overall company work which owns and nneratea the Ginna force has been cut by 22 percent, plant, was )udged supenor at maUi- He said, however, that RG&E is tenance in the plant's moet recent confident that maintenance will not grading 13 months ago. be hurt by the reductions. He said the agency, which over- Power also said the company sees all nuclear reactors in the Unit- thought, that agirg of the plant, not, maintenance shortcomings, ac-ed States, has increased the intensi-ty of inspections of maintenance counted for the service outages. activities at Ginna, in the town of Cinna, which went into commercial .Ontario. operation in 1970, is one of the oldest commercial nuclear plants in "It's an extra measure of caution, the nation. if you will," Martin said yesterday But Martin said aging is not the in Rochester, where he held a brief- underlying problem, and suggested ing for reporters on iNRC activit in t,he'company may need to do more New York .-tate. preventive maintenance to avoid He saih that overall. R(~hF. does problems with equipment that, is g(XXi J()4 opefallflg Ci tnn8 wearing out. 3 Qpqch 28, /09$ irma rea annua s u 0 The annual shutdown of RG&E's company has lowered its operating Ginna nuclear power plant, which expenses, and the cost of replace-begms tomorrow mght, cqcn include ment electricit has dropped, said preparation for next year's stcam Robert C. Mccredy, vice president generator replacement. of Ginna nuclear production. Lt is in Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. RGEcE's beat interest in the long shuts down the Ginna plant in On- term to keep the plant running efD-tario, Wayne County, each year for ciently, he said. refueling and routine maintenance. Stcam generators have been re-iltaintensnce work during the six- placed at other planta around the week outage will coot $ 15 million world. However, RG&E cviQ use a <<nd include rephcement of a can- largely untried method for complet-denser and coolant pumps. ing thc replacement moving the Preparation for the stcam genera- steam generators through a hole cut tor replacement willpush the bill up in the plant's containment dome. higher. Workers will run surveys A huge crane will be used to lift and do other jobe, such as preparing the old generators through the hole for the removal of piping and duct and Lower the ncw ones in. This work. summer, workers wiQ build a pht Engineers from Bcchtel Group form for the crane, one of the largest Inc. wiQ be at the plant during the in the world. outage. Bcchtel, which will help co- Both the old and ncw generators ordinate the project, has had rc pre- will be left intact throughout the scntativcs at the plant, since Janu- operation. The new ones are 63 feet ary and already has a staff of 35 on high,. 14 feet in diameter at their locatcon. 'idest point and weigh 315 tons. Steam generators are giant heat The generators are being built by exchange ra. Superheated water Babcock and Wilcox of Cambridge, from the nuclear reactor passes Ontario, Canada The~ come through a series of tubes, turning across Lake Ontario by barge and be the surrounding water into steam. unloaded at Bear Creek, a iew miles The steam turns the turbines that from the plant. Dredging at the generate electricit. creek to aocommodate the barge is Replacing the steam generators is slated for this year. a $ 115 miQion job designed to aQow The old generators, which wiQ be the plant to work efficientlyuntil ita classified as low.level radioactxse operating Qcense cxpiree in 2009. waste, wiQ be stored in sealed coo Corrosion problems and leaking crete containers at the Ginna Nte, have plaguec} the original generators Since a national Low-level radioac-since the plant began operating 25 tive waste dump in South Carolina years ega The problems'have cut banned waste from New York state the electrical output at the plant to last summer, the plant has been the point where RGEcE was forced storing aQ its low-level waste on site to chooae between r'eplacing the in metal boxes or shielded contain generators or. closing down the crs plant. This year's Ginna outage foQows RGEcE decided to replace the a November report from the federal steam generators in 1992 when a cost. benefit analysis showed it was Nuclear Regulatory Commission, cheaper to repLce the generators which said the agency is heightenmg and keep Ginna running than to scrutiny of Qiana because of a sarica shut down the plant and get elec- of equipment problcmL Thoae tricity from other sources. About problems resulted in three unsched-half the electricity produced by u! cd shutdowns of the plant's nucle. RGEcE cornea from Ginna ar reactor Lst year, the NRC saicL RcpLcing the stcam generators htccredy said the company has still i~ the best deal, even though the addressed those problemL 0 S %<E+88/r /7, /995 Utilityto cut dome open; no 1Iange r, officials say ~ vast majority of tho radioactive materia tho nuclear fuel core wi0 be removed kom mpaon crane to 4ft out the old generators and Rocboater Gas and Electric Carp. wi0 use ono lower in tho new ones. The new carbon tbe containment structure before wort begins. steel of the,wocid ~ largest aaaes to haul out the Any dust or other.radicective debcis inside generators wi0 be built ia either Pensacola, Fla., ~ team generators at Ginaa ccucasar power plant or Cambridge, Ontario. tbe structure should be contained there by fans aad lower tll a aew pair. The crane, which will arrive at Ginna in that heep air Aowing iato the building, not out, dozens of tractor-trailer trucks for assembly on 'Be campaay wi0 gaia access to the building Smith said. the plant grounds will have a boom 250 to 300 by cutting twin holes in Qe top of Ginaa'a eoataNuaeat dome. "We'Il be the first to do it that way," said aa's annual re downs, when large 'nd He said the situation wi0 be sinular to Gia-maintenance shut-ra in the containment feet high, Smith said. lt wi0'have to hoist ths generators at least 175 feet into the air to get them above the dome. Robots E Smith, RCAcp's seaior vice president wa0s are leA open to the outside air. Phns must be approved by the US Nuclear of pcoductioa and aorta It is because those access doors are not quite Regulatory Commission. After tho generators Each geaerator,.wo S50 tons. big enough to accommodate the 63-foot-iong, are insta0ed, the dome's reinforcing steel wi0 be Smith sad other RGB officials said that 13.foot~ter steam generatocs that RG&E welded back in place and now concrete added. despite tbs holes ia tbs coatairimeat dome, tbe has decided to cut holes in the reinforced coa- Smith said the dome, meant to protect key project ahouid present ao threat to public safety. creto containment building. sections from outside stresses whde contammg '%eca e ia5atsoastaadpoiai, itscedly RG&E has not settled on a contractor for the any interiur explosions, should be as strong big a ~ca~ Smith said project, but already is planning to use a huge when reconstructed as it was when fiat built. or era to try 1st-ever cut into dome ormother ~ big event," Smith said. Lampoon crane to liftout the oM generators ond vast majority of the radioactive material lower in tho near oneL Ae new carbon steel tbe auciostr fuel oore willbe removed fma generators wi0 be built in oither Pensacola, Fls., To roabica Ginnri's steam ganaratoe, Roche Qe coatainmeat structure before work begins. or Cambridge, Ontario. ter Caa aad Rleclric Corp. AU uso ogy ol hay dust radioactive debris inside tbe The crane, which will arrivo at Ginna in v aad coerer an the aew pair. Tbs clmpaay will gaia ~ used s atgeet cranee co haul out the okl to the building by cutting twia bo4e in ths top of tbs Giaaa pleat's coatstacaeat dome eocaethcag ao 00Nc ~ tcuctun should be contained there by faas that air Bowing into tbe buiMing, aot out, Smith He said tbe altuatioa willbe similar to Ginna'e annual rofusling and maintonance shutdowns, dozens of tractor-trailer trucks for assembly on the plant grounds, will have a boom 250 to 300 foot high, Smith said. lt wi0 have to hoist the generators at least 176 feat into tho air to gst them above the dome. nuclear utillg haa attecapted- whoa hgge doocs in tbe coataiameat walls are iaft Plans must be approved by tha U.S. Nuclear "We'l be tbe first to do it that way," said opea to tbe outide air. Regulatory Commission. After tha generators are Robert E Smith, RG&E'a eeaioc vice pceeideat It ia becatw those aoceas doors aro not quito uataDad, the reinforcing steel in the dome wi0 bo of pcoductioa and engineerin. big enough to accommodate tho 63-foot-long. 1S- welded back in place and now concrete added. Each geaorator weighs 360 tone. foo~etor steam generators that RG&E has Smith said tha dome, meant to protect kay decided to cut bolos in tbo reinforced concrete portions of tho phnt from outside stresses <<hila Smith and other RG&E officials said that ooatainmeat building.- containing tha force of any interior axpiosions, deapito the boles in tbe containment dome, tbe should be as strong <<hsn reconstructed es it wss project should areeent ao theat to public safety. gO&tihas not settled on a oontractor for the 4 pcoject, bug already is planniag.to ueo a huge <<bea origina0y built. "Froca a tioa standpoint, it's nally aoC e $ 115 mi1lion +cs~h8R /7 /99$ ro eC 0 $ jsny generators have pLLgLLM with cracking or degrade. Lioll nf Lhe thin heeWxchailge Lubee Project approval is Lsot recLLLLrecL horn the PSC, but Lhe calllpelxy must have the PSC s perriliaion ia save ia lan chat form the core of the generators the spot where heat from Lhe reaccor core produces steam to pow. order to charge rate peyers for new generatort run: RG@ er turbines. Ab.ut 7.5 percent of GLnne'a We company alio would need the PSC's approval to use keg-term financing for the project Kober said Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. tubes have been taken out of service RGB,E would finance part of the will spead $ 115 million to replace diie Lo degradation. Cracked or de. project through outside sourceL the aging steam generators at ila graded tubes still in use Lncreese Lhe PSC Chairman Peter Bradford Ginne Lludear power plant in On- chances of a sigtlificant accident, could not be reached for conlmsnt. tario, warm County, the company while e permanent drop in operat. The $ 115 miUioa price Lag in-announced yesterday. Lilg eAlcietlcy cen result lf too many cludes $ 40 million for the generators Two new generators will be in- , tubes -are taken out of service. end $ 60 millionfor instaLstion, with stalled in 1996. allowing the plant to Ginna's generator problems al- the rect going for engineering snd operate more efficiently through ready have led to a drop in powet othet coaLL RGScE will pay roughly 2009, when its current federal oper output of about 3 percent. $ 21 million more to buy replace-aling license expiree. Tile worst accident in Ginna'a ment electricity during the 90My Although company officials saic$ history occurred in one of ite stcam shutdown planned for the work. the project is the largest undertakers generators when, in January 1982, a Ginna now is shut down annually by RGB'E since the construction of one-time error triggered a tube rup. fot about % days for refueling and Ginna in the 1960s, President Roger ture. A small amount of radioactive maintcnslnce, with as much as a W. Kobet said consumers likely steam released during the episode quartet of that time attributable to would not be hit hard by the ex- proved harmleee, but undencored inspection and repairs of its steam pense the vulnerabUity of the generatorL generatorL During the first three or four Company officials announced With the new generators, each years aftct the generaton are in- last ~ummer that they would not shutdown will be of shorter dura-stalled, customers should sce ciao. close the plant before 20 because tion, Smith said, and the shutdown tric rates rise by a total of 2 percetrt it would be too expensive to get cycle wQIbe extended to 18 months, or 3 percent, Kober said. power from anothet source. Howev- sig'ndlcantiy cutting operating msts. But oN'setting that increase, oves ~ er, they continued to study and Preparation for the generator re-the long run, are improved eQiciers- ~ ~ debate whether to replace the gen- placement wiQ begin at the next ciee due to the new'quipment. Ijs erators or continue to repait them. routine maintenance shutdown in fact, Kober said, repbscing the %hat decision was made formally March. 'Hw company will begin an steam generaton wC coat consum- yesterday by ROOFS'a board of di- NRC safety analysis of the project, en 830 million less over the plant'a rectors. Company officials saici they although oKcials said the project Lfetlme than continuing to operate thea announced the plans to em- will not be much more risky than Ginna with iLS relatively ineffiCient ployeee and government regulatara routine mamtenance. old generaton. Analyst Paul Gioia, a format 'Hm old generators, which wQL be -We don't see it as having a big Her York state PubBc Service clasai5d a Lost-level radioactive uapact on Lhe customer," Kober Commission chairman. said the de waste; wQ1 be stored in a special said yesterday. "IL's in the best in- cision likely wLIIbe good fot custom- buildhlg m the Ginna site. terest of our customers to take this ers and stockholderL RILE wQ1 award bids for the "It's herd to say without looking SLCP. About lalf the total used by RGh,E custometI comm electricity at their snalysis," said Gioia, seniot neo resident at First Albany CotLx. ~ genetatnrl by the end of the month. ganemtots wQl be built by ei-ther Waethgbouse Electric Corp. or t'rom the Ginna plant, wtnch went Baboodt and 8'Qccz Canada "But I think ifthe analysis was eeG-ulto operation in l969 and has 350 done, it will be positive in the aaao Neitbst oompany can deliver the employeee on ~ ite and anoLhet LSO that it ends the uncertainty and before Late 1995 or l998, englneen and othct support peopla Deterioratin steam generatorl provides a reliable source of pcnnt. ~ ~ mith eaiLI, ~)C be deliieM by The project will be revtsiwed bg batme to the plant, SMch ~u oLL haie posed scrim+ problems for e OLLtsth'I sbora. T.".e project number of UB. nuclear plants, ~ the U cs. Nuclear Rectory CotxL- Leuko t~ ~ wL'I prearm aboLLt 500 short eluding Gitlna, mission but probably win not ~ tI CCXRtrLC600~ fnt uniOn w . tkera About 10 other utLlities have res quire ~ license amendmetrt, sail pi~d stcam generators at their fa Robert K Smith. sank'ier dent of production and engL'neeciag p~ tALnyey ot5dals <<tsetb>> the ace genera on wouk L:ot sa) cilibcs. including at least five of the promyg tbaLxL tn seeli NRC per~ at RG&E abets other planta with the same mal generator as CintLL ~ ioLL to hoop the plant ~". beyond 2aa DFKIOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER N.Y. FRIDAY DECEMBER S, Replacing Ginna's steam generators l>> u ti7 duy pr ya et lliut begins April J The generators H(s5,t will ri pfiiru hutli <<teum generuturs ut its Citnnu nucleur fiuw<<r plunt. The new H Cambridge a trailer twice as to wide will as be moved the harbor that one at a lime horn at Hamilton. Ontario. on of a normal truck. with 'enerators, which cost $ 20 milliun euch, are about 150 tires The Irsiler will be loaded on a bar ge I;eing uasembled in Csmbndge, ()ntuno, and sent across Lake Ontario in early February. and <<bout 136 miles northwest ol Rochester. then unloaded at Bear Creek. a smail harbor two miles k:uch generator is 63 feet long, up to l4 feet east of Ginna Each new penerator. still on the same in diameter snd 320 tons in weight. trailer, wdl be hauled lo Glnna and stored unhl April. About 360 people will work on the project, which coats a total of $ l,l5 miUion. ~ In lhe rriudiitime. orie ol the world's lsr gest Iihinp cranes, wsh a boom about 310 teel long. wdl be assembled at Ginna. The Trtbitrie busisng Lampson 1ransl Lilt crane Is r arriving iiow on about IOO tractor.truiter Iiucks Irom its lilst lob Tliri!e Qlliillolcranes wdl be needed to help Cealstriiserit Mkssa ~ i assemble it Aller the planl is shut down April 1 and the radioactive vs. fuel is removed. Ihe old B whichold general The are mildly radioactive, wiN be placed generators wiN be disconnected. drained and on special trucks and prepared for removal. The carrfed lo a newly conslructed buiideg on Ihe Glnna grounds. where they Nkety wiQ be cored for a nisnber ol yeda. The ~ Span L t I Ginna containment structure has an equipment hatch in ils .Side but rt s nol targe enough B for the generators. So fTGILE wisbe the first ufiNty anyWhere IO Cut Open burttfing has two foot4gdc i ., the top of Ihe containment reinforced concrete walls.i 'ane lo remove old .: ' gensiatois and insert Ihe u' i +~... 'gnew ones. iIforkers wiN use ~ ~ hydraulic )ackhammers to cul Sear. A i ~ two larpe holes in the sleet Glnna Pulmcpifle", r reintorced concrete roof Ir  : In mid-April. the crane will hoist lhe old generators os Wiiliaaooa then lower each of Ihe new frOridcipiou Iej J< ones Into place. Each ~ generator will take aoout 12 ~ hours to maneu~ Nlo place. II). N)V i i I DEgIOCRAT A VD CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER N.Y. FRIDAY DECEMBER 8. I~>> Replacing Ginna's steam generators Embrittlernent makes the pres- instead, experts predict embrit. reactor vessel. or might opt to close tlement based on mathematical for. Ginna early. The latter course of surized, super heated vessel less miula. action, though. would undermine able to withstand the stress af a sudden drop in temperature. a con- Also, RG&E was one of many the company's plan to amortize the utilitiee that placed small capsules cost of the generators until 2009. dition that could occur during an inside the reactor vessel when the No hint of this problem wss evi- emergency shutdown of the plant. plant was built. dent yesterday as RG&E offlcials In an extreme case, regulators Those capsulee contain samples briefed the media on their plans for hsi c theonzcd, a vessel could crack og material used to Form and weld the mammoth generator replace- una er those circumstances a mis- the vessel, and can be removed ment project. haIz considered amaag tha wnzst when the plant is shut down for Work on the project will begin in pevible nuclear plant accidents. itiaintenance. earnest four months ftom now, Consequently, the NRC three when workers take jackhammets to Testing on the contents of the years sgo asked owners of some of capsules is used to double check the the three-foot thick containment the nation's oldest pLants includ- encuracy of calculations. dome that tope the Ginna plant. 16 ing Ginna to assess the progress Mectecly said data gathered from miles northeast of downtown Roch- of embrittlement in their vesselL ester in Ontario, Wayne County. RG&E conclizded that ita vessel analysis of those material is more When the jackhammering is accurate than the NRC's data. should continue to meet federal coiapleted. workers will have cut safety standards through the expi ~ The NRC ~ point is thaz the two large holes through the tein- ration of its license in 2009. NRC analysis of welding matenal gath forced concrete.and.steel dome. oNcials concurred at the time. seed at the Palisades plant in Michi~ RG&E will be the first utility in the But earlier this year. NRC oN- gan even showed material used United States to cut open the top of cials reviewed new information sub- within a given plant doesn't have a its dome. mitted by a Michigan utility sho<<- consistent metal content. Then, one of the world's largest ing the welding material might haw cranes will reach through the holes And, as the agency said In public more copper and niekeI than documents earlier this year, "chang-and Litt out two 310-ton steam gen- thought. increasing the fetaritial for ing the amount of copper content erators. replacing them with t<<o embtinleraent. ... by a few hundredths Iof a) per-new device@ NRC used that data to teamca a cent can, for some plants, change Preparation for the project in- number of plants, and found Giana the predicted date for reaching the tensified this week with start up of would fall belo<<safety staachards NRC's screening criteria by several worker training on a dome mock up, about the year 2002. yeatL and the arrival of the titst of ISO Of all the nuclear plants ameeaed Mectedy said RG&E took the trucks carrying sections of a Lamp- by the NRC. Ginna <<as the most NRC's findings into account and son Inc. Trans-Lih ctane that has a severely affected by the ne<<data. still bali+in the Giana plant meets 300 foot boom. according to NRC documents. the safety standards. RG&E says the project is good Shortly after agency officials in- "The basic cult was the same," for its ratcpayers. Replacing the fonaed utilitiee about the aew ana- he said. stcam generators will reduce the lyses, RG&E snagged a meeting The $ 11S million staaza genera-need to make repairs and aUow the with regulators in Washington, D.C. tor project <<iII add $ 24.6 nullion plant to run more eNciently until hn NRC <<rittan summary of the annually to RG&E electririty rates ".009, when its federal operating li- starting nezC year. But that cost <<N meeting said RG&E officials ex-cense expires. Mectedy said pressed "concern that the projected be offset by savings in operations RG&E maintains that once refit shortened life of the reectot vessel and maintenance coats at the plant, ted, the 25 yearold Ginna plant will would reduce the economic beneflt Mecredy said. be "every bit as good aa the day we of the steata generator replacement While he said he doesn't know started up. Mecredy saicL program. the net impact on rates. Mecredy But that's nat accounting for the In an interview this <<eek, ho<<ev- said the steam generators <<< sc. reactor vessel, which has been de- er, Mecredy said RG&E offiriala count fot only a portion of the 2.4 grading ever so.slowty since the weren't worried about Impact of the petcent tate increase requested for plant went into commercial opera- 'evelopment on the generator pm- next year+ tion in July I9i0. ject. Even if the impact on rates a as Exposure to the intense radia- Instead. he said their qumtiom small m Mectedy says. the inipsct tion of the uranium fuel has caused centered on -what had they (NRC) on the cotamunity is not. Mere ".an the vessel to becorae more brittle. done to get that analysis. when ev. 300 local union <<orkers wil! be hired Of particular concern haa been erything we had done before got it to <<otk on the pralect. the welding matenal used to aaaeta beyond 2009?" In addition. a staady stress of bl ~ the vessel; small amounts of Bnttleness of reactor vessels utility industry officials fr. ~ aa far copper and nickel in the material can't be measured directly <<hile make the vessel espeaally prone to they are in use. e mbnnlement. DEXIOCRAT AND CHRONICLE. ROCHESTER, N.Y.. FRlDAY, DECEMBER S, 1995 Replacing Ginna's steam generators away as Japan has been visiting the Some critics aren't so sure. RG&E officials say they aren' site to see the engineering feat. "Allthe information is not being tahng any chances. both for safety RG&E has assigned a fuQ.time released," said Nancy Karper. trea- and economic ressonL staffer just to coordinate visits. surer of Lakeshore Environmental If one of the new stcam tube While plenty of utilities have re- Action, a public awareness advocacy generators falls. $ 20 miUion worth of placed stcam generators. none has group in North Rose, Wayne Coun- intricate steel tubing hits the dirt. attempted to move them through ty. Worse yet. if the generator the top of a reactor dome. RG&E "The public needs to.know more should faU inside the plant, it could officiahc say it was their best option, cause enough damage to other because the sixe and configuration about the dangers of radiation." equipmcat to shut do<<n Ginna for of the plant made it impossible to Wc group asked for ~ public meeting an the issue and crptesscd months or even cause RG& E to get the new generators inside any cire the plant altogether. other way. coacerza about the safety of the 25-yearold plant. But RG&E officials say such an Moat newer nuclear power plants accident is highly unlikely. have equipment hatches large ln a prepared statcmeat issued "We did a lot of investigating enough for steam generators to pass yesterday, the group worried the before we settled oa the Lampeoa thtoug}L Ginna facility would become "a pcr. crane." said John F. Smith. RG&E The project poses no radiation manent nuclear dump" once the old project manager for the steam gen-risk to neighbors or the environ- generators are stored there. erator replacement. ment. Mecredy said. "I have a real concern" about "Thee cranea have been used for During the time the dome is opening the dome, said geographer thousands and thousands of lifts at open, the building is to be kept Judith Jobnsrud of Stat ~ Collage, nuclear power sites and there has under negative pressure, which Pa., director of the Environmental never been a failure of a crane," should keep air fiowing in but not Coalition on Nuclear Po<<er, a group Smith said. out. that 25 years sgo tried and failed But the Lampson cranes have . Should that system fail, so little to delay the licensing of the ill- tipped "two or three" times due to radiation would be released that air fated Unit 2 at Three Mile Island. the collapse of soil or roads under monitors around the site would 'not "It's ezperimentai and that their <<eight, Smith said. start to tick, Mecredy said. Even ifthe giant crane dropped a steam generator onto the reactor, radiation concerns would be mini~ means we don't know." Marsh said, however, that other plants have replaced generators and one facility bas cut into the side of weigh ~ The crane used at.Ginna will tons. Tbe most spectacular such aca-dent occurred at Edwards Air Force mal because the highly radioactive its containment building to do so. Base in Califarnia in 1990. fuel rods will have been removed to Marsh also asserted the RG&E The ground gave way beneath the "spent fuel pool" in an adjacent project "has been very carefuQy one of the crena's giant treads. caus-building. thought about by us and by them. ing the boom to fall along with a RG&E officials say they have We hsd our technical experts think Titan 4 rocket motor containing configured the job so there is no way long and hard about it." 270.000 pounds of solid fueL the crane or a generator can fall on RG&E did not have to submit a The rocket roUed down a hillside the pool. formal construction safety plan to aad erploded. A worker ores killed. Aa NRC official in charge of the NRC, Marsh said. because simi- To guard against a similar occur-oversight of the Ginna plant is no radiatiaa risk. "Even in agreed'here the agency that none ~ lar jobe by other utilitice convinced needed. Still. the NRC is keeping clcNe rence bere. RG&E has built con. crete pads two- to three-feet thick for the crane to work on. and has the worst case, no, you <<ouldn't removed utility conducts and other have any appreciable radiological watch on the project. "We have an aggressive uapec- underground weak spots from ihc contamination leahng out," said Ledyard Marsh. ~ project, director tion program that's going to take Before the generators are tdted. at NRC headquarters in Washing- place," Marsh said. the crane <<ill be moved throua h the ton, D.C, A group of NRC inspectoce is due work ares canyuig <<eights equal io at the Ginna plant today, Marsh 125 percent of the weight of ihe said. generator. Smith said. Q pEqIOCR~T AND CHRONICLE. ROCHESTER. N.Y.. FRIDAY, DECEAIBER B. Ginna's steam generators 199'eplacing Engineers . face tight To make sure the patch weal hokL the cootairunent structure wiU be deadline on preaurized to 70 pounds per square inch, 10 pounds over ita designed capacity, said Robert C. Meczedy, Replacement timeline generators vice president of Ginna Nuclear Production. At the peak, about 3$ 0 people Here's fhe timeline fC fhe Ginna steam generator repiacement By CORYDON IRELAND will be working oa the project, iYi pro feet: STAFF WiuTXa eluding XO welders, pipeQttere, jene 1585: Consfiuction of crane operators and otheri horn lo- storage facility for used steam Precision engineering and 0 agh deadline hiffhlight the steam gener- cal trade unions. Another IN mrk- generators. ator replacemens project at Giana ers will also be working oa reguhr hky te October. Construction Of The bulk of the work wiU take plant niaiataaaace and rsfueliag, mock~ dome and steam place in just 67 days, between April 1 and June 6. Workers <<iU put ia 12 hour1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> shifts, around the clock. ia workers oa redllrtioa safety aisd carity. AU workers will <<eat t<<o ~ RGB E is reiponsible for training generators; fxiuifng of foundatcns for the gent crane. generators. October te fIevenrberr Bear order to get the plant running again. typee of radiation monitors. indud- Creek Haroor dredged for barges One of the most delicate jobe ing one that monitors cumulative carrying steam removing the old generators exposure and sounds aa alazm <<hen Oecaeberi Delivery and through holes in the contaiameat a worker nears.his or her redlatidn assembly of the Lan oson crane. dome will take about 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> for limit. Mecredy said, MI4Febrwry 1998i Steam each generator. ~ Neil Burnside, president of the ganeratas shipcied oy "ange ~o The interiors of the OId genera- Allied Building Trades Counca Hamilton. OnfanO. tors are rsdioactiw,~ so aU openings said he is satisfied with the radia- feinury te Mercfii Wo be sealed with steel plating be- tion tzaining provided by ROCHE. hei'faihlng, fore the hoisting beginL The 63-foot However, the NRC scolded the ayre Rant shutdown ai d devices also will be swathed Uke a company last month because <<ork. reactor fuel removed. Containmenf mummy in what RC&E project ers were not wearing radiation dome cut and steam generafois manager John Smith calls "Bag-gies." two layers of ta pe aad Griffsh-rink polyvinyl. alarmL Mecredy said the problem involved only "a few entriee over a couple of months." RG&E has add-iellioved. Lge ayrft te Installation of new steam ~ Mays After being puUed from the coa- ed new security devicre that bar generators. tainment budding by tbe craze, each of the generators will be lo<<- crrd onto a dpecull vet1lcle and drrv~ people from "radiologicaUy con-troUed areas" unlem they are iag the alarms, he said. ~- MeSr Reseaflng of containment: structural integrity fest. hae Start~ of plant sn a few hundred yards to ~ ae<< Bechsel Construction Co. of CaU-storage budding on site. I'ornia, which gets 560 million to ~ act's That budding, with cooczete general contractor for the proIPect. two feet thick, <<ill be bane to has been working closely with union the generators OITlciaUy, Io<<-Iev ofiicials since February to mordi-el radioacuve waste until the nata hinng and construction train-fecteral government builds a ne<< ing and to resolve on-the-job dis-waste storage fscdity. 'Oat willtake putaL Both ~ idea say they aze pleased with their "labor. manage-After the new generators aze ia ment aUiance." <<hich they say is the containmsat dome will 'lace, making for an efficient and sal'e job. reseaied ia stages. RG4E officials said that the pro-First. 's inch thick steel plataa ~ ject is ~ning on tune and oa bud-wiU be welded back in place over the get. The entire steam generator re-holeL Thea a new dome wall of placement is budgeted at $ 115 reinforced concrete wdl go up, 30 million. Mecredy said. Q thxk and reinforced <<ith three intersecsing layers of 2' inch steel reinforcement bare. PEj~jQCRAT Ai lD CH RONICLE, RQC HESTER N.Y FRIDAY DECE MBE R 8, 199$ Replacing Ginna's steam generators A The steam generator:. , Circa's 63-foot-tall generator each '" super~ted"'-.' ..contain 3,260 enaH tubs of veter frornthe reactor core through the. -.'g~' ~j.'-.,'.. '..: 'ereratar, ehtch fs filled vrith non rad/cectke water. Heat is transferred fram b8 tatheg~mNM 'oter'vrhh!h turns to...'f4 .: f6ch':... "" ',thet i steam to spfn eiectiicity-:. ~ generatfny.turbines. ' '4beshavedegradid. '<4+~ o~er the yeari: about 45'. p c~ofth mh ve--'. ."..Ma'.:. hem patched. or take '. cd of serVfCe" Ths -. '. ~ ': AI ~A exteriors of. the tubes.. "-; are cafe/ ~ ~ QcR4HNS 'scaling tha$ has . - . reduced officleAcf a,bout R.S, ~y lÃlh':~,'.A,', (' 4>a ~ A V A Lp 4 A' iV ~ W</. ~ '0 ~ E, P'Vq, ~~ .Tbbe steeve. '..: i w A .0 l~ "' Prh~iA't t6009 fax'ee@ot tA ~ jV stl ~ Prfncay eelet OQN') 5j~+N"i: DEMOCRAT (Z~VD CHR OTIC LE, RO CHESTER N.Y,. FRIDAY D ECE MBER 8 )995 Replacing Ginna's steam generators , oo~t~iitneht dome:-'. The containment deme encloses the 'eart of the Ginna power plant..; .. the nuclear reactor and the I' generators that create;.'-. '" steam for prod~cion ot,' V 'lectricity. No uti ity 5m',.:-. ever.,cg open th8 top, 8 deva befof9.';-.;;. -:- 'f The dorAe; Intended', ~ /, '.to keep all- ~ ~ ': rsCft08ctive 'materials Iriside:. ) ' whi)e'.: o withstanding ', p ~ I assaults 'evere. \ ' . from, outside, is ~ ~ t"' ~ ) ~ ~ ~, rred8 of 30-Inch-thick r tg ~ concrete. , To cut the a Use hydratAic.-" . jacichammsrs and . torch'irkdrs have.,' beeApcRcUcing on a . mock doree; After the nev '. gereratcrs have been @sthHed, the plate Allke~efded'.begk 4. . place and new cdncrsts ~il).be. potire8,: ". ~ ~ ei 0 ~ ~ r'~" ~ p I ~ ~ ~ 'a'el'l i l$ . gati" rg/ ~ 4 ~ L Huge uehicles hauling steam generators to be installed at the Ginna Nuclear Pa<ver plant are maneuoered through an intersection in Waterdoton, Ont., Canada, yesterday. The generators toeigh 316 tons each. Huge burdens wend way to Ginna By CORYDOH 1RKLAND police escort werc two gigantic tree. Tht 63.foot generators, worth $ 20 <iofr ~r>>cr tor.trailer rigs. Each carried a house- million tach, by June will replace the WATERDOWN. Ont. Blocked size steam generator from Babcock &, aging models now on site. r~ ads and staUed traffic slowed life Wilcox Power Gentration Group, a A convoy of utility trucks led the way ihi~Ti ei en more than usual yesterday in manufacturer in Cambridge, Ont. yesterday, while workers raised pnwer ihis little rural community north of Final destination: the Robert E. 'nd phone lines higher with poles and f{arnilton. Ginna nuclear power plant, l6 rnilea cherry.picker+ Trundling thr>>ugh t own at a top east of downtown Rochesttr in Ontario, "1 thought they were making a mov. speed>>( 6 mph ciimplete ~~th a Wayne County. Ct J~uqgg l7, l'F96 ~/ME tJNID On their way to Ginna Glnnst thnoGne Arrival of new steam gencreIO>s (by barge)-..... Jan. Zy S gI Map snows route new steam geneialo>s wiii Iravel IO Ginna planl IO<<enpvatipnS in April Dcfueting of rcsc~ ........,........esny Apui >q Js,e .> ia ~ I'eneVation of contanment dame .-...........,... miff AOrii Rcmove't otd steam generators....,......... mid Apnt ] Rcptscstrerit of steain generators ...........late Apntwsrty Msy I Restoration of contstnment dotne... ...,....,......MsY j start.up..., ........ ~> Refueling reactor . .... ........i>. ................. Msy hv hl+ Structural integrify feting Isle May Pfsnt ...., ...,......,June e ~ . 4 . ~ /' Bear Cnek 'amihoa ~ >: t'>g, CO 9 Sc. Ca l'odger~ ~ ~ SOURCI':: R<<hc>ier Gas snJ Etcevi(Coif>. I II,"knit AI'C It uii iu> i Burdens wend way to Ghitna Ginna's giants From page 1A trucks each. are wide, high, long and ltctuding tractors at the front ie." said Waterdown resident, Caro. heavy. So evety fraction of a kilome. and back, each rig toting Ginna's line Eaton, wbo drank coffee and ter along the way had to be checked new steam generators is: watched as thc 333-ton camera for sharp turns, weak roads, fragile a 150 feel long. lumbered past hanging stoplights. cul verts, power lines and steep hiUL ~ 21 feet wide. At 3 s.m. today, the rigs were duc ~ 19.5 feet high. By today. the slow convoy should to make a 15-minute crossing of the ~ Weighs 333 tons. reach the Port of Hamilton, where busy Queen Elizabeth Nay. ~ Costs $ 2.5 million. the 316-ton units will be shipped "There's riever been anything ~ Carries 600 gallons of fuel one at s time across Lake Ontario, like this in Waterdown, to my recol- and a crew of five. starting as early as Jan. 25. lection." said Jan Henry Dunnick, a Hitched between two trucks. The ncw models assembled in retired dairy farmer who grew up one of the Scheuerle hydrauhc Canada from italian, French, Japa- down the road from the intersection transport carriers has 192 high-nese snd Canadian components- of Main Street and Parkside Ave- pressure radial tires. The other has are the heart of thc $ 115 million nue, where one rig pawed after cUp- 224. Ginns replacement project, due to ping and severing a cable-television Mgts( I S>ti>iL>>>>i \'i>i,"> I><<>>n>>~>>>>i wrap up in June. line. The Wsterdown leg was halfway Dunnick tapped at the carrier's through a 50.mile, threeMay jour- welded saddles with his canc'and But a mix of busy highways. ru. ney through urban Ontario that peered at its array of 224 radial ral roads and dense populations tunk three years to plan. tires. At either end. the Kenworth made this 50.mile trip more inter-The trip is costing "a fair truck of trucks idled powerfully. esting and complicated than money," said Bob Eckert. the Bab- "Some of these trailers are good Babcock's kingsizc shipments to cock engineer overseeing the gener- for 800 tons," said Tim Sittlcr, vice Korea. said Ennio Valentc, s project >itor project. Hc declined to be more president of ETARCO, Ltd., the engineer. SPCC I I IC. Cambridge firm hired to do the 50- By 3 p.m. today, the generators. The Cicrman-built hydraulic car- mile haul. "lt's something we do wrapped in weather proof blue piss. riers. pushed and puUcd by two cvcrv, day." tie are due at the port oun in o ear craw s o irma 4/~ugly l7, /996 ~ 4 '.\ 7 I ~ 'I ~, t I, 2 4 ~ . ~ A i L,e Ip. ~ ~~ .Ig . $ Tg~+ / Pv r 'q Igy P tf C ) l Ruling the toa 4 Two steam generators, each weighing 316 tons, ride carriers at a leisurely pace along 1 t L tel ( Sll Tl A.... o~ ~ ~ r ..a. ~~~.ibv IJnitc will ~niacin worn out parts at RG&E's Ginna plant. CalladlaIls IllaIveg I The trip is costing "a fair truck of money," said Bob Eckert, the Bab-at llllghtfburdell cock engineer overseeing the gener-ator project. He declined to be more specific. 11MVillg at 6 111Ph The German-built hydraulic car-riers. pushed and pulled by two trucks'each, are wide, high, long and Jsytuqgp /7, ]ggg heavy. So every fraction of a kilome-WATERDOWN pt ter along the way had to be checked Blocked roads and stalled traffic for sharp turns, weak roads, fragile slowed life down even more than culverts, power lines and steep hills. usus~ yesterday in this little rural At 3 am. today, the rigs were due community north of Hamilton. to make a 16-minute crossing of the Trundling through town at a top busy Queen Elizabeth Way. ~le's speed of 6 mph police escort complete with a were two ljgantic never been anything like this in Waterdown, to my recol-lection," said Jan Henry Dunnicka tractor-trailer rigs. Each carried a house-size steam'enerator from retired dairy farmer who grew uP Babcock &, Wilcox Power Genera- down the road from the intersection tion Group, a manufacturer in Cam- of Main Street and Parkside hve-bridge, Ont. nue, vrhere one rig pause after sev-Final destination: the Robert E. ering a cable-television Hne. Gi~ nuclear power plant, 16 miles Dmmiatc tappd at tha camar'a east of downtown Rochester in On- weNed saddles eath his cane and tario, Wayne County. peered at its array of 224 radial The 63-foot generators, worth tires. ht either end, the Kenworth KQ md1icn each hy dune wg m trucks idled powerfully. place the aging models now on site. "Some of these trailers are good A convoy of utilitytrucks led the for 800 tons," said Tim Sittler, vice way yesterday, while workers raised president of ETARCO, I.td., the power and phone linea higher with Cambridge firm hired to do the 60-poles and cherry-plckers. mile haul. "I thought they were making a But a mix of busy highways, ru-movie," said Waterdown resident ral roads and dense populations CaroiiIie Eaton, who drank coffee made this 50-mile trip more inter-and watched as the 333-ton carriers lumbered past hangulg stoplights. esting and complicated than Babcock's kinssize shipments to By today, the slow convoy should Korea, said Ennio Valente, a project, reach the Port of Hamilton, where engineer. the 316-ton units will be shipped By 3 p.m. today, the generators, one at a time across Lake Ontario. wrapped in weatherproof blue pias-starting as early as Jan. 25'. Qc, Are due at the port. The new models assembled in "Everything went better than Canada from Italian, French, Japa- planned," said Eckerc, who settled nese and Canadian components- in for dinner near Guelph after the are the heart of the $ 115 million riga ovate parked for the night. Ginna replacement project, due to "We'e ahead of schedule." wrap up in June. 4, faceting rain was starting Co The Wsterdown leg was halfway patter down, he added. Sut with through a 50-mile, three-day jour- duea extra days 6ullt into the ney through urban Ontario that schedule, he said, weather was un-took three years to plan. likely to delay the move. Q Does lt pbw Icwe? A Ginna worker is dwarfed bv one of two heaw-treaded "crawlers" that will power a 360-foot crane now being assembled in a former employee parking lot outside the nuclear power plant in Wavne Countv. One of the larj,est crane~ in the world, it will be used in late April to litt rwo new steam generators throuph a hole in the plant's containmei>r Dome <<+rs res V uge crane for Qinnq J~~ay /8, ~4 conthinmenL dome, ssid plant oS-clals. "nd dnlling thruug cuntlllnment dl>ills. 'I'l>e 316.tun y.i>>>rotors, strap~ 4>>.'si>tif>>d<<.. ONTARIO But similar progects h ive be in 7hu six-month r<<plus<<m<<nt pn>- drnh of like currier>> with hun-Hclmetid workers conipluted in Swed<<n, Wisconsin guet, wrapping wheel~. cre)>t this week in at the Rnb> rt E Giiinu niicl<<sr snd Michigan, they suid. Vwo oth- of schedule sndup June, is ulieud uv> r 50 m>lu>> of urbun siid rur>>l pow> r pl>i>lt yesterday scurried shghtly und<<.r bud- r<>udwuys uri u t)>nmduy trip frotn erb sre planned, for I'Ioridi snd get, said RG8cE through u sb'.sdy dnzzle, sssem- project niunuger un Ontuno munufa>>turer tu the IUinois. John F. Smith. bbng parts lor one ol'he world' l>urt ul' luu>>l ton In some regards, this (crune) ic It will take about b0 duys.Hudi- 'I'hey urn v>d suf>>ly y>>>>terduy largest cranes. the easy part, said Itobert C. Me- utiun escaping frum the dume, 'l'h<< lirst geu>>rutor, trun-Thu 36-story tell l~pson Series ul'enioun credy, vice president of nuclear op- stripped of its r<<actor fu<<l rods, dled unti> u 2A crane, with s bft capacity of 200 tout Black Currier erations a'L Rochester Gss 8c Elec- will be point zero, zero sume0ung burin by Jun. 25, will be pushed 1,200 tons, wiU be used by mid- tric, which operates Ginna. millirems, caid Mecredy. ucr>>s~ Luk>> OnLsno by three tug Apnl Lo plsoe two new steam gen- On the menu in Lhe coming By comparison, annual back- bouts. '1'l>c new ersLoni inLo s hole in the 25-year- gener>>tor3, month, he said: Finsl sssembly of ground rsdiutiun in th>> Ru>'he>>ter wrup~M iii l>nglii l)luu phQt>c, >>A> old con4unment dume. the crane, after sue wi~ks of work; urea adds up t>> ubuut 280 mil- iluu Lu urnve ut Bear Cieek tuu'- 'fhe $ 115 milliun prugect has been a 445-Lon test lift uf the crune, lirems a year, said Frsnklin lL On- l>ur, l..'> miles <<>u>t uf Gui>i>>, oo in Lhs planning stages since 1992. limbering it up for 0ie 350-Lun lifts enter, sn RCEcE rudistion sufety Juii. 27 uiid Juii. 3l IL wiII be the first generator in April; snd'continued training of uxpert. "W<<'r<< talking sbout tiny, 1'>>r upduter on the prospect, cia replsu:ment using s hule in the workers hired for spucislty weld- tiny, tiny nuiiibers. 1-800.964-4662. u Weather may delay trip to Ginna By CORYDON IRELAND Ontario to Bear Creek Harbor. with the Cayuga County En+ron (TiFF wRJTER Plans caU for the first 316-ton gen- mental Management Council erator to arrive at Bear Creek Har. Members had voiced concern sbou: Chancy weather might delay the bor. I' "miles east of Ginna. then be radiation releases. Yiorthern Cs>wga further transport of the first of two trucked to the plant Saturday. County is withm Ginns's 50.miie new steam generators bound for a The Canadian. built steam gener. emergency planning xone. local nuclear plant. an official said. ators are the centcrpieces of a $ 115 The council asked for copies The $ 20 million device, strapped million refurbishment of the 25. reports and indepen. ot'onitoring to a three.tug barge. is now docked year-old nuclear plant. dent momtonng of radiation re. at the Port of Rochester in Char. The 67.dsy construction project, leases at Ginns. said Power. lottc after a 20-hour trip this week kicking off in April, involves cutting The documents will be supplied from Hamilton, Ontario. two holes in the reactor contain- after a written request. But inde- "The weather is beginning to get ment dome and inching the genera- pendent monitoring is -a govern. a little iffy," said Mike Power. tors into place with a 36-story crane. ment issue." Power said. "We'e noi spokesman for Rochester Gss & Power said negotiations were un- getting in the middle of that. It's noi Electric Corp., which operates the der way to find a "proper and safe a cost our customers should bear.- Robert E. Ginna .nuclear plant in location" for spectators who want to RG&E maintains six monitoring Ontario, Wayne County. "We'e see the crane one of the world' stations at Ginna snd five off-site certainly not going to take any largest in operation. "That's like asking the fox u chances." While some people are eager for a watch the chickens,- said Linda The forecast calls for brisk winds close look, others want to lteep their Dowling, a former radiation re. and snow tomorrow, the dsy the distance. searcher at State University College barge is scheduled to travel on Lake RG&E officials met this week at Oswego. Q ~. 'A ~> woe ~% 40. \& ' Mo r 4 ~ <<4 I

0. ~ Fred ifiller, leh, md B,h S

~ bold vesterd.i traveled to Charlotte to take a imk ton, Canadian-bui]t steam generator that is bound tor Ginna nuclear power plant iii Ka've i igni ofay iN('1 gran wn.w .g gp at ~ Dlo-Coun' i Jumpy 4v, /994 Barge carrying cargo for Ginna plant makes strap A barge carrying a 820 ptillion steam generator bound for the R.E. G irma Nuclear Power Plant st,opped at the Port of Rochester in Charlotte yesterday. The 316-ton Babcock 8c Wilcox generator is one of two scheduled for replacement during a $ 115 mil-Oon upgrade at Ginna. It is being shipped across Lake Ontario from Hamilton, Ontario. The barge made an unscheduled stop in Charlotte because a change in weather was predicted for later this week and barge operators want-ed' larger port to protect their cargo from winds, said RG&E spokesman Mike Power. The generator is expected to ar-rive late Friday at Bear Creek Har-bor, I':c miles east of Ginna. J q AoqRy gq Hy ('()RYDON H>aff eeI4r IRKLhND QA ~kl W>L I' -- p u LL S~EEs l~ DS ~ v W Av'g g e r W>th bnstl>ng winds and chop >enl<<<<n I~ke Ontario, Mother Nature c'ut- 8 HEAg t"q~ ( O~pp ~ ~ ht>>L>l>ed <>n l>lans th>a nlornlng to thread ~ l<aded b<>tg>> <nto the nanow mouth of ~I ~~ I)eat ('reek harbor. ()n I<<>atd >s the first of two $ 8) million  :.W-~> Qfl. htea>n IIenetatofa bound lor Lhe Robert E ( i<a>> ~ nuclear plant I >.l m>lea weaL of the ft>>hhly <Itecllted creek. I'I>< li.l ha>t devices, swaddled in heavy ~ I>l<<>> L>l<<> t<r, w>ll replace by Junc the aging ~ + ~ m<>d>>I<<n<>w <<n site at the 25-year-old 4 t>l>U>l hftet lw<> houta of futile maneuvering hundt>>ds <<f yards from Lhe mouth uf the A barge carting Orte'f ~<<<a rtett> afe<atrt genemton crasaea Lake Ontano this morning < te>>k, the barge finaUy headed back to h<dety aL the Port of Rochester in Chat- owns the plant n>e weather changed down the tubes faster than we thought." The delayed delivery of the .'IRU I<<<> h>t te. faster than predicted" Power said ofl>cials will watch the generator, strapped ted 224 t>tt >>II <Nill "It's n<>l the story I wanted Lo be giving RG&E project manager John smith weather day by day. But another attempt not delay the SL LS million re>><>vsliu<> pc<> t <<l<<y," said Mike Power, spokesman ~ aid the attempt Pted>cated on a I2 Lo dock and unload wiII probably not ject.scheduled to wrapup in Ju<>celt>><<> y<<<j f<>r It<<<h>>stet (laa 4 Bectric Corp., which hour window of clear weather "wenL unfold until the end of Lhe week. 67-dsy shutdown. enerator runs a roun By DORIS Wor.p Silt and rocks may have been SM W~r washed into the channel by last ONTARIO A two-tug barge weekend's storm, Power suggested. um~g a 316-ton steam generator The generators are the center-snagged on rocks today at a harbor pieces of a $ 116 million project to on Lake Ontario, thwarting Roch- . upgrade Ginna, a 25-year-old plant. ester Gas & Electric's attempt to that at 490 megawatts produces 50 move the generators into the har- percent of RG&E's electric power. bor, which is lees than two miles The company plans, by late east of the Robert E. Ginna nuclear April, to cut two holes in the con-p4fTL tainment dome and replace two As the 40-foot-wide barge aging steam generators. The new threaded into a channel only 60 units, worth $ 20 million each, are feet wide at Bear Creek. it ran into being shipped in via Lake Ontario reeistance. More than 100 feet of from Canada. the craft jutted into the lake as hn attempt to land the genera-divers were called in to assess the tor Monday was thwarted by high situation. winds and waves, and the barge RG&E spokesman Mike Power returned to Charlotte Harbor. said the company checked the 8- Q the barge cannot be landed foot-deep channel two weeks ago, today, Power said, it would back off using both sonar and divers, and and make the four-hour return trip everything appeared to be OK. to Rochester. RG&E plans to move two steam "I'rn trying to be optimistic," he generators to the plant. said. "%e're going to make that call Under the best conditions, the hour by hour." with 6 feet of draft and 40 'arge Despite frigid air and bone-feet wide was going to be a tight chilling winds, a stream of onlook-fit. In November, the harbor chan- ers walked along the shoreline tak-nel was dredged to 8 feet deep. ing pictures of the stranded barge.
• ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ 0 ~ Silt thwarts RG8cE's plans at Bear hek Fabhugly 2, 19% earn enera or e ss uc nation, the Robert E. Ginna nuclear the rock," McKenzie said. The barge Barge hits bottom plant. The 40-foot-wide barge came to a returned to Charlotte Harbor. dead stop as it threaded into a channel An attempt to bring the barge in with 316-ton load only 60 feet wide. Divers discovered that high winds Monday wss halted by rough ~esther. The generator is one of two that are over the weekend had washed silt into the centerpieces of a $ 115 million pro-near Ginna plant the U-shaped channel, building up as ject to upgrade Ginna, a 25-year-old much as two feet on the sides and - plant that at 490 megawatts produces turning the channel into a V shape. 50 percent of RG&E's electric power. By DORIS WOLF STAFF WRJTFR Power said RG8rE checked the 8- This spring, the company plans to foot-deep channel two weeks ago, using cut two holes in the plant's containment ONTARIO Rochester Gas and both sonar and divers, and everything dome, pull out its aging steam genera-Electric Corp. learned an important les- appeared to be OK. .tors and replace them with new ones. son yesterday: Winters can be cruel in Bruce McKenzie, assistant project The two units, worth $ 20 million each, upstate New York," spokesman Mike manager for on-site contractors Bechtel are being shipped from Canada. Power said. Power Corp. said the barge captain The replacement project is the most RG&E officials watched as a barge decided to call off the attempt to land expensive and potentially riskiest repair carrying a 316-ton steam generator got the barge. job ever attempted at Ginna. stuck at the mouth of Bear Creek Har- "He was concerned if he made the Power said RG&E will now decide bor, less than two miles from its desti- run it could possibly push the barge into whether to redredge the harbor. Q Critic: R E hiding information on Ginna of the state Public Service Commis- Wayno (4)unty nuclear plant, de- ulluweci Lo <<Ltc'nd that clo>>cd i)c Febhoqhy 3', /996 sion to raise raLcs by $ 17 million signed to prolong its lil'e and make sion, but Lh<<t if li<< is he would for a year starting in July. R<<tcs it more <<ITicient, has emerged as have Lc) I)l<<clg). iiot ti) di>>clu>>c any. AI.IIANYSt;)L<<regulatr)r>>>>r<< for residential custom<<rs would go a k<<y issue. thing <<hc)ut it. impr))p<<rly wit))h<)lding I'rom Lhc up .'I per>ant, while those paid by But sumo information <<bout it Str<<ku i>> <<ll(iwud Lo purticipaLe public inI))rn)ut)un i)hc)ut Itnchc>>ter larger users would increase 1.6 per- hus been kept from the public be- in Lh<<proc) is t))cuu>>c itutc luw C)as und I'.Icatric (.'urp.'s (linn<< cent. cause it is considered a trade iecret. all))ws indivirlu<<l citizens tn hav<< steam-g<<nor<<Le)r project, u criLic However, the stafTof the commis- Among th<<t information is liuw a formal rol)!. <<hurg<<d y<<>>L<<rday aL u hearing siiin hus ra<nmmendni that R(')8cE much th<<. commission st<<IT thinks Al>>c) at Lh<< I<<:<<ring,,i comm)s-cut its rates by I..) percent for <<ach the prnjwt will cost rutcpayers in sinn st<<ITi!r >>iid m)!nt c>ts in her>> It's very important that the pub- uf Lh>> next two years, and the <<tutu excess costs nv<<r th<<next five y<<ari int<<r<<st r<<tc>> n)uy nii!)in th<<. com-lic have a la~I I'or the prudence of (:nnsumcr Prot':Linn Board recom- and huw much money has alreudy pany should lic <<ntitlcd Lo less prof-mended a 1.5 percent cut starting been spent. on it,. iL. this inve. tment," said Charles.') tra- 'I'hc cr)nimii>>i)in stuff would ka, a retired Xerox worker whn is July l. ItG8cE lawyers have argued suc-Mnynihun is <<xpc~d tn l)<<ur cessfully tr) th<<can)n)is<<inn th<<t ulluw a I(l ."i I)) r<<<<nt rc Liirn c)n c.qui-an inde pc.ndcnt purty in the rute testimony f)ir tli<<r<<it uf the wc)uk, disclosing thut und other inl'urmu- ty fi)r a i)ni; y) ur il).iil;ind li) 9 per-case. and issue his opinion sometime in tion wnuld be useful to its cu)n- cent each your of <<Lwu-y<<ur agee- "Was it prudent? I can't answer that question. IL'a a little frustruL-April. Th<< full commission is petitors. mc i)t. expected to issue its ruling t,his Moynihun said thc issues consid- I'( sS I', c)il lh<< l)LI)<<f h<<lNl, wants ing," he Lc)ld Administrative I~w ered lr<<d<<. sa:rets will bc discusi<<d Il I pire<<nt I'))r <<r)n>>.yc;)r rute sumnlcr. Judge Waltc.r T Moyniha)), wlio The $ 115 milli)in project to re- ut, a closed hearing. Straka suicl <<gr)'<<nl<<nt <<l)cl I.:I p<<rc'I'lit for 1 was conducting the hearing. it,'s nut cl<<ur whether h<<will bc <<a<<h your ) I' Lw ).yc!<<r p )ct. Q place thc stcam g<<ncrators in the RGB,E is seeking the permission Fehhoghy 8, /0'g6 ew enera or arrives at 3 g\j ~ jg 1! 1 ~ oQ /' ~I +t ~ e' r-g wg: Q C$ t C I, ~p e ~ A 6arge carrying R('E;E'~ net steam generator posses through the channel that l<<ads to Bear Creek yesterday. FebRuqhy 8, I9'96 ew enera or arrives at Barge heads bacA, to extended life. Spokesman Mike Power said the com-peratures for the past week to record 4e progress of=the big machine. Canada for 2nd load pany willshut down the reactor at the end of March and remove the radioactive ma-The barge immediately began a return trip to Ontario, Canada, to begin bringing By DORIS WOLF terial u> an underwater storage facility. the second generator to 5'syne County. Two holes will be cut in the contain- Meanwhile, as the generator'onvoy ONTARIO The first of Rochester ment dome in mid-April. The project is passed Knickerhocker R<ed, lo and C~as and Electric Corp.'s two new steam expected to be completed by mid-June, I'ieter som de Cerff came iiut on their generators spent last night indoors and on and is on schedule, Power said. purch to record the event un their Kodak dry land for the first time in weeks. The first 316-tain generator arrived at cameras."Ne saw the generators go by 30 For the next month it wi0 remain in a Bear Creek Harbor yesterday morning to years ago when Ginns was built." Jo corn storage facility while it is prepared to be the delight of the crew that has labored in de Cerff said. "This time we thought we' lifted by the world's largest crane through frigid and '-inhusnan" temperatures to take pictures." a hole in the containment dome at the clear away silt and ice from I~ke Ontario But not everyune was thrilled. Karen Ginmt nuclear power station. to allow pas~e to the lakeshore. Pinkney, who lives near the power plant, As part of a III'djion project, The arrival also delighted the "genera- said she and her husband are concerned about what will happen when the dome is RG&E is replacing the station's twu gen- tor groupies," abciut Ql bical residents erators, giving the 25-year-old plant an who have braved wind and freezing tem- rut iipen. Generator's c~ r OJ ~.v ~ P'. ~J arrival a ~ l r <T.r;~. P cheered '~t'"g' ~ J 0 c IJ' b)( crowds 4~ JJ Fa'booger~ S, ZVV6 "L~ ' a l 'I OXTAR10 The first oi Re@hes- ~ N~ \'~f' ~ ter Gas and Electric Corp.'s two new 0 ~ J steam generators spent last night in. doors and on dry land for the first I time in weeks. For the next month it will remain ,' c'. in a storage facility while it is pre-pared to be lifted by the world' largest crane through a hole in the containment dome at the Ginna nu. clear power station. As part of a $ 115 million project, 4 RGEcE is replacing the station's two ~ ~ ~ generators, giving the 25-year-old plant an extended life. Spokesman Mike Power said the company will shut doaa the reactor at the end of March and remove the radioactive material to an underwater storage facility. Tao holes aR be cut in the con. tainment dome in mid-April. The project is expened to be completed by mid-)une, and is on schedule. Power said. The fest 316 ton generator arrived at Bear Creek Harbor yesterday morning to the delight of the crea that has labored in frigid and "inhu-man" t'peratures to clear aaay silt and ice from Lake Onuuio to aUow the generator passage to the lake. shore. The amval also delighted the ~ ~ J F "generator groupies," a aecvd of P ~ r about à local residenta who have 1 braved wmd and freaing tempera. tures for the past week to record the 0 progress of the bg blue-wrapped ma-chine arith theu cameras'nd cam-corders. The barge immediately began a <<f. return trip to Ontano. Canada. to $ ~ begin brining the second generator r to Wayne County. Croads of onlookers gathered at 4 driveways and intersections to cheer as the parade of sherifFs vehicles. county high~ay workers and power line trucks and the generator. of Generator parade Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.'s new steam course passed. 2 along a IVap~e County road yesterday to the Ginna nuclear gcnerat<<slo"l.'rundles po>e'lant Questhn: Nthy were the new I generators for the Ginna nuclear power plant built Canada'7 Answer: 7hat's because Babcock and Wilcox International of Cambridge, Ontario, was the low bidder. explained Mike Powers, RGEcE spokesman. The company makes steam generators used all over the world, he added. It is a axed-price contract, he noted, which means any cost overruns will have to be absorbed by the manufacturer or installer. Q 8 TIMES PAGE 19 ~ FEBRUARY 13.t996 ~ Unless you have been living on another planet, the arrival of uick. What Weighs the new steam generator at the Ginna 316 Tons A Crawls Nuclear Plant in the Town of Ontario Along Lake Road In should not have been a major surprise this Ontario At 1 Mile past week. Weather bc damned! Tbc first of the Per Hour? two new steam generatots finally anivcd at the Ginna Nuclear Plant, located on Lake Road in the Town of Ontario. Delayed &om amval by a beak winter storm that nccessitatcd additional Bear Creek Harbor dredging, the 316 ton gen-erator inched its way off the barge and onto a huge wheeled platform for the final leg of its voyage. A crowd of anxious watchers gathered and some actually walked behind the metal monster as it paraded at an ava-age speed of 1 mile pcr hour to thc Ginna grounds. Manufactured in Cambridge, Ontario, the generator worked its way southward towards the Rochester port, via a barge ride along Lake Ontario. Wrapped in a blue plastic covering, thc first gen-erator was pushed by three tugboats. The generator was filled with nitro-gen gas to keep thc internal workings of the first stage of thc $ 40,000.000 project The first of two stew stcam generators arrived at the Ginna Nuclear Plant on dry. All the valves and caps were welded Lake Road in the Town of Ontario last week. The second sister generator will shut to ensure thc carbon stccl beast anivc this week. would not rust. Rochester Gas 4 Electric knew the windows of opportunity for shipping thc generators were close. Upon its safe ari-val the barge would return to the Pon of Hariultpn. Ontario Canada for tl>> sister Licensed m 1969. the Ginna plant will store thc low grade radiation ccattam-generator. 'n>> second generator should original generators were losing efficiency. inatcd genaatas for the next several amve early this week. 'ntc older 320 ton technology needed to yearL New tedmology is being devel-Due to the closing of Lake Ontario be upgraded. With 50% of the Rochester ooed, according to RGB spokesman to normal stupping during tbe winter area power created by the nuclear facility, Mike Powers. that will allow for thc months. the two new generators had to be the new generators would ensure a power eventual salvaging of most of thc valu. ship~ separately on thc only barge aow ull the year 2009 when thc plant's able metals ia the old generators. enough to handle the 63 foot high. l3'" 40 year license expires. Other crews ate working on tbc 310 diameter stcam generators. Yeats m Ihc planning moved to thc foot boom, l90 foot mast, massive crane next stage as armies of workers descended that will be employed to do the lifung. on the Ginna Plant to prepare for the %le 316 tons of generator should be easy enormous task. work for the rated 1200 ton crane. Six n>> collcrctc roof of thc generator miles of cable will be employed as the house will be opened carefully to allow crane, with a ground speed of I/2 mile per for the old generator removal and thc new hour, carefully maneuvers its cargo imo units placement someume in Apnl place. ncv concrete ~ bunker appcanng housing SOCOINI Chill energtol a%sits good %08ther new5 ONTARIO One moved and Fcheueay ~+ /~6 one to go. Having safely transported one Steam generator to the Ginna liucle-ar power plant, Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. officials will begin studying weather patterns at the end of this week to decide when to try for the second one. RQAE looks at weather RG&E spokesman Mike Power said the second generator arrived in for second pinna load One Rochester Saturday and was taken ONTARIO moved and one up the Genesee River to the Boxart to go. Street docks for storage. Having safely transported one The site, where cement boats steam gener tor to the Ginna nuclear dock, is prot'ected from high winds, power plant, Rochester Gas and Elec-Fower said. tric Corp. officials will begin studying "The workers, the community, weather patterns at the end of this the tug boat operators and aQ the week to decide when to try for the people who gave the fi'rst boffo per- second one. formance are waiting in the wings to RG&E spokesman Mike Power do.it again," Power said. said the second generator arrived in " As part of a $ 115 million project, Rochester Saturday and was taken up RG&E is planning to cut a hole in the Genesee River to the Boxart ge containment dome at the 25- Street docks for storage. The site, yearold nuclear power plant in where cement boats dock, is protected mid-April and replace the station's from high winds, Power said. two generators. The project is to be As part of a $ 115 million project, completed by mid4une. RG&E is plannmg to cut a hole in the It took three tries before the first containment dome at the 25-year-old of the two 315-ton generators could nuclear power plant in mid-April and be transported to Bear Creek Har- replace the station's two generators, bor last week. The project is to be completed by The company plans to evaluate mid-June. the weather forecasts at the end of During a storm earlier this month, the week before deciding when to high winds created a 5-foot sandbar attempt to bring the barge carrying at the mouth of the harbor, thwarting the second $ 20 million generator to one of the attempts to bring in the Bear Creek Harbor. first generator. "Any day of the week, including This time, the company plans to the weekend, is an option," Power dredge the harbor and take soundings said. ..before the barge is moved from the During a storm earlier this Genesee River, Power said: month, high winds created a 6-foot sandbar at the mouth af the harbor. thwartin one of the attempts to bring in the first generator. Thl's time, the company plans to dodge the harbor and take sound-ingl before the barge is moved from the Genesee River. Power said. gqz~h 3, /~% irma sa e no wor RGRE says its plans to shield workers on nuclear project far exceed standards; critics cite risk 4' a Exposure to radiation Rem is a unit used to measure ionizing radia-tion. More commonly used is a millirem. I/1000 of a rem. Here are some amour ts of radiation for comparison. 8attery-operated dosimeter Radiation Millfrems, per year eaeral ter. t for occupational g Measuring exposure radia,':on. per worker ~ -'ei6'AWK To enter a radiation area. a worker Ave. age On-the-lOb o., i f) lOgS in On a COmputer at the Site dOSe tO ail wOrkerS at The COmputer verifieS the wOrk-Ginna er S authOriZatiOn tO be in the RGB E recommended area. The computer also ,mit. per worker ..'".~ 3SQ transfers information to a dosimeter, a small Ave. age background device about the size of 'ad ation in Rochester ';>Q 32Q a pager that measures area. with radOn radiation. The dosimeter is ~ventage background set with a maximum radia-raa:atonnU.S..wnh 'Q 3Qg tion dose rate for the worker for that day. The worker inserts raCon'verage baCkgrOund 120 Radon is a radioactive the batterywperated deil~ rad:ation n Rochester ~ intO a'turnStile, it releaSeS tO admit area. wi,hout gaseous the wOrker tO the area The wOrker radon'ventage CheS't X-ray element in carries the dosimeter in the breast 'TOtal. nOt per year) iO some so'il pocket of the anti-contamination suit, lt will sound an alarm if the ~ ngeroua domo: A one-time dose of 50.000 worker reaches the allowable dose m llirems causes observable damage. such as or if radiation present in the work changes in blood chemistry or chromosomes envirOnment exCeedS a Set limit I Q4~+Ilf + ~t Ram w wsls oe em workers in radiation areas at the Ginna nuclear Powe~ Plant routinely wear protective clothing to shield skin from contact with radldaCtive PartlCles In dust or other material. Syste s also are in place to monitOr the amount of radiatipn exposure each worker receives The ant~tamtnation Iuk lasses Material Thick plaSDc Safety glasses cover eyes. Suft is made df rlyfon wirh a upper up the front oaimeter A thermoluminescent dosimeter On name tag traCkS Cumulative Res pira ter radiation exposure ln operations where Curing lob. radioactive partioleS may become air-borne. such as welding, a re spic O'.OI'S 'ivorn over mouth and nose Rubber ff rg,' gloves with cotton Jin-ers are Under~ worn on Under pro- ~ r 1 hands. tectrve suit. workers oanhg wear FaCh time a wOrker leaveS a radiat On n os p I ta l- area the su'lt is caret~fly ren oved style scrub placed in a nyke bag,chen sent out fo Suft. laundering at a special off-site Iaclfjp. 6 Sc ba a Boo@ca Black elas'tlC Rubber bands with booties are snaps at',ached to secure suit at ankl'eS and wrists gqRch 3, /99@ irma sa e no wor Radiation levels still a hot topic Safety pr<igram>> at. Ginna allowable annual dn~e of 5.000 ai. ume that riidi'ii,ion exposure nullirems. he says. iniid<. t.)i<. power plar>t po>>es a Further studies, including ri~k to workers. of'eople exposed to 'nalysis RC4F. otticial>> .Uy the ri k radiation from the 1986 is very small. But since it. isn' nuclear disaster at Chernobyl zero, they look for more ways in t 'kraine, eventually vN per-to lower the doses workers suade regulators to up their receive. iays Richard J. Watts. dose linuts. believes Maillie, manager of nuclear assessment. who oversees t'R's radiation Ttu>> theory that even tne safety programs. But that smallest amount. of'adiation change could take a decade. poses some risk tn human Raising allowable radiation health ha>> influenced regu- levels would be unwise. coun-lations f<<r wnrker safety and ters Judith Johnsrud, a former environmentul prou!ction. Rut Pennsylvarua State t 'niversity the linear, no t.hreshold model" geographer who. sits on that 'as detranor>> in the scientifi state's advisory committee on community who argue i.here is radioactive wa. te. Research on a level below wtuch radiation Chernobyl shows that. besides poses no danger. leukemia and other cancers Some researchers even claim cau. ed by tugh radiation doses, small am<<unts of radiation very low levels of environmen-a<tually are good for people. tal radiation weaken immune Hut i.hat,'i going too far, .aye systems, Johnsrud says. R Dand MaiUie, a~mate pro- Children. in particular. are fessor of biophyii<>> at the t'ru- showing increased incidents of i ersity of Rochester. asthma. gastro-intestinal prob-Yet Mailhe ul. n iay>> there'i lems and chronic fatigue, she little evidence to uppvrt the < note>>. The worker health stud-radiation dom bnuti imposed ies cited by Madiie "probably hv the .'nuclear R4.gulatory are not lootung at the full ('vmnu~.iion. Long t4. rm studies range of consequences of low on nuclear worker>> foal t.o show radiation doses, she says. any health impa<t until leveli reach four times the VRC's pggRch 3 /S"7& Improved radiatipn 3 gpes of radiation controls Gamma: Hrgh-speed electro- "<<r par ~-. cis n-r~m o' magnetic waves that travel great daidt<C<" ~ c[)i Sere Curir>g Ot!i<r diStanCeS. Can be Shieiaed by Sl&1m ge<er3) r reoiaCemerlS leaa. steel. concrete and water '1,:g (j '~ r-r son.rem rnea. Gamma rayS have nO phySiCal ~ t mass. y.'f < S iilQ (Qtd< r t.i ri Of ewpOSgf g Beta: Negatively charged parti- ~ rI Ceiled 1-y 3)r warkerS On 3 c)es that travel smal) distances. rirO)eC1 i Can be blOCked by plaStiC Or wood Year Person-rem/generator Alpha: POSitiveiy Charged parti ~ 1980 Su y 2 (yv ) -.leS that travel very ShOrt diS-tanCeS. Can be blOCked by paper '98) Surry 1 (ya ) Present in small amounts dt 588 Ginna Alpha and beta partiCleS "38~ tu:" .> )'v r.l .> (l- ct ) are most 'dangerous if ingested 'r 83 ~ grrkey Pbi t 0 (F'Q ) 435 '98< Po:nt Bea n 1iWr ) 295 '9> 1 RQG<<soi (S C ) Ginna timetable 402 989. C;c~ 2 <Mr April 1: p)ant shutdown ) l40 begins Early April: fuel removed from

989, )harding POint 3 (N Y )

nuclear reactor i35 two holes cut in top vesse'Nid-Apr8: 1991. Palisades (Mi ) of reactor's containment dome; 331 old steam generators lifted out )993 M"))stone 2 (Ct ) thrOugh the hOleS 335 Late April: new steam gener-1993 ~)orth Anna 1 (Va ) ator -A" lowered through hole 80 and welded into place )94 Summer(SC ) Late AprQ or earty May: new 75 steam gerierator -B" installed 1995 Jorth Anna 2 (yd INay: holes patched in con-r ) 47.5 (ainment dome. reactor refueled ~C&E ~rms tO) i)d o posure Late May:.patChed dOme teSt-Ji ring l)ie Ginnz pro)ect (G 55 ed for structural integrity persOr> r<>m p~~r i~~rlgr,ttpr June: plant restarted says its plans to shi o ke on nuclear prospect far exceed standards; critics cite risk Althi)ugh lli '>> llki'ly t() f(<<'ive iii)I>a Il<<l<< I 'N <I< I If a meuiuruhli dni( Iif rudiuri >i), I II) lh C(:icl.<i a<<ia.. ((I<a I<* i<<i<la.ir Ii. i)<<ii "l hav<<A(i qualm>> ubout it. tuk( b I>I'i<<< . I- I>u)>>p<4 through 5wach a, Is'z, wha4'I)ev( r," >>uy>> Ji)ne>>. who'i Ini>c< I I)'ii) .I.lll)i) I iiiv pipe>>n>a)dL worked ()utb)d<<ut (>innu l'or th<< a'a(eh bla'Il)l ),'a'>>a'f <I<>l I I('a>I fC<>l>> < pu>>t yeur to prepure for the I I)e )>iI)< ~ i I><>)li aL:)I< f in:i . a C~ delivery and in>>tallution of the <>n J;<Iy . Vita i>>. II),<I LL.;(I< C lluSI)<<b ucl(ur p iwi r plunLi di)nt two 310-ton generators. "l don' I<< br<'a)>>). <<a I ) ><'ll IH >wa'Cb <'lli'f)'y azure Uill Jonei. Ila.'i u feel radiation is any problem." pl'u<Iucl>>)a I lit'I)l>>a'i I I<'a" >>)ba'h<<> n)u>>ur m(~hunic witli th<<. lnternutlonul Unliin of Op(.rut Yet the safety of those i)(icle)if fiia I .i i<<nil>II< iriii(I>> Ilie i ~ expoeed to radiation is hy no i f('ULt<>C i<>)i)a a)ii)( li Uk. thi wot(f ~ .ng l'.Apneer>>. one Iif ab(iut:I.')Il m<<un>> u foregone conclusion, )hue Il<>wi Ihf<>(II<h tha.'t( IIA) gt'>>. ~ contractors hlr(ad for the>>team especially on this project. < f;)Ii>ci ii c<>ntuminot<<d w)(I) generator replucement prop<<et Nuclear critics say replacing cu(li<>uct i<<a I>>;It<<c);(I. iom< bt l<<ki that begins April I at the (<innu >>t<<un) generator>> is u particu- )oil(l<< II)<')IIx'b nuclear power plant in Onturlo, larly "hi)t or radioactive job, Il)I;h L.A<<cI~ quid)n)') fuyi ff<>>>> Wayne County which will increase this rudiouctiv<<cufr(i>>io>> will per-Muny (if th<<m are exp<<r)- I'Ill flbkb <II ca)nc('I'>I <>Ill('f workers'<<I)I'a meate the steel skins of the gener-hi;ilth I) fa>hlenl. .(I()l i;III<<><'< (lal)I)aa'I'a< w<>fk-enCed nuClear v((irk<<rS wl)<) 'l <ali UA(l I'.lL'('ICIC a f>> Whi)>>)u>t ill<>V( ll)<'>>), ii)yi ~ trav<<l friim pl;)lit tii plunt, liut I(<><'i)a'bl('I other>>;lr( niLv ti) th<<dr)ll fi)r ( <>f)> ill~). Ii tl)a)t W<II'kl'I allwa)i i i I ilul (>I('f. <Ill'a'ct<>c <>I II)<'<<;Ic. Ilfi i'II<'lt ( )A)l I ilutl iiivi tll( i<>f IV.)I<'l)al<<l I I<>)<'\'t wllh ll)a. deabng>>afi.ly with radiation ~ iVucla I<I II)I<>co);<I)a>A i<<)<I'l . iifca I<en('ful(>c rel)l;icem<<ilt iiivi>lva.i < Jone', in fan, hu>>n'I. worked ~ )el vlc< III 5 >t)I>I)IA+t<>>> I) ( I he at a nuclear plant since the lute riiutin<<r<<diat)un leveli. N()>>et l)ai- wufk. l(ib, th( I)n)I<<ct des)gm hai he(A pcut< Lt)<<<<cl<>th)og iiiau<<d tu 1960s, when he help(4 hulld i Illll(la'>>c('a I hy I l'Iiul)II)liny i fb da>ei iu>t bhield them fcua) Ginna's waar intuki. tunnel- (liilf(.'u I))lilt w(>fk<)cb cil(lliltl<)A thos<< fuyi a joh with no rudiution <<xpo- clobuI a', balyi lt)cl) If(I al IValtti, At gA.'Ut<<c fibk Uf<< the welders sure. This time, hc'0 go in>>lde ~ A);IA;))<( i a>I')uol<<ur Ui. ( bi)>>L>>I whu will cut looby(. the old ge>>ecU-the plant to work on u small 1 l)<'ILl bta'))>>I I'('lla'I'Ut<>fb turb UAd then Uttuch the new geA. crane used to move rigging. ia.(Iuifa -)x i.<I I);<>>(II)i)I I) L;i(iia. a i fIltofs t<) th<<reactor pipes, Because hell be working around taunt( f b;iyi I>> U(lditlull tu Ilt<<f ill< <>I flik exp<>. radioactive equipment, Jones ~ )",)I>>m'I tl)ev bo ~iris'a wear ~al ll<>A. I h< V faO>>IUA)I>>uta'Ll fu(lli)UL'llama>fc<>. Ia>ll Ia'ft 1)<<hl>>(l With iufe t<> c i<I) <l)<>>>. c,(<I)uuc()ve I);)cl)cl<<b (h'<< clothing and clip.iin rudlutii)n Iiy llie Ia;Ict<)c w;il<<i cuul(l -c:ipe If<>ii) )>>>><Ia monitors called di)>>) meters. gL!AL'fa>t<<)b ii))(I tl)e pip)>>)a Pgqac 0 irma sa e no wor 'xposure is down h(<b; I.. )fl)c)ul.- uric): Deregulation )ihouldn't change r:)<l)<<,)cilia<<<<xf)<). Ul'e iit ~.'<)Ana l. the umph().-).- iii ruili,it<<<ii .-af< ti .'<>>)l~ < I <N')) ~ l)<<l Ill) f >> ni I a< bi<cia)~<'lli))ll <<I I I'l'))<le)i<'<'" ii<<u. ) p)))).'. ii.i.- )mpr<)v<<(f f'ri)iii l.hiit ciit I'i)all<it i<<) i af<<~<<>.. Ucl i t n<<' I Ill( . <'dl'iy d<ay~. the li<< i f)ot tel training;ln(f plan)ling, J l. i .i i<>>llbll< .)r<<n t as luakv Ul<<l iinf)r))v<. plant < fT)cienci. IVatt.- < ngnne<<ri hav<< leurni d hi)N' <) <avi, adiu. t th<<cliemi. t)v ut'h: r<<i)c. :X the iame tinie. th<<driving tor ivatur tii i'edu<<e i:<>rr>>. i<>>). fore<<. behind the worker radiation EV(it ti s;iv- standards at RG8cE ha been th<< fechni<l<<p'V i)l~<) f)i)~ 0) l(l<'I assumptiun that on-the-ii)h exp)- i ~ lie iud. i)ad to crawl inside steam gen<<ru. K'Vi)rke) <)nc<< i<i)'it<'ere))c<:. i sure cami some small but tinit<< risk," Watts says. So the company tora tn niake <nsual inspection.- believes it,'i prudent to keep expo-t hat iv))rk n) >iv i>> (lone ivitl sure as. low as reasonably possi ~ i < mol).'-control <<equipment. ble. Watts . ays he di)esn't expect f<<)h))(ic . dec))ntamination anil that philosophy to change. l<<ad .. l>>i f(ling <<ll have help( (i ~ For the NRt s part. it will el ir>> in(it e high radiatiiin gobs at make sure utilities don', usi. < < irma an(f other plant,s. Wa<<. deregulation u~ an excuse to cut ()une <<re th>> dayi when a corners un worker safety. Dricks iv<)rker ii<)ul(f hit iiii annual ra(li ~ says. The agency. which was beat ,itii)n liiiiitin a ci)uple uf shift.-. up badly in a 21))) magazine ~ < uc<eal'ltlfltl<<s face consider cover story la.-t week for being able pei i pri iiure to continue t ) so% on violation.;it a ('onnecticut reduc<< iv<)rki. r exp))sure. Watti plant owned by,"northeast Utili-says. An(l they'vu mad<<substar) ~ ties, will be getting tougher under tial prop'>>. i. new N RC C'hairwoman Shirh.y Th>> Nuclear Knergy 1ri. tituti Ann Jackmn. Dricks said. . ays th) m(dian plan(-wide radia-tion d<)w for pressure-watei'lants ~u<<h as G)nna was 414 rem>>n l(IH4. lay 1894, the medi-an v ai 144 remi 3, /'F9@ t"e vfd generators are <wt lov:<e 'from the piping Lhv opec). Iclgb oil the ve. belb will be capped w)th !Ital platei Then Lhe 67-Constant monitoring fv<)h-tuff gene) atvr. will be seals bpe<.)ul bugs i,v prevent, any f ni pe<.t<>cb from the f<.feral residual radivuctive liquid or par-Nuclear f4:gulatvry (.:vmm). ion Licleb from bpdfing during Lrans. will h<'<<nit<>ring worker exp<>- portatinn to ii cfocoge building -vcv t,l)r >u>,'hi>ut the lvh anil will aud)t cecvrdi afterward to deter-mine the overall -work<<r doiiag<<. ~uyb NR('poke. man Victor One of the 'hottest'obs Drick. No adverse health impact Although tlie new g(;nerat<>cs on wvrki.ri I. ( expected becatibe ,<rt ri't cadioa<<tive. welding them utilit)ei havi leaimid over the int<> th< .y. t<.m will b<. vne nf i.h<: ")i<>tt< iI." I<)hi <>f the pc<>ye<.t The vears how t.o min)mize exposure < n bu.am generator replac<<ments. <>pen pipei I'r<>i>> the r<<actor uce f+cks i<avi c<>rroded with radiouetive materi-ln t'act.. R(>8cK and ge>>eral ci)n- al. in workers will be exposed Lo tractor He:htel Power ('orp.. additional gamma rays and. part <)f t.he Bechtel Group Inc of potentially, tl) cadioactive parti- .ian l'raneiico ~ay thev will cleb. RC'i8cE i>> using two tactics to (frow <>Ii th)b <<XperienCO in fulfill-ing t,h<<ir pli.age tu ke.'p the ov<<r- reduce exposure fiir welders: <ill ca< lliltii>n dobe the lowest <if ~ Hiring . pe.'Ial contraitorb to any . Leam generati>r replacement dixontaminuto the first 18 incheb <.I>n)pletil in the country to daLe. I)f the open pipes, using abrasive f(('>8cL air<<ady . eti ind)vidual P it, and )<pongeb; I'ad)ation lii>>iti beli)w th<< federal~ ~ 7l'a)ning the weld<> mock-ce< f Lilci.'ii)<.'n t.. which allow a ~ iipb of'he g(neratori ~) they will w<>ckec t<> r< ceiv<. ai> annual >>n-h<<able ti) ci>mplet<< tlie actual )vh I.he Ivb dvbv equal Lv ft) LNleb the

a. qu)ekly a. pv.bibl<<.

~ ni Ic<>nin<<nt;If haiku'<<und li. v<<l Th<<YilO'ill allow welderi vn -<>Ini );en<<c<<tvr ri pliui menti ti> l(~Jiativfl I, l>>I'ttlcally pce ent, tcvn>>u<.h <>urcei ai cocki, the go w)th<>ut, r<<bpiratori if'hey cun i)lib iiy. Jilil <)utei'f)ace.i fv I finiih the work l'aster 'ind cut th<< <>verall rad)at)I)n dobe. 1)uL Gunter w<<rk<<ri aci. ( Xpectel t<) exeiwl if'h>> " Reactor NI'atchdog ProgecL t I)('KiXE linilL (luflllg Lhe jvb, IVattb bays. arguoi there'>> no ga>n in cutting 'll)e <.ompu>>y'i deabiun to the gamma doie if'orkers . remove the p. nerator s tn one initead ingest radioact>ve paru-cleb. Radioactive particles and are pico<. Instead <if t.utttng them in m ire difficult to detect inside Lh<<. t w M I II gl) a l<)n) way LI) and bometim<<s impossible to 44y I'I'dui:i.'. i(lia t I< 0 di)ii'b. lli'.'xplalni fb>b<>tI<.'b al~) will help. l'Ipeb thaL remove. link the . team p:neraturs to Lhe Watti agree i that. work)ng ce.I<.'ti)l vei. K'I will be cut bv ~~thiiut re.plrati>ci Iint, much uf i < nivt<. Cunt) <)llnl equipment tradeolT W(, ldi.r. <in (i)nna's lliatb hei because Lhe butt<)m. replacement wiU wear ri.spiraLor>> f)<>Et l<>n. <<t' h< vld generators emit.. unless it'b determfnnl later that. airborne radiatton is not. a prob-uf) Lv JUU niilliremb vf rad)ation per hour A wiirk<<r standing nght lem, he says. nexL t<) Lhi. )wneruLor would geL 6 ln this and other radiation ) afe-pi.re<<nt vf'>>s ai>null allowed dom ty matterI,.RGdcE Lakee the mvbt In vii<<hvui; although Lhe expo- conservative approach, Watts maintains. Perhaps that's why -ure would h<. cini)derably weak-er <<nly,i f<. w f'<<L away, l<N'at to Ginna seems to have a good ~u. baei tatfon among workers. gqgC/1 3, /gal iona Sa e no Eager for Ginna work L'nion welders have been cage)'o Th>> James wOI'i A. FitzPa(rick sign up for the good-paying pubs nuclear plant in 'icriba. Oswego at, the generator pro)ect, say. County. came in fur harsher criti-l(onald ii):1)an. 1)ui)>><<s~ mana@>>r cism on its last report card in fi)r l.i)<<al 1:) i)f (h<<(')>>(>>d A.si)<<ia. December. )NRC inspectors found (loll i)f I< >ill f)i'Vmi:!1 aJld Appf'>>n that some workers were wear)np ()cei i)f (1)i Plun)b)ng and Pip>> their dosimeters backward, whii:1) Fitting l>>(lu.-(n 1<a(l)a()<)n i. 'n'(;i can cause low readin~. and that 4<<orry a( (1) )illa b<<(aud)')l)in( <)Al ~ equipment used to check worker~ u)ali aru car>>1ul iit)i)u( n)v())(v) for radiation contanunat)un wa. (le'vol itmlll i()'xpusur>>. either brok<<n or used incorrectly. The New York Fow<<r Authonty. 1(ln).')l))ill'nd

u. )>>).'end il>>~ld)))g (<) 1)lv>>k gamAliL l 'I<<.. 13<<Ilail . iiy. which runs FitzPatrick, r<<spi)nde(l

"()ur ))i.'i)pli.'1'ivi ilvl)<< .i I<)( i)l ~ by implementing a new )adiatii)n wi)rk vut, t hi r>>,)( training program for ftdl-time and contract workers. Radiation tech-(hi'u<<li'a)'ltul(. IVu ve b>>~ i) <> mun)(or>>)),'))d <<veD'- nicians also are being given mori thing <<ls>>," training. Th<<. Nk('. wl>>ch>>su<<s a report D<<sp)te such improvements, the <<ard fur u))ch n()clear plant Reactor IVatchdog Project predicts that working conditions at most eve)~'1 mi)i)(h-, ).';)<<>> ()irma 'i )!<)))il" ) rankin),'iir railiatii)i) vari)tee()u)) it> plants are destined to backslide r<<port lai( ~li)y. i(~od )~ th<< under the economic pressures of econd-h>>.-( rai)ng. below "uxcel- utility deregulation, Gunter says. l>>n(.") lns))uc(i)rs ~')id RGB;l': had Nuclear planta are expensive to n) ade .-'(eady ) m prove ment.. operate compared with coal-or reducint; ~~ orkor <<xpo, ur>> 1)iit gas-t)red generators. Utilities wor-added tlia( area~ 1'ur growth it)ll ried about how their nuclear . >>X) i(. plants will compete are pressuring i hi'mpri)<<el)lenin c)tt:cl the NRC to cut inspections and incr>>as'i. e uf lead shield)ng )ill:ludi'hi. requirements to replace worn-out and thu raftsi)m i)t (t)<<<<ntry (v parts. he says. the containment di)m>>, tu block Yet, workers in aging nuclear worke)'. t'run) <<nt>>r)n),'nthout plants such as Ginna need greater (heir du.))neters. (;re;itiun uf aii safeguards because aging plants uutage i xposur>> r<<duction com- .are, more radioactive, according to mittee al. o was pra)se3. Gunter. The longer they operate. (,he more radioactive crud" builds up in their systems; more repairs are needed, and those jobs are more radioactive. There is no thresl)i)ld dose foi safe expoatrc to rad)at)nn. Guntcr says Cor)seq()e>>tly. any w'o)'ker eipusurc to harinf()l rod);i. tion )s still (04 niuch irma s ares ow owerwor s will l>e inserted into the contain- I'm interesle<l in the crone," ll>>ss Crowds react well ment dome this summer, anti said as he l'ill>>ed s >n>xlel of (he The>>, Mcl.ul>ghl>n uske<l A<ts>n t>> hell> with lhe <leln<<n. watched lasers unts help c<>ntsinme>>l. <l<>>ne in the lx>wer slruli<>n u>><l >>purute si>n<<lute<i to plant's opening workers c<>mplete their jnh>< accu- station s vial'l>>rs cen'ler. cunlrol f>xls t>> re<luce >>c>>>cceu.'lu rately, quickly and with the least II(IEcf')lans t<> < ut hules it> the the m>clear cl>uin reocli>>n. l.ights eXp<eure tO radiati<>>l. containment d>>me, use a crane t<> tlusl>e<f, 1>elis rang s>>>l <<ther njq~m v, svea Rochester Gas and I'.Iectric lift l,he tw>> aging stealn genera- warning signuls were activate<i, Corp. officials ssi<l 2,500 people tors oui snd re)>lace them with which showe<l h>>w the r<xl m<>ve-() N'I'AftIO When 10-year- visited Ginna on Saturday. two new, $ 20 million steam gener- <nent affected the electrical out- >>ld Adam loath ol'slworth de. '"I'his is shocking to me," said ators. The project is expected t<> put of the plant. < lared, "It's pret ty c<>ol," he Jack St. Martin, one of the RG8rE be completed in June. Mark lx~inski und Psm ser-wssn't just talking alx>ut yester- employees who volunteered to "I live at ground zero," said geant of Wehst<<r, memhers of >>erve as tour guides during the Carol Trout, who was visiting the (>irma's radiation protection <lay's weather. Adam wss among the 1,600 two-day open house. "I only ex- plant for the first time. "I came to group, demnnstrsted h>>w r>>h>>ts pected about l,500 people for the find out the fact>> snd visit s w>ll l>e Used to ens>>re lhul the people who vis'ited the Ginna nu- new generat<>rs fittings sre )>er. tw<> days." powerful, important neighlx>r." clear p<>wer plant ye>>terday to l'ectly sealed. learn how a nuclear power gener- The visitors came away im- In the simulated c>>>>l r<>l r>N>>n, pressed. Adam listened o>> plant <>perst>>r .'iergesnt said vi> it>>rs asked se. ating stati<>n w>>rk>>. ri>>us <tuesti<>n>>. '"l'hey reully They>>t>>>xi in line t<> pull le- Many, like Richard fb>ss <>f Kevin McLsughlin dern>>>>strsted H<>chester, brought their children how engineers contr<>l the nucleur want t>> know what we'e d>>ing, vers that <>l>crate the w>>rid's larg- what the <nuchines are f>>r unwer l>ro. est crane, stared st the massive "I'm an operating engineer, su h>>w ll>ev work," she said. U duction steo<ly. 3l6-ton ate>>nl generatorS that o Babcock & Wilcox Canada Advanced Series PWR Replacement Steam Generator ~RMtd AY Steam nozzle High efficiency moisture separators Bundle inspection access duct Feedwater inlet Feedwater header Stainless steel lattice-bar tube-support grid OO ~O Tube bundle Blowdown header H an dholes Integral vertical support Primary nozzle Primary-side manway Design Objectives ~ Retain all terminal points, outside dimensions ~ Maintain pressure boundary integrity during and overall performance consistent with existing seismic and burst pipe events steam generators and reactor requirements ~ Minimize tube residual stress ~ Design for maximum reliability in operation ~ Avoid flow-induced vibration ~ Achieve high circulation ratios ~ Assure high steam quality (above 99.75o/0) under ~ Eliminate crevices and potential flow stagnation all opemting conditions areas ~ Prevent loose parts ~ I Icn nnn-rinirl tl iho sl tnnnrts Facilitate inspection and maintenance ~ ~ ) Gentle giant comes to Ginna /gqzch 'D, le9(o >>>>t>>t" I .i<'C ... J>> ~ ,.s:(>>>> >>g1>>l gpss% C 1 ~ -t >>'>> ~ C c .;.N'jCp,iP \ >>C g>>gf+ I' ~ ftPW '>>/&i'@ ~ >>p>> P.48" 4 p" f .+<4~A / cc >>C l>>>> ~ -,Cl j.,f '; '"?.. V>> / I >> C r i. >> eQaia,.'S-w$ >> p CCsf~~~> L >> ~ C1 Thc silhouetted boom of thc massive crane to be used in installing thc vvo nciv stcam generators at Ginna nuclear iwwcr nlant hovers in the ckv. Brine, Tr van 1=re'rl F1Awc'rc ic nnc'l civic nrem'c~cn1<<" chal l1 8 ICB 8 It will help install steam generators Starting next. month, it will be used to gqRCA 2D, /1'PC lift out two aging steam generators at the I 25-year-old facility and replace them ONTARIO You can't miss the tem- with new ones, worth $ 2D million eacli. ~a porary addition to the front yard of the The whole project. scheduled to run Robert E. Ginna niiclear plant .along 61 days starting April 1, will cost Roches-Lake Road in this rural community: the ter Gas and Electric Corp. $ 115 million. largest mobile crane in the United States. Officials there say the refurbishing the The sky blue lifting devic stands out most expensive and controversial Ginna against the horizon like a towering project ever ensures the life of the $ 70-amusement park ride. On its vertical megawat t plant until the year 2009. when strut is perched an American Aag, jitter- its license expires. ing iii the breeze. Texan Fred Flov ers will be one of the The massive Transi-Lift system crane hoist operators at the controls ot the high as a football field is long is skyscraping lifting machine. hardly suggestive of the delicacy of the At 6-feet-5-inches, Flowers scrapes a work it can do. little sky himself. Rated to lift 1,200 tons, it can maneu- A rugged grandfather and six-year ver house-size loads to target points witli just thousandois of an inch to spare. AMiy veteran, Flowers favors The 2,600-ton device, anchored checkered wool shirts, a hard hat by two tank-like camera, was as- 'ith an American flag on it and a sembled over five weeks from 120 gold hoop dangling from his left ear. truckloads of parts. After 44 years ln 'the construction The giant machine is one of three business, he has a handshake Hke a same-size cranes, the largest in the pair of bolt cuttera United States. The Lampson family And he's proud of this rig. The of adjustable crane systems, found-Lampson rig is "no comparison" to ed in 1979, includes about 30 ma-conventional cranes, says Flowers, a chines scattered over the globe. construction veteran who ran his Some stationary cranes can lift first bulldozer at age,17. He's been assembling and run-more up to 6,000 tons but Lampson cranes can be assembled ning conligurations of the $ 10 mil- away from work areaig then trun-lion, 2,600-ton Neil F. Lampson mo- dled into position when it's time for bde lifter for 11 years. a IiA. "This crane is so far superior to Some stationary cranes can lift what we'e ever had," he says. "It' more up to 6,000 tons but like comparing peanuts and ap- Lampson cranes can be assembled ples" away from work areas, then trun-During the seven days in April dled into position when it's time for the giant crane is likely to be in a liA. operation, Flowers will crew the 12- The moor cautions during any hour day shift with three other op-Bt are wind speed it can't be too erators, aH from Rochester Operat- high and the strength of the ing Engineers Local No. 832: one foundations the crane rests on dur-each in a driver's compartment ing the actual lift, says Allen Watts, in an 18-year Lampeon veteran and a the treaded crawlers, front and native of Newport, Wash. back; and one worker positioned above the front crawler. The two foundations sunk for the A second Lampeon hoist opera- job will do, he adds: Both are 3 feet tor will work a 12-hour night shift,- deep or more and measure 4,000 also with three local workers. square feet and 2,496 square feet Each generator liftwiH take from respectively. eight to 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />. "There have been mishape" with Why so long? Components lifted Lampeon comes in the last 17 years, out of the containment dome will saysWattL "I'm not going to candy-have to be smeared" (checked) coat that." evidence of radiological contamina-for Accidents in the past at least tion. Winds will have to stay in three were caused by the collapse the of soils or roads under the crane. of 5 to 10 miles per hour. And 'ange the loads will move up and At Edwards Air Force base in down 1990, timbers failed in a conduit only at a tortoise-like average "hook .speed" of about 20 inches running under a road beneath a a minute. crane emying a Titan 4 rocket mo-During a lift, from inside a 6-foot wide cabin perched on the crane's tor loaded with 270,000 pounds of horizontal "stinger" section, Flow- solid fuel. ers willartfuHy play his hands The crane tipped, the boom fcH, over a and the rocket slid downhiH, wherc series of pencil-size levers on console. They control the a split it exploded, killing onc worker. throt ties, transmissions and airMvcn But a load has never'een levers that raise and lower the friction dropped during a liA, says Watts, boom and Transi-Lift cranes have n'ever and its hoping load. suffered a structural failure / jgR~ <<~ I ~QjflXlN+4~4>4 ~4T4Q~ $ 0 MIAFiw 7'7'rmed The Lampson crane was built by with a hard h e Pho ne the SO-year~id Lampson company and a handheld radio during the in Wasiiington state. But it looks. lifts, Watts willdirect the operation like something an affable Texas gi- of the crane from the top of the ant like Flowers would run. Every- continent dome. thing ls big. Watts says handling a crane that N The crane can lift up to 1,200 large with loads in the hundreds of tons, about the equivalent of M0 tons is a delicate businesL "I'd rath-full-size Ford pickups. er be Gag~ (directing) it than N It weighs 2,600 tons, including running it,".he sayL "It's like han-counterweights dling a hot kettle on a stove." 8 It, can burn 300 gallons of fuel But he and Flowers have felt the in an eight hour shift. heat before. In the past decade, N It has sir engines, one for each they have traveled all over the track and hoist. world to do heavy lifting.They have 8 It has five spools of cable piled up thousands of lifts, some of anchored to ite stinger. Each can them in the range of 1,000-plus tons unwind IS tons and 1.2S miles of three times the size of the Ginna steel cable that is as thick as knock- lifts. wurst. They have traveled to South Ko-8 When each generator is hoist- rea, Great Britain, Norway, Cana-ed in or out, the crane's front crawl- da, the 'Virgin Islands and South er will be premed down with a "re- America. action force" .of 4,700 tons of "If you work with him," says pressure. Flowers, shrugging in the direction Richard I Miller, project man- of his friend Watts, "you'e going to ager for Ginna's chief contractor, have sand in your shoeL It,'s a lot of Bechtel Power Corp., watched the traveling." midwinter assembly process. He At one stretch, during a series of calls the Lampson crane system "an jobe in Venezuela; Watts and Flow-erector set." ers were on the road for seven years. Not just big numbers get your Lampson operators have lifted attention when looking at the mo- "8II kinds of odd things," says bile crane. Small numbers grab you: WattL N One-half mile per hour, the They have hoisted up nuclear Transi-Lift's top speed. Sometime reactors, icebreakers, building foun-after a test lift this week 445 dations, giant transformers, rocket tons, or 125 percent of the antici- motors, tugboats, turbines and 200-pated generator lift it will inch ton windmiG blades. Late last year, over towards the conbmmnent they plucked eight barges out of the dome Mississippi River to be fitted with N I/32nd of an inch. That's how casinos cloee the boom tip can be swung to a "You can do anything with this target point. crane. Anything it can pick up, it N Thousandths of an inch, the can walk with," says WattL tolerances by which the crane can He's only been afraid during one vertically line up its load. Bfting operation in his life, he Everything on the Lam peon claims when he hoisted his first-Transi-Lift system is very big, very born child. "I almost dropped that small, very accurate or above all one. very slaw. "Heavy rigjag is like watching the grass grow," says WattL Watts have done heavy lifting in all kinds of condi-tions. One job involved moving re-actors in Duluth, Minn. four of them 800 tons each. It unfolded in Lifting the generators has been temperatures of 40 below zero. In choreographed step by step, out-Venezuela, the thermometer rose to lined on a wall-size chart blocked 105 degrees, with high humidity to out with what look like dance steps. match. During this week's test lift, the ex-And while the crane was parked act "load cells" counterweight and idle at a Scotland site, it was position and weights for the gen-slammed with seaside winds that erator hfts will be laid out and whipped up over 100 miles per hour. calibrated. In Wayne County, the Ginna job calls for winds in the range of 6 to 15 The old generators capped and s~addled in heavy plastic for miles per hour, though the project is storage will be eased one at a "charted" for winds up to 35 time through holes drilled into the mph. As a precaution, each load 350 tons about containment dome, lowered verti-will be anchored with cally, then tilted onto a waiting three guy wins. trailer fitted with a customized sup- "We don't use the word port fixture. They'l be trucked to a here," says Watts, who talks 'drop'rom)d newly built on-site storage structure easily of topping lifts, booms, ms3ts and housed behind concrete walls 3-and backhitcheL "We take our job feet thick. very, very seriously." The new generators will be lifted He will admit that the Ginna in and each matched with siz "mat-generators, 'at $ 20 million each, are ing surfaces," including two nozzles worth about 10 times more than the and four support feet. 0 average load Lampson has lifted since the "old days," when nuclear plants were being built. iscraneisso arsu erior Gentle giant comes to Ginna About the Transt-Llf e ~ a The Transi&ft arrived at G na on more than 100 tractor-tre a ~ I trucks over a on~nth perfoc the t a It took five weeks and two ~ q4 other cranes to assemble the Transf<ft. a The crane is vafued at.S10 million. 8 The boom will be fowe~ l a ~egree angle for the lift. T< accommodate that angle, the crane will be sitting 250 feet fro, the containment buifding. r The crane wI ftft the gener, tors at a rate of about 20 fnchem'er minute. 'c I~ Lafnpson TransQjft cranesys. e 'I tems have beenlnoperatfon 1979 About 30are scattered around the globe, including pn-vatelyownedunlts InScotland Norway, Japan and South Korea, "Tensof thousands" of lifts have beenmade sofar, said Lampson ~ t craneexpertAffen Watts. Among the liftprojects Watts has supervised: r Cenfon, Vono~ fi993. XSS4h 12,000 total tons of refin ery equlprnent. Including single lifts of 500 tons. g St CnA, U.S. Vt+n le4nd ~ w( (iN}i.i883h55,000 total tons r reffnery equipment. g 5oannont, Texas fiesi)i Refinery equipment, including single lifts up to 1.000 tons. ln charge Allen Watts, crane supervisor, holds g Qfaan, Socrth Koroa (i88S. the "load block," f 9/6)g At the Hyundaf Shipyard which will be attached to the steam generators at multilane lifts of uP to 2.RX Ginna plant. tons. graf~,S ~<it)ei. ieg~q Sngfe crane lifts of up tc 1,650 tons. gqzch D~, /~% is crane is so ar superior'ow the crane vrlft Hft a Wneratof

i. The generator will be lifted straight up through a hole in the roof. L'

2. The boom will be raised. The crane will be rotated 2 L with the back crawler moving ln an arc while the front +e~W crawler remains stationary.

3. The old generator will be lowered straight down into a cradle on the ground. The same process will h be repeated for the second generator and then reversed to put the two new generators in place.

MobtHty: The crawfers can pivot 360 degrees beneath the crane or move in unison in any direction. The crawlers sit on 3- to 4-foot thick concrete platforms to eliminate the possibility f an accident caused by unstable ground. Btrd'oxeye vow of crane, containment dome Boom h A computerized surveying system will be used to spot I the boom of the crane Ca ~m directly over the center of Sunreyor ~~ / ', Surveyor each steam generator. gqwch 2D, /q9C The Lampson Transi-Uft Syste~ The Transl-Lfft System consists of several steel sections that can be assembled to create the largest capacity mobile Ifft cranes in the world. A Transl-Lfft will be used at the Ginna nuclear power plant to lift the old steam generators out of the containment building through holes cut In the Boom: roof. It will then lower the new generators At 340 feet. Into place. lhe boom is Topylng taller than lift a football field is iong. Cables: One set of cables raises and lowers the load. The other set raises and lowers the boom. r Mast: The steel cables are 1 1/2 inch-190 feet es in diameter, weigh a total of 30 tons and have a total length or Smiles. The load: In tne Ginna project. four loads will be lifted: two old and two new steam genera- pulleys: The load is tors, The weight of each lift lifted with the help of will be 350 tons. includ- a series of pulleys VerHcaf shut or ing rigging. The crane that amplify the backhfteh is capable of lifting power of the hoist a 1,200-ton load. The degree of mechanical advan-tage depends on the number of pulleys. Kodak tower. cab 355 feet c '.~> ~ Operate& cab: it',l8%) The crane has four Z.; ~

kA4i'7 operators, one e y controlling each '!I ~

crawler and one controlling the cables that maneuver the Ssck cTRIIAI'he load and boom. The last is atop I tJ the front crawler. counterweight balances the weight of the load. ROCHESTER ~ ( OVTARIORVAYNEMETRO EOITlO'4 ): ig iKiVS5 /irqha/i 3/, /996 How Ginna nuclear power plant works A nuclear power plant works just like a coal or gas plant. steam to produce power. At a nuclear plant, uranium All make used to heat water in the reactor to make steam. The is the fuel the blades of a turbine that in turn generates steam spins electricity. In the caco, Weber purpled from nucl arhsscn reaCtOr CO. e heatS OipeS (splitting atoms) in steam enerator heats water in the primary loop to about 600 degrees. Water is Nude>> reactor l Hot ~ cause water in the secor dary loop to <~is~to ~~ Oiades. At Qinna steam paSSeS .l rough a under llaSh intO Steam. high-o~ess.re pressure. r turbine. ti r "rvo SO it low-pressure doesn' Cdn prstar turbines boil. VW14% TlrSne rotlitee Qinna has Shaft in two steam generator. generators. producing electricity iooy Neeetor, steal and Cahot take eater iaae waar ttaw Srougii pipes. The water 'rom each of these pipe iS Cleaned and filtered loops Con~en4m'eparate ~os geee Iieate4 eater and then used again Cee4aa~ ~ cod 400 ~. piped in through a third closed loop.+ cool steamback into water At Ginoa. outgo r water moves into an open canal for aeration ar.d g heat dissipation before i<<a>l staring Lake Ont<<io UEitoC R:i 1:i ~ D C l!RO iVlCLE, ROC. lit bTi R '"~0~Y. gqZeh 3I, ivies THE G I N MA PROlECT STEP SY STEp How the steam generators will be'replaced Cordrol texts are inserted between tuel assemblies (square bundles of fuel rods) in the reactor core. Starting at 12.01 a.m. tomorro~ Soron fs afded to wate entering the reactor core via the cooling system. About 7 a m tomorrow. cooling reaches a level where steam pressure sufficient to push energy out of the plant can no longer be sustained. The p4nt goes "otf Irtd," The electrical generator disconnects from the lines that carry pOwer frOm the plant. The plant is now shut down. DefueAng begins on Saturday. The reactor vessel is flooded with water and the cap lifted off Gates are opened between the vessel and the refueling canal, which is also fi!led with water The canal leads to the spent fuel pool Fuel assembAes ~ INed from the reactor by an overhead crane ar.d set down horizontally on a cart in the canal. The cart is moved On traCks through a transfer canal in the central building wall. Fuel assernbAes are lifted off the cart and set down in an upnght ~ position in slots of a rack cn the bottom of the 40-foot-deep pool. I ~ ~ ~ On Wednesday, workers begin to chip away at the concrete of the containment dome. About April 14. with all the fuel removed from the bu !ding. tl e StainleSS Steel l>>er Of the dOme will be perfOrated tO comp!ete holes for lifting out the generators ~ COr Ceneratore wS be wrapped in prOteCtive material tO COntain taminatiOn. WOrkerS wit! Cut away the pipeS attaChed tO the oid steam generators +bout +M 17, the firSt Steam generatOr will be lifted thrOugh the 'OOf Of the COntainrne~t building by a 340-fOOt tall Crane. It Will be Set dOwn On a SpeCiat!y COnStruCted terai!er On the grOund. ~ ~ 3.foot;n l as o'4 senerator c~ w>!! be ".eked core.e!e ~ai's to a r earby storage building i~at ~ ~ I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 DEifOCR:sf .~NO CitROVICLE ROCiiESri.R N y ip.iY >~ 3/, /9'9a THE QiNNA PROJECT STEP BY STEp Turbine Secondary loop Cor trot rcds absorb deut'or s necessary tor !ission (sotitting ot uranium atoms to create heat) to stop hsston tmmediateiy STEAM GENERATOR o l p Reactor Y0$ 50l cap Boron also absorbs neutrons With ti e reaction stoooed, r e BoHs reaCtOr CO e beginS cooling I l Boron I NVCLEAR REACTOR FMel assentbllea Primary loop UEXtpCR:KT:k.'40 CllRONlCLE. ROCllESTER. '4 Y . Stf'4D,yy ~ ~~ g/I /99'Agp THE G l MMA PROJECT STEP SY STKp Containment building Housing the reactor and steam generators ~ ~ ~ I il, ~C, ~ 'q Spent fuel pool I <<N ~~~l ~ p ~ ~ After both ok'eneratoea I a~e ~e~oved a d stored. the 4' o~ocedu~e w i be reversed to "--'. '"e "e'v go"e atOrS in plaCe inSide '."e CO~ta r ~e"( building ThiS I OperatiOn iS e~'eCted '.O be dOr e abaut April 25 UEhlOCR:4 >0 Cl IRON ICLE. ROCl C .~ 1 E >TER. 8 Y gi ~'; D,iy y pp 3/I /99 THE GINNA PROJECT STEP BY STEp I I ~ I When the new generators are securely in place, tests will be run to check for safety and performance. Holes In the dome will be repaired. Steel plates Centalnment and re~nforcing rods will be welded into place. dome Thirty inches of new concrete will be poured. To t~t the IsltcItel, the containment buildi>g will be 'pumped up'ith air at a pressure of 72 pounds per square inch, 12 po unds over s Steel design capacity reinforc-Ihg rods In June, with the approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Stainfess the plant will become operational Msteef liner again. 'e Concrete /'cn Lake Ontario Irtimcfcproit Ginna Pultneyville onde o'0~i~!i'ter Sty ' 'r I // Rd.:; idge Rtf.' Ontarto 104 ';,IVdliamson Rochester . iValworth A~E COP TY ~ 21 / / ~fO.'<ROE,t=~ 'airport gp~~ '~( 25~ .~ u ~ ~1acedon Paltn~g . %cork; .s rclt ~ II/% ~ ~ i>H fhIIIOailhYNI Qr PRO apilio~ SUNDAY.I4IRCII II. II% I H Wbilh'.4IJ uestions still linger as Kl I liiiiiiiliil'I ~ ~ ,55lim ~ 1~ nuclear plant shuts down .~g';:Ql5l @i@. I to install new generators 4 By jANtfI.IYKLY remain about whether ~ g 11 Y ~ ' 'ifhrl Ih'Rill rr RG& E made the 'ight cali. RG8I E says the new steam gener. ! 1 j I ONTAftlo -- The Giniia ators will pay for themselves by iiucb sr Ix>w<<r plant shuts down increasing plant efTiciency and eP es r~ at nudnight tiinight fiir the lowering maintenance costs. lf ' ".+ i biggiit repair jub ol'ts 26.year the c'ompany is wning, customers history. or shareholders willfoot the bill. Dunng tlii ii~ xt I ix wi~ks, thI. .two old steam generators at the Is pmject ~orth it? Coattail roan Ron Fellows, head control operator at Ginna, will Ontano, Wayne County, Srap'uestions plant Critics say replacing the stean be shutting down the reactor when thc plant'goes ofF-line wdl be removed through a hole in generators is like putting a new for the ixintIIinment dome and transmission in a 15-year~ csr. schedukd maintenance and steam generator replacement work replaced, 'nie cunstruction tech- Considering all the other parts ruque has never been tried before. that can fail at an aging nuclear improvements and maintenance ht $ 115 milhon. the job costs plant, it's just not worth the mos- at Ginna. lt has $ 261 million of INQDE more than the original $ 88 mil- ey, they nuunbun. Gmna Is tbe unrecovered expenses on the Lon price of building the plant nation's sixthwldest operating books, which won't be fully paid ~ hSKk tIIIM:A graphic takes and is the biggest single capital reactor. until the expiration of the plant's you step by step lhrough the expinse for Rochi~ter Gas and But company officials say the license in 2009. project, 12A Cleitric Corp smce it bvcrimI a replarx ment will allow shun' Adding $ 115 million to Ginns's A 564 Construction method part owiii r of the Nine Mili 7wu hulders arid ratepayers to git debt was not taken lightly by a unique in Industry, 13A IIvdcar power platlt III ()swegll thnr moniy's worth uut of the company directors, who were county in Ilia. I9BOS hul~ irivi~tmviitalreiidy made in ready to pull the plug at any time a RCgUfit06: Pubbc Service BIII euen SrS NIle laiiir lilaiiiied thi. pluiit Sinn'970, RG&E hiis piojecl ~~ rrS fliiiil p.rfurmed $ 434 mdlion worth of Commission oversees spending QUFSllONS, PAGE i3A by RGILE, 13A S DE XIO(. RAl A V D CI I ROiVICLE, ROCI I ESTER ~V Y . 5UiV DAY yIA R( H 31. I v'iy One mats not convinced V'hen ic Gnally does cocnes tisne What is the PSC? to ante up. RG&E says the new steam generators won't be a liabili- The state Public Service ty to eitner shareholders or Commission will ultimately ratepayers because they will be decide who will pay for Ginna well on the way to paying for them- repairs. It has five selves. But the company hasn'.t., meinbers who are convinced Charles Straka, a appointed by the reared Xerox Corp. financial ana- governor to six-lyst who is panicipating in the year terms. They RG&E rate case. oversee the regu- ~ey assumed too many favor- Iatian of electnc and gas utilities able benefits." said Straka, a Fair-port resident. "If any one of those and private water or a corabmation does not happen, companies, and it's not a prudent thing." have limited For example, the company as- authority over cable companies. sumes that the market price of The appointed commissioners power will go up faster than Gin- rule on companies'ates. set na's costs. But market prices service standards and resolve could stay lower than RG&E other industry issues. thinks in a competitive environ- However, they depend on the ment, he said. Department af Public Service Io review the issues that come The company also assumes that before them. Depattment the rest of the plant will remain in empIoyees are expected ta act good enough condition to go 18 as advocates for customers. months between shutting down for PSC Chaitman John O'Mara ref'ueling and repaits. Ifthe plant is of Hotseheads, Chemung Coun-turned off'ore often, the savings ty. was appointed in December attributed to the new steam genera- by Gov. George Patald. O'Mata. tors stan to shrink. Straka said. a former judge and district attor-RG&E says it anticipates no fur- ney, ran upstate operations for ther ma~or repairs at Ginna. A po- Pataki's 1994 campaign. tenual crisis was averted last week with the NRC's formal resolution of questions about the safety of the Why you shoutd care plant's reactor vesseL Rochester Gas and Electric Analysis of new data from RG&E Cary is the main provider of elec-convinced regulators that the ves- tric and gas for more than sel is safe to operate through 2009. 500,000 residences in the Greater The decision is subject to change if Rochester area. The average tesi- .-.ew data becomes available, but denfial bill.annually is $ 1.896 for i~mpany officials say the NRC is both gas and electric, u.-Lately to alter its position. The company has faced sctutiny Yet more problems vnll crop up over this praiect from the NuClear as Cinna and other nuclear plants Regulatory Commission and some near the end of theu'icense peri- cezens'roups, and will.face fut-ods, says Paul Gunter, anth the Ihet scrutiny by the state Public Reactor Watchdog Project in Wash- Service Commission. The compa-ington, D C. Vew steam generators ny also faced two major contfover-all buy RGfcE some tune, but they sies in the past five yeats, over its don t guarantee that it can keep the handling ot the 1991 ice storm-plant running unul 2009. he siud. in which thousands of people lost But Strosruder insists that NRC power and a Januaty 1995 er.i'ers controversy over heating bills. problems and will rt~ are moiutonng agog operators to make any repiurs necessary to which soared because the compa. ny bought too much pipeline keep the planta runrung safely Q capacity. ROi'41(. LE l ESTER Common >n ~ng<s~ Replacing the steam generators This power glut has created a will allow the plant to shut down buyer's market. The going price on for refueling and repairs every 18 the New York Power Pool is 2.5 months instead of once a year, sav- cents per kilowatt hour. plus trans-ing money on replacement power mission charges. and other costa, the company said. By comparison, it costs RG8cE It also boosta electricity production 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour to make to full capacity. electricity at Ginna, including The replacement option is com- operating expenses and long-term mon in the industry. Nine U.S. nu- recovery of capital improvements. clear operators already have in- But while Ginna's costs are shQled new steam generators at 12 above the market price now, RG8cE plants and at least another six are predicts that this discrepancy wiQ contemplating replacement, accord- not last. Market prices will rise as ing to the Nuclear Energy Institute. the power surplus subsides, whrle However, Portland General Elec- Ginna costs will remain stable. By tric Co. decided in 1993 that it was 2004, it will be cheaper to make cheaper to close its ~jan nuclear power at Ginna than to buy it, the plant than to replace its steam gen- company says. erators, even though the plant had Wall Street, however, is not as operated for only 16 years and had optimistic. Analysts worry that $ 288 million in outstanding debt. nudear power wiQ be noncompeti-Closing Qinna would not be a tive under deregulation. Nuclear good deal for customers or share- power plants, Ginna induded, are holders in part because Ginna has considered a liability because they a better operating record than Tro- cin't pay their bills at the current jan, Mecredy said.. The company's . market price. analysis looked at closing Ginna Figuring out how to dose this gap and buying al} the necessary power is the thorniest question facing reg- &am other utilities in the North- ulators arid lawmakers as they pon-east and Canada, which have der how to deregulate the electric excess generation capacity. industry. They need to determine whether to get the money fram stockholders, ratepayers or both. RCCK INVgST$ rR THE FVTURK OF CINHA Questions lingering at Ginna as repairs beg>i i rirq~voar p[anr~ The PSC is aUou~g RGB;E to d Ci. rr!i.bus J ~furphy, a include the steam generator costs retired Krx}ak '<<cuuve and a in it=- rate=-. even though it retain.- RU8cE board rtiem- ~he r:g.".t to .. view the prudence ber since 1981. ot'he pm.:e". at a later tUne However. repeat-ed analy~s showed lf the ~ob ever i=- found to be the business case unprudent..RGB;E would have to was mung" for eat all or part of the $ 115 milhon. spending the mon- Customer: might get refunds and ey to keep Ginna profits could be cut. running efBciently, P.-ader.ce reviews are almost al. M ~ Murphy said. RG&E won' -eleve dollar figures showing how ways dore retroactively. Regula. tore a=:ume that companies are doing the right thing and don'

ne expe~ benefits compare to challenge decisions unless they pro)ect costs. That information have cause to n='pect otherwise.

mu=t stay secret because it could The question hasnt been rai='ed ae used by competitors, said about the steam generator project. '4'iUr~~ J. Reddy, RG&E group That isa.e aside. the coming de-manaeor of public affairs. regalauon )f the elenric industry pun a new +at on the collection of Other options weighed &e prospect m-;ts. D'Ambrosia said. Howeve".. RGKE doe= say that The m=t= of ke new steam genera-it=- other cption were more expen- tors outweigh the saplings until -i'e Fi.erg tne old steam genera- "000. but bv then, deregulation

l.r-: would cost $ 50 million more could be a reality, he said.

h~n the replacement job. Shutting Deregulated companies ~~

iown 'ihe p)ant wnuld ~u=t 4100 able to make unlimited profits on mllion more. the electricity they -eU. And RG&E Thvma= A. O'Ambro.ia. a staf predict= it u-.U be able to make ~L~~toc 'with the ~tate Public Serv. .-..orey or, Ginia p:v er by 2004

x Corer~=ion. ha= wn RGLE'~ ~her it mead'a= coUected much

-.umber. a:d ~= that they show

ong-term benefit= for the steam

~ .i the o='t of the .-team, generators rom iw=tomer nerator wpiacement. But becau~ %e ratepayer='o=: today. in

t take= =everal year for the bene- :feet. re:ult: in increase fits to outweigh the co=t=-. O'Am- :hareholder profit tomorrow.

bro=ia maintain=, that cu=tomers D'Ambro:ia said, -hould get a break in the near term. Hi proposal: RCkE =hould defer RATE wdl start charging cus- .vUectron of $ 2.4 nulhon of Ginna tomer for the prospect when its new .u=.t:- in '.996 and each =.ubsequent .-ate year begin 'li July. its rate prw year until d~reg;lation He fibre:

hat v ould redt.a'. the potent:al posal. now being debated before the PSC. includes a net cost of about -~tepayer =ub=idy'by 25 percent

$ 10 million for the new steam gen-erators. The rest of the money will be coUected through 2009. DEi)OCR,>r:~~D CItRONlCLF.. ROCllESTER. 8 Y. SUNDAY itgRCH3>. iON Balancing the costs But RG&,E argues that just be-cause the project will be a net loss The Nuclear Regulatory Com. for the following few years doesn' mission requires regular inspections mean that it isn't worthwhile long and monitoring of the tubes to iden-term. The company rejects D'Am- tify deterioration before rupture is a brosia's proposal and maintains risk, said Jack Strosnider. the NRCs that it should be allowed to recover chief of the materials and chemical its full costs until and unless the engineer branch. Damaged tubes project is declared imprudent. The risk of that happening is must be plugged or re~< Because of the NRCs require-small, as.ares Reddy. RG&E's other ments, Ginna could have safely op-options were too expensive, he said. erated its old steam generators until Repairing the e~cisting generators 2009, Strosnider said. But repairs would avoid the large one-time ex- and monitoring are costly and tube pense, but annual repair costs plugging can reduce efRiency. would add up. The company would Plugged tubes and other prob-have spent $ 13.1 million on steam lems with Ginna's steam genera. generator maintenance this year tots already have cut the electricity alone ifnot for the replacement pro- production to 96 percent of capaci-gpct, said Robert C. Mecri~ RGM ty, Mecredy said. vice president of nuclear operations. The company's analysis assumed Most of the repairs would the damage would not force the involve the 3,260 tubes inside each plant to shut down before 2009. But of the 63-foot taQ steam genera- considering tube problems discov-tors'. Ginna and other "pressure-ered recently at other plants, it' ~ater" nuclear reactor plants in possible that the old steam genera-the United States have been tors wouldn', have made it that plagued by tube degradation. long, Mecredy said. Super-heated water from the re- In the meantime, the company actor core is pumped through the would have to shut down more Ere-tubes, each about the diameter of a garden hose. Water Rom a sepa-quently and for longer periods to rate system is pumped into the make the necessary repairs. steam generators where heat from Because Ginna hUills half the the tubes boils it into steam. The power requirements of RGM cus-steam powers the turbine that pro- tomers, the company must spend duces electricity. thousands on purchased power Radiauon from the reactor water, when the plant is not operating. It corro ion from the steam'ater, will spend about $ 130.000 a day high heat and vibration have taken during this outage. a toll over the years. Heavily dam-aged tubes are at risk of rupturing, which would allow radioactive ~ater inside the tube to mix with the steam. Radioactive steam could be vented into the atmosphere. L) ETIO<'Rrk i .K. 0<< iiC[ f., RQCI it >TER, .4 Y . 9) i DAY x[gRC H 3l <996 Generator project involves unique and routine work Project split into 3,300 separate tasks By CORYDON l RELAND STAFF V/RlTER 5 On Tuesday, the reactor core reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit. down from a working peak of 500 ONTARIO Shutting down the degrees. Cold shut down begins. Ginna nuclear power plant for By Tuesday or Wednesday, thi refueling and repairs is like "dri~ reactor is disassembled. The coolan img up to the gas pump, says system is depresmrized and vented phnt manager Joseph A. Widay. The reactor is drained below the col He might add: "Make that $ 115 1 ar like vessel flange. Workers begir million worth of regular. to 'detcnsion'he reactor cap's 4f The outage, normally done once scuds, each six inches wide. Ther. a year for far less money, is they submerge thc containment stretched out this year by a mix of vessel with 300,000 gaQons of tank-the routine and the rare. stated water. The routine invalves replacing On Wcdncamy, using cutting 40 of the reactor'a 121 fuel rad torches and a Brokk Swedish hy-assemblies, the nuclear bundles draulic jackhammer, workers on used to superheat water. the containment dome begin The rare means replacing two removing the Grst of three layers aging steam generators the size of of concrete and reinforcing steel small submarines. The~ be hoist- liner. ed out of holes drilled into Ginna's The two final holes will bc 30 inch-thick containment dome hexagonal and 22 feet wide. One, and replaced with two new ones, over generator B. has an added each worth $ 20 million. 10 by.26 faot slot, designed to worldwide. it will be the Grst keep lifbs away from the spent fuel such replacement project to breach pool. the containment dome and remove a April Q-10: Fuel removed fram stcam generators whole. reactor. All fuel assemblies are lift Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. ed aut of the reactor and moved to ctTicials, answering a faint chorus the spent f'uel peel. This operation of skeptics, insist their unusual ap- happens entirely.underwater. proach is safe. a April 14.18> Steel liners over All the nuclear fuel will be old generators arc removecL removed first; the opened dome g April 17.20: ~Vorkers use a willbe shielded so little air escapes; giant mobile crane to hoist out the and any radiation releases will be old generators. one at a time. <<~ low to measure aH'ite. said ~ April 22 25: They le in the Robert C. Mecredy. RG8cE vice new generators. president f'r nuclear a perauans. g April 24 34i New steel liner The prospect is divided into 3.300 plates are instaUed over genera separate tasks, said RGdcE outage Lors. manager John Cook. ~ April 30.llay 17: New rein-An outline of thc pro)ect. with forcing red and concrete installed. approxunatc tunes and dates: a May 13.14i Reactor ref'ueled. a At 12:01 ~ .m. tomorrow. cool. ~ May 22 20i Structural integr. down and deiueling begin. ty nf n iii unment vessel tested. ~ At 7 c,m., power generation ~ itsy 29 30: Reactor started stops. pushing Ginna afT grid up and tested. Cusu:mers won t be affected ~ May 31 junc C: Plant goes a At 5 s.m.. workers mount the baca on line durtng Gus interval. domed containment vessel to ~t up pending approval of'he federal Nu. dnlLng equipment. -'ear Regulatory Comaussion. Q >>)E~>>OCRhr AND C>>>>RON>>CLF-. ..'TER, ROC>>>> i~-Y.. SUNDi1Y 5>><Rci>> 3>>, 1996 I '. ~ 1 <<v 1 vw<< l<<<<>> ~ j'. << tv ~ t<< r~ "p v Vv ~ I ~ ~ I << ' f4gA.'QV-Z-"-> 1 3 ~ ~ >> ~ r QY: p<<% "i.':.g)i. 4Q I<<1" << r'<<vggfv 1 . rr.'0 /r <<gg h " tCr.g~ ~ ~ y 4h ~ << .;1 W .~ I,"tt" -t -.'p~[-.:. 'gt, <<9 '-;;4 ~;<47 <<t. ~< ".",. ~ ~ l '.(':4' ) qI S-, Spen) fLIel pool This pit stores Used fuel containers in a pool of treated water. The pit has enough space to last until at least 200S. I)EWIOCRAT AND CI IRONICLF., ROCIIESTER, N.Y.. SUNDAY, WIARCII 3I. I996 f ~ew o the Ginna nuclear power Plant. The < r b~d' with the dome contairunent building, can be shaped facade surrounding it. t)l-t 1OCR il AND CllRONlCLE, RocllESTER, V.Y.. SUNDgY. WiARCf let. i9~ kc t ~ s r ~ S r ~ I Prnttaratktna Ginna plant workers load 55-gallon drums with equipment needed during the steam gener-ator replacement project. The drums willbe stored in the containment dome until needed. DE~)Q('RAT AilD CflROiVlCLE. ROCl/ESTER, i~ Y.. SUADAY. i~'lARCH 3f. )vvq ~ 'C ~0 Chse qgart61 s Workers inside the auxiliary building construct a spent fuel backup cooling system as part of Ginna's steam genera-tor project. THI>RSDAY. APRIL 25. I9$ $ Dclnocra< anb Amnicle ROCIIESTER, NEW YORK oln, oin,an in oes enera or Ginna n>>clear plant puts to the distant generator. lt liu>>g like u toy from o I2-st>>ry l.ui>iI)si>i) cruo<< tlie size i>l u ur)d Electric Corp. new machinery into place F'urty-five percent >>f tl><<steam tul>e>> were roller coaster. lo the post eiglit doys, lh>rnl>y drove ti" patched ar plugged in the old generators. niiw miles each way to watch oll lour litts. He By CORYDOY llKLAYD stored in a sealed concrete building at Ginna. palled Ginno "tlie satest r>iiclear power plant sr 4) I ttrtrt t it "F'rrim here on out, it's pretty routine," it) the world. 'I'here was oi)thing sliured here. Said RG8>E spr>kesman Mike I't>wer ol the Tlier<<were oo shortcuts." ONTARlO With a click. click. click of 67-day project, set to end in early June: fl "rhe Ginoo prnj<<ct wa~ tli<< I'irst in th<< steel cable and the hum rif diesels. u giant Next: Tw>> holes. in thee>>ntoinmer>t domo world to use h>>les in the cia>tuir>io<<ot di>ioi; era>>e yesterday lifted the lust i>l .two new used to insert n<<wrpuipn>er>t get putclied u nuclear react>>r's, I)rotecliv<<cover to steam generators into the Ginna nuclear pow- by mid.May; turbines and buck.up diesel gener- replact machinery. er plant. ators undergo maintenance; and the react>>r Peter Drysdal<<, seni>>r residelll ll>>>pvctr>r The five-hour operation, carried ofl'i.- gets refueled. at Ginna for the federal Nuclear Relmlatory spite brisk winds off Lake Ontario. wrapped Among 1(6 onlookers braving chill winds Ci>mmission, said the li>ur litts thrt>ugl> twi> up lour dramatic lifts to replace tw>) aging yesterday afteroor>n ut u putilic viewing are;> holes in the ci)ntuiomeot tli>m<<rel<<oied rodi-Steato gtn<<raturs with ri<<w io>es. oft ()oturi>> (.'entr r Rood ivy A..l. }-lamby of utioll "just bur<<ly ul>>>vt buckgrioiod" lev<<li. The oew Babcock h Ilail<<>>x machines, at II>l(<
l M>>rr>>>, l.ivingst()n (.'>>unty. lie rout>. De>>I)>te r>i>cl<<or I>u>vt r critic>>'iii>c<<ro.. 316 tons and $ 20 million eacli. will reduce ;igr d thi. crew>>f l25 ironworker>> el>i> l><<lped rh<<re is oo tlutu ti> corrnl)orate lt<<>r~ alk>ut tl>u tube cr>rrosir>r) anil bor>st plant <<flicieniy. l>uild (I>nna train 1>Jfi5 to 196H. h>>l<l<>roe. siiiil Join<cr'>o. <<o s:>>d Richard J. Watts, rouria <<r af i)ucleur '"l'hi>> is historv ii) tl>> rnuklllg. su>>i I>>ho>l i'l>l>scil oucl<<ur iriiliislrynr)<<lvo> wrrh .>ss<<sin>ei)t ot Ginoa r>w>>er Roche>>or Gus Hun>I>y. peer>i>g post hillsitl<<opI>lr orchords >lie w,itchdi>g grouI> l'iiblic ('>t>z<<o. U THURSDAY. APRIL 25, I']i>6 DCmoaat unb ArOnirlC ~ IQ ~ 8 Il ~ +r p E4 ~ 0 w , Po r' ~ ~, SI, ' ~, "f + ~ I ~ S. ~ I,l) IR. 1 ~ g . ~ ~ 'I lw - ' 1a,r w. i l ~ I ~ I ~ <<<<ita<<>>>>et>> lo+cr th< acct>>l<l >>eiv >teai>> e>>erector thrA>>gh the rnof of the FtnaiIy in piaco Vfor kerss att C'na pinna nuclear t p. plant ~ facil<ty-pha<c>>i the'e)Mir>>ig a>>d re>ueh>>o of the liight-liv~tt.r Cas a>>d Electric diin>e ye~tcrday. Tltc lilt c<intpleteJ a l>istoric C ~ r ~ t ~ g ~ ~ ~ Lr>> rior r, r t ~ f A Ii>>.> ".<<I'. i J.~>>4I fs~; a ~, II ogpu>> ~ ~ I .~ r oio <<, ~ ~ ~ ~ I o, ~ ~ ~ ~o>>o~>>II t'>>>>>>>>>>~>go.oht<< ~ >>t>>4W ~ I ~ ~ poll>> ~ oo t. ~o I++el>> ,,i. r ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~r ~ 'I ~ Io) ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ I ~:+ ~ p>>I ~ .;ri ~ ~ ~ i ~ I( ~ ~ (" I COAP>>oL oot'o he lT ~.IO ~ loo>>gl,.i' -I" J I ~ ~ ~ I to ".I , I. ',.' p/7 ~ ~ o ~ ~ idol  ! I I'toP'~~~I V, . i fo ~ I ~ rj g) ' ~ ~ ~ I / ~ . ~ p I I It iro ) ~ I, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ o go; I ~ 'III~ pta~,;rg~gqel ~ ~i I' ~ >> f ~ I I ~ ~ g) Io, ~ t oy Woo ~ p ~ I ~, . ~',~P.tfJA1~+gaphg;I ~ ~o'er ~ pl' ~ ~ ~ ) I ~ .t ~ ~ 'I I 'o ~ >t >> ~ <' I

p. ~ ~ ~

~l DanD~t anb lEIirog~ FRlDAY ~1AE', i )~g In irma oes e a c Patching the contajnment dome roof The first step In sealing the containment Steel stlffeners are permanently dome is to replace the steel plates and attached to the steel plate to weld them back ln place. This takes 2i/z maintain its shape. days. two plates together weigh I'he The finished welds on the 11 tons. steel plate j00 fee are X-rayed.'o detect The second step Is to replace any the steel rebar (reinforcing flaws. rods used inside concrete). This takes seven days. Old and new rebar are spliced and fused by cadwelding. This 70-yearld process employs a sleeved coupling filled with metallized gunpowder and ignited with a twch. O The fourth step ls to pour the concrete. This takes one ~s day. The concrete has a compressive strength of 5,000 pounds per square Inch. By comparison, The third step te ta bund woaden ~ concrete used in sidewalks is rated at 2.000 psl. forms over the holes to pour About 187 cubic yards of concrete equal to 18 concrete into. This takes one day. truckloads will be used to caver both holes. Sensors attached to the rebar will monltoastresses when the containment dome Is pumped up wNh Iir to test the patches, Rehlr The new rebars weigh a total of 150 tons. QenefRrors insrsii+ The patched containment dome wiU be stronger than the original, crews begin welding said RG&E project aulnager John F. Smith. Dcmonat anD lQr ~ FRIDAY, MAY 3, l9so Welds are stronger than original metal he said, and steel "stiffeners" ONTARIO Almoat 120 feet have been added to the slightly aboye the ground, at the end of a curving patched plates, boosting break-a-sweat 'limb up metal their strength. , workers perched on the con- Over the past two days, welders ent dome at the Ginna nucle- using torches fueled by a mixture of ar power plant today will put the argon and carbon dioxide gases final touches on a big welding job. have super-heated carbon steel wire The world is watching. to reattach the plates to the rest of The generator replacement pro- thc dome'a steel liner. Their work is ject has been the Qrst in which a checked with X-rays. Any Aaws are nuclear plant a main protective bar- ground out and rewelded. rier has been breached to make Over the'ext seven days, new repairs and now it's time to seal steel rebars, pre-curved to fit the up two gaping holeL dome, will be spliced in place. The workers part of a tempo- The rebars are wrist-thick steel rary force of 500 at the Rochester bars used to reinforce concrete. In Gaa and Electric Corp. facility-are reattaching two massive steel April, about 11 tons of it was clipped away like hair to make the plates removed last month so crane operators could I two new steam original holes. generators the size of small subma- Imploding sleeves stuffed with rines through the dome. gunpowder and ignited by torches Though at least 22 steam genera- fuse old rebar to new, a process tor replacement projects have been known as Cadwelding. finished worldwide, moat used Next, a wooden form will be built equipment hatches to remove the over the exposed patchea of rebar old machines and put in the new'. and steel plate. h day's work. Two employed holes cut in the After that, it will take another aide of the containment buiklingL day to pour 187 cubic yards of cus-The new generators and the tom concrete, sealing the repair for holes they required are the heart good. It seasons in five days. Ordi-of the $ 115 milUon project to repair nary concrete takes 28 days to cure. and refuel the Vietnam Warwra The tough concrete is typically Ginna plant, first opened in 1970. used in nuclear plants or building The project to repair the ckune, designed to house electric switches. scheduled. to take about 12 days. , In late May, the structural integ-involves welding the plates in place; rity of the contaisunent dome will replacing crisscrossed layers of rein- be tested by air pressure up to 70 forcing steel called rebar, and then pounds per square tnch 125 per-sealing the patchee with concrete. cent of design capacity. "It's all conventional construc- Special sensors will measure the tion technology," said Edwin H. strain on rebars and and "deAec-Grey, overseeing the project for the tions" in the dome itself. federal Nuclear Regulatory Com- The entire project, done when rnission's regional Division of Reac- the refueled reactor starts produc-tor Safety. A veteran of 287 over- ing electricity again, should con-sight tripe for the NRC, Grey called clude June 2 five days ahead of the Ginna project, "well planned." schedule, said Smith. Q UBSDQY +AY 9, lp)6 Dcmocmt anb Aron<cle RGRE must deci<4 what to do with old Ginna generators Q< j)~r'<Ipkls'lg )!Q!<V ~g>! gpJI')>) ',,'I,.:-<: ~ << (;.il'I! ';;"

p-.giihi.c.)".">

~ ~ I<) , ~ ') ) ~~ y~ 4 ~ '<< ~s +'fg <<P I'.: '< ~ 1't ~< w'< ~ ' ~ ~ ~ r tl tran)ill ALfalofb fclA()YLL1 tllL Ll)l)tall)A)el)t1)l)ll( Il J leod Tl 't Q  :) ):......;el. ".,Il. ') C )....e el.: I Richard J. %'atts. manager of issue when the plant eventually is nuclear assessment at RG&E. decomnussioned. Todd said. The budding is 75 feet iong, 60 NRC spokesman Victor Dricks 'feet unde and its walls are 2.5 feet said the nev: ovmer would have to RGB'FII.f thick. The highest radiation read- prove it had the abibty to inoni-ings from the building are on the ror a closed.dove nuclear plan< RS[)A'r . MA) 9. 1996 ~ ~ ~ roof. where it measures 0 15 milli ~ before regulators v:ouid ai}ow rem per hour. about 30 umes the RG&E to transfer the operating rate of'ackground levels. watts iicense for Ginna. The NRC v;ouid Rrd:E i= studying what to do said. The rate drops to background make sure the plant i. decom. with ihe vid team generators From levels a fev: feei, away. he said. rius:ioned" in -utah a way that it

he (tiara nu iear p iwer piant. But there's no guarantee ths remain= =afe. Dricks said which amount '. i Jbou: 6J" 'ons concrete mausoleum vali be water- Although RG8'E in:i-.ts the oi ra(j.'oacuve . crap tight. said Connie FLne. former. steam generators are safe in=.ide One >puon aught be to recycle" nuclear comnuttee chair for Ohio the vault. the company i>)ked at the oid equipinent. But that's a Sierra Club. which has fought dry bids f'r haul:ng the -.crappie corn plicated proces~. and if it cask" storage of used nuclear fuel equipment to a low-level nuclear proves unworkable. the company at the Davis-Besse plant near Tole- waste dump. Watts said.

could =end it to a low-level nuclear waste dump or continue to =tore do That opuon was u~ by the Yan-Nuclear plants are environmen- kee Rowe plant in Massachusetts. the generators on site. tally'nappropriate places to store v hich has been shut dove and i= The concrete vault that has any kind of radioacuve wane be- being dismantled. I ts housed the steam generators for cause they are located on rivers. generators were filled with =everal weeks can hold them safe- lakes or oceans and sometimes sit con'crete and buried v:hnie at a ly urtil Ginna'= operating license in.v etland area=-. Kline said. Ero- disposal site in BarnweU. S C. expires in 2009. according to sion. flooding and high water tables The dump in Barnwell. which RG&E. which owns the plant in are potenual problems, she said. accepts nuclear waste from Nev; Ontario. ~Vayne County It's sure insaruty. in my estima- York state. charges up to N00 per brome envlronmentali=ts oppo=e tion, to consider learning this cubic foot. 4Vatts said. Each steam .~n-.-'ire storage. =aying nuclear waste'or any length of time on these generator. including insulation. has piant=.'roxiriuty to v:ater makes sites," Kine said. a volume of'.656 cubic feet hem the wrong place f'r nuclear Ginna sits on the shore of Lake Although RG&E v'ould get a vol-ast~ But other= say they should Ontario, one of four L.S. reactors ume discount. disposal and trans-ay put because moving or recy- and 12 Canadian reactors on the portauon still would be a big bill. cl~ng the =team generator =-imply lake. said %'atts. who said the bid from .-.prearm= the problem around. Clos- The concern is that water can Barnv'ell v:as confidenual. Recy-

r.'.'I nuclear reactors i= the best corrode the steam generators and cling, although a nev technologv.

~ ipt." r.. accordirg to the Nuclear carry radioacuve contammants M'a=te Prospect in ~washington, D.C appears to be more econorrucai. he our-ide the vault. But Peter Drys- said. The '.wo old =-team generators. dale, Ginna's senior resident The Electric Power Research!n- = haped Lke top-heai~ capsules, inspector h'om the Nuclear Regu- stitute.in Palo Alto. Calif.. funded were puL'ed through holes in the latory Comrrussion, said the con- by the nation's utilities. has been r ref of the reactor dome last month crete vault is safe from the ele- develop mg techmques to by a .>40-foot taJ crane. The new ments. decontammate the steam genera-ore= are:n place and ~orkers are There's no way water could get tors. Several companies are test-pa:ci ng the dome to prepare to into that facility." Drysdale said. ing the process, which pumps a re.-tar. !he plant in early June. The sump pump in the vault ~~U chemical solution through the tub- .-. mner if'uclear power be morutored regularly. said ing of the steam generator to p a.-.:- ~r iund the country already RG&E's watts, In addition. the remove the radioacuve material, ",.~." repiaced their =team genera- steam generators have been sealed said Chris Wood. manager for low- ~ad mo.-t are storing the with a special paint and a heavy level ~aste at the institute. .-.~M equipment )n site plastic wrap Radioacuve material is filtered Ai pinna. the oid steam genera- RG&E might be monitoring the from the soluuon and disposed of ! r- v:hich give off potentially haz- vault now. but what happens if the at a radioactive dump. a.a >us dose'f radiation from co- plant is sold, asks Ray Todd. who balt 60 and other matenal, are lives within a rrule of the plant. + iud inside concrete vaults that Because Ginna already is a nuclear k almost all radiation. said dump, monitoring will be crucial Tl< URSA :4Y. MA) 9, l~~g DttllOcGlt an5 g ratt~ Rubble from project will be buried ori site Y concrete pad for the, giant crane. The A person standing on top of the prie ~TAFT i'i'RlrKH material contains traces of cobalt.60. for 200 hours0.00231 days <br />0.0556 hours <br />3.306878e-4 weeks <br />7.61e-5 months <br /> would receive 3I 10.000 RG&E will bury 1,670 cubic yards cesium-134 and cesium-137. of a nullrrem of extra radiation, accord-of slightly radioactive dirt and rubble a70 yards of concrete and rein- ing to Richard J. Watts. RG&E man-generated by the steam generator forcing bars removed from the plant's ager of nuclear assessment. A irullrrem replacement prospect on the grounds of containment dome. This material con- is a measurement of radiation-, back-the Ginna nuclear power plant. tains traces of cesium-137, cesium-134, ground radiation in Rochester is about The material will be buried west of cobalt-60, europium-152 and europi- 320 nullirems per year. the plant near an existing "spoils pile um-154, The soil and outer concrete from the le@ from original construction. The The DEC variance says RG&E can containment dome matenal were con. state Department of Environmental bury the material on site because it taminated in 1982 when a tube rup. Conservation has granted a variance will "result in trivial doses of radia- tured inside a steam generator and to allow RG&E to bury: tion iifany] to the potential maximally caused a release of radioactive steam ~ 1,600 cubic yards of soil, gravel exposed member of the general pub- Other material from the dome is con. and pavement excavated to build a lic." taminated from normal operauon, 3 DEMOCRAT PHD CHRONICLE. ROCHESTER, N.Y., MONDAY.MAY I3. 199$ Today Mostly sunny and cool. High 50 to 55. Parti~ cloudy tonight. Low near 35. It's fairly rare Elsewhere, snowfall amounts of several inches were reported across the higher elevations of to have snow northern New York, including 4 to 6 inches in the Montague area in the Tug Hill Plateau. chill May's air Heavy snow also fell in the mountains of northern new Mother Nature cert mdy has England. a strange sense of humor pro- In addition to the snow, tem-ducing a rare Mother's Day ratures were at absurd levels ~ snow in or mid-May. The afternoon tem- ~ ~ Rochester. peratures in the mid40s this The 1.5 inch- past weekend were more typical es of snow of mid-March than mid-May. that fell Sat- When one factored in the urday night wind chill, temperatures were and yester- at times in the single digits Sat-day morning urday night and yesterday was the sec-ond latest 1-inch-plus morning. And this mo tures were ', tempera-to flirtwith snowfall in the 32 degI~ record low, which KEVIN h to~ ma was set back in 1895. the latest 1- Fortuzmtely, there is some inch-plus better news as we look ahead. snowfall The cmetal storm that pro-since 1908. duced the record snow arid cold We now have had 197 days as wel} as Qoehng is departing between the season's first and via the Canadian Maritimes. last snowfall! The season total In the storm's wake willcome stands at 130.3 inches, which a milder and more moderate ranks as the 10th greatest on pattern this week with high record. temperatujm return~ to the more seasonable 60s by mid-week. g THURSDAY, MAY ib, l996 Otmottat anb Sgenldt ROCHESTER. NEW YOI He could not attend school until He often said: "If you don' inn i ln his free time, Mr. Ginna en-He was pioneer the age of 8 because of debilitating change, change wi0 change you." joyed golf; hunting, swimming and health conditions that, for a time, In 1952, Mr. Ginna was one of traveling. in nudear power confined him to a wheelchair. He suffered from rheumatic fever and the executives of 22 companies who He insisted the Ginna power plant was painted green not be-formed Atomic Power Develop-developed a heart murmur. ment Associates, a company that cause it was his favorite color but Robert Emmett Ginna, former He studied briefly at night at built an experimental breeder reac- because it would better blend into chairman of thc board and chief Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He tor in Michigan. thc sunounding landscape. executive officer of Rochester Gas then took courses in economics at Mr. Ginna was a founding regent and Electric Corp. and a pioneer in He was the president of High Ncw York University and a cone- Temperature Reactor Development of St. John Fisher College. generating electricity through nu- spondence course in law It was the He was also actively involved in dear power, died yesterday at St. Associates, a consortium of 53 com-start of a lifetime of learning. panies that built a prototype nucle- many Rochester organizations. Ann's Home in Irondequoit. He was "Itwouldn't be a tragedy to mc if ar reactor in Peach Bottom, Pa., Among others, he served as director

93. of the Security Trust Company of I were physically unable to do any- that supplied power to Philadelphia Mr. Ginna, who was associated Rochester, the Rochester Memorial with RG&E for 41 years, served as thing but read, understand and Electric Co.

converse with people," Mr. Ginna At the dedica- Art Gallery, Rochester Community its chief executive oificer from 1957 said in a 1971 Times-Union article. Chest and the Greater Rochester to 1967. At a time of steady growth, tion ceremony of ".I think I could go on. But I'd hate Hospital Fund. he lcd the company into the con- the Glnna nuclear to be a cabbage; I don't think I'd power plant, Glenn In 1965, he received a papaj struction of a nudcar power plant. last long if I didn't have something knighthood in the Order of the Holy The plant in Ontario, Wayne T. Seaborg, chair- Sepulchte. to keep my mind alert." man of the U.S. County, was named for him before Family members said in spite of He is survived by his son, Robert it went into operation in 1969. Atomic Energy E Ginna Jr. of Jaffrey Ccntet, "The electric utilityindustry was many physical problems, he was Commission and a alert almost to the day of his death. Qiana N.H.; his daughter, Margtctta Ml-searching for new ways to meet Nobel Prize win- chie of Penfield; his sister, Mety Mr. Ginna started his career as a ner, said Mr. Ginna had been "a increased demand. He was the right cadet engineer with Brooklyn Edi- Ginna of Brooklyn; seven grand-person for thc times," said Roger and vigorous champion of nu- children; and five great-grandchil-son Company. He then became an clear-electric power." W. Kobcr, RG&E's chairman and engineering consultant and worked dren. His wife of 52 years, the for-chief executive oHiccr. RG&E had a policy that re- mer Margaret McCall, died ln 1976. throughout the United States. quired executives to retire on the h family member said Mr. Ginna He consulted with RG&E in the Funeral arrangements werc in- "exulted" in the weeks before his late 1920s and joined the company first of the month following their 65th birthdays. But Mr. Ginna complete last night 0 death about RG&E's project to up-grade the plant by replacing its twin - full time m 1934. In his RG&E wasn't ready to abandon nuclear steam generators. career, Ginna rose from executive energy. Mr. Ginna was born in Brooklyn, vice president to president to dircc He traveled the world as an thesonof John F.Ginnaand Emma tor and board chairman. apostle of nuclear power. He also Flanagan Ginna. His father was a Mr. Ginna always was eager to served as a consultant on nuclear rloairmor onrt maeeeera~eewow nr reeweee ftnR ns w wnvtt tn rlo things. pnorpv tn mnnv anvornmnreta neer( From: EDIN Sub)ect: EDIN - ROBERT GINNA DIES ROCHESTER GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION EMPLOYEE DAILY INFORMATION NETWORK - EDIN HIS IS AN EDIN MESSAGE/MESSAGE SEQUENCE NUMBER 119051696 - PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAY 16, 1996 Following the death of Bob Ginna yesterday, the following RG&E news announcement was released last evening. (May 15, 1996) -- Robert Emmett Ginna, an early crusader for American nucle energy and the inspiration behind the nuclear power. plant that bears his na died today. He was 93 years old. Mr. Ginna died at St. Ann's Home. He served as chairman and chief executive officer at RGEE from 1957 to 1967 He retired as CEO in 1967, but at the request of the board of directors, continued as chairman until 1968. Mr. Ginna was associated with RGEE for 41 years. The Ginna nuclear plant was named for him before it went into operation in 1969. Mr. Ginna led RG&E at a time of steady growth. "The electric utility industry was searching for new ways to meet increased demand. He was the ri person for the times," said Roger W. Kober, RG6E's chairman and chief executive officer. Today, 26 years after the Ginna plant went into commercial operation, it is rated as one of the most efficient and economical nuclear plants in the tion. he plant was built in three and a half years at a cost of $ 80 million. Ann~ performance statistics consistently rank it as one of the most productive nuclear plants in the U.S. In the quest for making sure customer needs were met, Mr. Ginna was always eager to explore new ways of doing things. One of his often-stated pieces o advice was, "If you don't change, change will change you." RGRE engineers first discussed the potential of the atom for electric energ in 1947. At that time, the federal government classified all technical information regarding nuclear power as "top secret." Mr. Ginna was one of the country's business leaders who began urging the government in the early 1950s to allow the utility industry to cooperate in developing nuclear energy to generate electricity. As a result of his and others'fforts, technical data on the atom was made available to private industry in 1954. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Ginna helped form and became president of a nationa. industry consortium which united 53 companies, including RGEE, to build a prototype nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. In 1960, Mr. Ginna committed RG6E to help create the Empire State Atomic elopment Associates Inc. This was a non-profit. organization funded by th te's seven taxpaying utilities to undertake further research on nuclear The expertise gained in that project and those that preceded it paid planning for RG&E's nuclear plant began in 1964. div'hen BY this time, Mr. Ginna was recognized not only in the U.S. but abroad as leading proponent of nuclear energy. He was an American delegate to the Wor Po~er Conference, a group of utility executives from around the globe. In 1966, he presented one of the three main addresses at the conference's meet in Tokyo. Although Mr. Ginna will be remembered primarily for his work in promoting nuclear power, he led campaigns in other areas of the industry that also bene fitted RGS E customers . In 1959, Mr. Ginna marshaled company arguments against a natural gas rate increase to utilities that had been approved by the Federal Power Commissic The increase was levied on RG&E by its gas supplier, .and the company was compelled to pass it along to customers. The company fought the increase for three years, and eventually the commiss reversed itself and customers won a refund. Mr. Ginna often reminded RGRE employees of the company's ongoing commitment the customer. He once wrote in the company's magazine for employees: "I hope that wheneve. you have an opportunity to contact a customer, you will remember that he or she is not a statistic in our annual report, but a flesh and blood human be. with feelings and reactions like our own. Customers are never an interrupti< of our work; they are the purpose of it." Ginna is survived by a son, Robert Jr., of New Hampshire, and a daughte. argretta Michie of Penfield. His wife, Margaret, died in 1975. Funeral services: 2-4, 7-9 today at Anthony Funeral Chapel, 2305 Monroe Avenue. Funeral Mass tomorrow at 11 AM at St. Louis Church, 60 S. Main St., Pittsford. Interment at Pittsford Cemetery. THIS IS AN EDIN MESSAGE MESSAGE 'SEQUENCE NUMBER 119051696 - PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAY 16, 1996