ML061370467

2006/04/29-Limited Appearance Statement of Raili Cohen

ML061370467
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	04/29/2006
From:	Cohen R - No Known Affiliation
To:	NRC/SECY
Byrdsong A T
References
50-271-OLA, ASLBP 04-832-02-OLA, RAS 11938
Download: ML061370467 (2)

Text

Il Vt. Yankee power!qAIA st halted again By DAVID GRAM 1 C W Associated Press / /MONTPELIER, Vt. -The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant had to stop short of its goal of increasing its power by 20 percent when two new problems cropped t p at the plant Friday. *Plant spokesman Robert Williams said the 34-year-old Vernon reactor was running into problem that twice before in repent weeks has prompted it to halt the "power ascen-sion' process. The problems are acoustic signals froyn gauges that are picking up what may be new strains on the plant' steam dryer."We came up another 2.5 percent this morning to the 117.5 percent (of original power) level," Williams said."We are on a hold (due to) the com-prehensive computer analysis of steam line acoustic data and to com-municate with the NRC" -the fed-eral Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The NRC said later that a second problem possibly involving the steam dryer also showed up Friday.The steam dryer has been a source of problems at other nuclear plants around the country that have increased their power output. It is a large component at the top of the reactor that removes moisture from steam made by the reactor before it is sent to the turbines that spin to generate electricity.

NRC spokeswoman Neil Sheehan said the Plant determined on Friday that too much moisture was being allowed o go to the turbines.

'An administbative limit related to the amount pf moisture in the steam flowing b t the turbine was exceeded," Sheehan ;aid in an e-mail.Raym)nd Shadis, technical advis-er with tl!e New England Coalition, a group critical of the nuclear indus-try, said gauge readings that exceed-ed preset limits at 105 percent, 112.5 percent and now 117.5 percent of Vermont Yankee's original power level should not be cause for confl-dence.Apparently, (Vermont Yankee owner Entergy Nuclear) doesn't like to call this an 'experiment.'

Well, ii sure has the look and feel of ar experiment,'

Shadis said. "And, iJ they manage to inch their way to 12(per cent, does that mean it is safe t do it day in and day out, on a routinE basis from that point forward?think not.'

PA& CohenSPRINGFIELD MA 0Oil PO Box 534 Bem Drnadaon, IL& 01337 10 MANY 20MIPM 3 T r