An audit of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission event reports from the past two decades found that in response to natural challenges, U.S. nuclear plants’ safety systems and emergency equipment have, without exception, effectively protected public health and safety.
An audit of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission event reports from the past two decades found that in response to natural challenges, U.S. nuclear plants’ safety systems and emergency equipment have, without exception, effectively protected public health and safety.
2013
Feb. 8-11, 2013
Winter Storm Nemo brought snow and high winds to 19 nuclear energy facilities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
Eighteen of the nuclear energy facilities operated continuously at or near full power throughout the storm. One reactor safely shut down on Feb. 9 due to an off-site grid disturbance.
Pilgrim 1 (BWR), Massachusetts, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
The company declared an unusual event on Feb. 9 when the plant automatically shut down as designed due to a loss of off-site power. All normal, backup, and emergency equipment and safety systems performed as designed to effectively shut down and cool the facility. The unusual event was terminated on Feb. 10 when off-site power was restored.
2012
Oct. 27-29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy affected 34 nuclear energy facilities in the Southeast, mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Northeast.
Twenty-four nuclear energy facilities continued to operate safely and generate electricity throughout the event. Seven facilities already were shut down for refueling or inspection. Three reactors safely shut down, as designed, because of storm conditions or grid disturbances. No damage was reported and all normal, backup and emergency equipment, and safety systems performed as designed.
Salem 1 (PWR), New Jersey, PSEG Nuclear, LLC
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The plant was manually shut down due to high water at its outside circulation water pumps.
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All equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down and cool the plant.
Indian Point 3 (PWR), New York, Entergy Nuclear Northeast
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The plant automatically shut down due to external power grid disruption.
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All equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down and cool the plant.
Nine Mile Point 1 (BWR), New York, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC
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The plant automatically shut down due to external power grid disruption.
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All equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down and cool the plant.
Oyster Creek (BWR), New Jersey, Exelon Generation Co., LLC
Oyster Creek was shut down for refueling prior to the hurricane. The company declared an alert, the second lowest of four U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission action levels, due to high water level at the facility’s outside cooling water intake structure.
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All equipment functioned as designed to maintain the facility in a safe condition.
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The alert ended after 46 hours, 57 minutes when the water level dropped.
Note: Four nuclear energy facilities temporarily reduced power output at the request of the electrical grid operator to enhance grid stability. One plant, Seabrook in New Hampshire, restarted during the storm after completion of a refueling outage.
Aug. 29-31, 2012
Hurricane Isaac brought strong winds and high rainfall to the Gulf Coast.
Entergy Nuclear’s River Bend, La., and Grand Gulf, Miss., nuclear facilities remained online throughout the storm and were undamaged.
Waterford 3 (PWR), Louisiana, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
The plant was temporarily shut down as a precaution due to projected high winds. The unit was undamaged.
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All equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down, cool and restart the unit.
2011
Aug. 27-28, 2011
Hurricane Irene affected 24 nuclear energy facilities along the East Coast.
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Eighteen reactors remained at or near full power throughout the storm.
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Four reactors temporarily reduced power output as a precaution.
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One plant temporarily shut down as a precaution.
Calvert Cliffs 1 (PWR), Maryland, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC
The company declared an unusual event when the plant automatically shut down due to debris striking an external electrical transformer.
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Emergency equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down and cool down the unit.
Aug. 23, 2011
North Anna Power Station 1, 2 (PWRs), Virginia, Dominion Resources
The company declared an alert due to a loss of off-site power following a seismic event.
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Both plants shut down automatically from full power due to seismic motion.
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Emergency equipment functioned as designed to safely shut down and cool both units.
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The ground motion that exceeded the plants’ design parameters resulted in no significant damage to either facility.
Note: As a precaution, 12 other nuclear plants declared unusual events due to the earthquake centered in Virginia that affected the East Coast. All 12 plants remained at power and no damage was reported. The North Anna Power Station is located approximately 15 miles from the epicenter of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake.
June 6, 2011
Fort Calhoun (PWR), Nebraska, Omaha Public Power District
The company declared an unusual event due to near-record flooding of the Missouri River.
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The plant was already shut down for a refueling and maintenance outage.
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The plant has remained secure with all vital and safety systems dry and operable.
June 19, 2011
Cooper (BWR), Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power District
The company declared an unusual event due to near-record flooding of the Missouri River.
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The plant remained at full power and secure with all vital and safety systems dry and operable.
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The unusual event was lifted on July 12, 2011, as flood waters receded below event level criteria.
April 27, 2011
Browns Ferry 1, 2, 3 (BWRs), Alabama, Tennessee Valley Authority
Strong storms knocked out off-site power.
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All three plants automatically shut down safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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Emergency diesel generators were used for five days, 3.5 hours.
April 16, 2011
Surry 1, 2 (PWRs), Virginia, Dominion Resources
A tornado damaged switchyard and knocked out off-site power.
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Both plants automatically shut down safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
2010
June 6, 2010
Fermi 2 (BWR), Michigan, DTE Energy
A tornado knocked out off-site power to the site.
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The plant automatically shut down safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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The tornado caused some external damage.
2009
Aug. 20, 2009
Wolf Creek (PWR), Kansas, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Co.
Lightning struck transmission lines knocking out off-site power to the facility.
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The plant automatically shut down safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
2008
Sept. 1, 2008
River Bend (BWR), Louisiana, Entergy
The unit was manually shut down for approach of Hurricane Gustav.
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The plant’s manual shutdown proceeded safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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The hurricane caused some external damage.
June 2008
Duane Arnold Energy Center (BWR), Iowa, NextEra Energy Resources
Cooling water source Cedar River experienced a 500-year flood cresting 19 feet above flood level.
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The highest flood level was 14 feet below the plant’s design flood level.
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The plant maintained full power throughout the event.\
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All plant flood protection measures functioned as designed.
2005
Aug. 28, 2005
Waterford 3 (PWR), Louisiana, Entergy
Hurricane Katrina knocked out off-site power and damaged regional electrical infrastructure.
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The plant’s manual shut down proceeded safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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Emergency diesel generators were used for 4.5 days.
2004
Sept. 24, 2004
St. Lucie 1, 2 (PWRs), Florida, NextEra Energy
Hurricane Jeanne prompted a manual shut down of the plant then caused loss of off-site power
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The plant’s manual shut down proceeded safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment, including the emergency diesel generators, functioned as designed.
2003
March 21, 2003
Diablo Canyon 1, 2 (PWRs), California, PG&E
The facilities were shaken by a magnitude 6.5 San Simeon earthquake centered 31 miles away.
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Both plants maintained 100 percent power (ground motion below shut down requirement).
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All plant systems operated as designed.
Note: On Aug. 14, 2003, nine operating nuclear plants in the Northeast and Midwest (Fermi, Fitzpatrick, Nine Mile Point 1 and 2, Perry, Ginna, Indian Point 2 and 3, and Oyster Creek) automatically shut down because of a widespread electrical grid disturbance and outage. The cause of the cascading outage was not due to natural causes or the shutdown of the nuclear plants, but is believed to be the failure of an overstressed transmission grid in the Midwest. All nine nuclear plants automatically shut down as designed and their backup safety systems responded as designed. Eight of the plants’ emergency diesels provided backup power. Oyster Creek had off-site power available during its shutdown period. The average time the eight plants’ emergency diesels supplied power before grid power was restored and the plants restarted was two hours and 15 minutes.
1998
June 24, 1998
Davis Besse (PWR), Ohio, FirstEnergy
The facility received a direct hit by an F2 tornado.
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The plant automatically shut down safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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Emergency diesel generators provided back-up power as designed.
1992
Aug. 24, 1992
Turkey Point 3, 4 (PWRs), Florida, NextEra Energy
Category 5 Hurricane Andrew knocked out off-site power and damaged electrical infrastructure.
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Manual plant shut down proceeded safely as designed.
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All emergency equipment functioned as designed.
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Emergency diesel generators were used for six days, 10 hours, 27 minutes.