Agenda - 04-07-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joining NC WARN at the news conference were two area scientists with long histories in nuclear issues, who discussed their analyses of CP&L's plan and the technical report by Dr. Thompson. David Martin is a retired professor from NC State University with a specialty in nuclear reactor physics and nuclear safety studies. Gerald Drake, M.D. has worked on radioactive waste issues for decades as a member of Physicians For Social Responsibility. Professor Martin stated, "Because of the possible penalties of mistakes and accidents, you simply have to take the safest direction. I agree with Thompson and Lochbaum that the alternative of dry cask storage at the generating reactors is simply safer... We're living with a very risky situation ... everything has to keep going just right in order to avoid serious problems." The NRC admits that there are fewer failure modes with dry cask storage. That means there is far less chance of catastrophe than with high-density pool storage. A study performed for the NRC in 1997 also concluded that major accidents are plausible with pool storage of spent fuel rods and that consequences range to the truly catastrophic. Dr. Drake added that Physicians for Social Responsibility, an international organization, has long advocated that spent fuel is much too dangerous to be transported until it has cooled for at least 50 years. Another serious concern about the CP&L plan is its proposal to alter the original design of the new pools, which called for separate cooling and electrical systems, by trying to hook the new pools up to the cooling and electrical systems for the two existing pools. This also has serious implications for the safety of the reactor operation -especially in the event of a power outage - since the systems are interconnected. CP&L's plan has become highly controversial, especially after the company reneged on promises to openly address all safety issues after the technical consultants were retained; also because the company has since moved to block a public hearing sought by Orange County. But today, NC WARN said it is hopeful that, seeing the concern from the regional public and the clear warning from top scientists in the nuclear field, CP&L will reconsider this project and err on the side of safety. The group produced rough estimates of how much extra it would cost CP&L to revert to the dry cask option at its other reactors in the Carolinas. Based on limited information in the company's license application, and CP&L statements that dry cask storage would cost "about five times more" than its current proposal, NC WARN estimates that it would cost CP&L about $31 million extra over a 15 year period. WARN board member Mazk Mazcoplos stated, "That's less than 10% of CP&L's net income for 1998 alone ... We're calling on CP&L to show its corporate citizenship by exhibiting a reasonable degree of prudence and caution, especially with such a very small amount of money ... this is a pittance to this big corporation." WARN delivered to CP&L a new Resolution for Nuclear Safety and said it will now launch a campaign to seek endorsements from all types of organizations and institutions, large and small, by calling on them to inform themselves and take a stand on this issue which so clearly affects every living being in central North Cazolina. WARN board member Carol Childs stated: "We agree with Thompson, Lochbaum, Martin .and Drake: the potential for truly horrible consequences clearly outweighs any unsupported argument of low probability - especially when the only benefit is a small additional profit for CP&L. Make no mistake ... this is an additional and substantial risk that can and must be avoided." Thompson and Lochbaum will be in Chapel Hill on April 7`~ for a public meeting to discuss their findings. The meeting will be held at 7pm at the Chapel Hill Town Hall on Airport Road. ###