Dive Summary:
- A new industry-wide effort known as FLEX represents the utility's industry's method for meeting new U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules that will force 65 U.S. plants to get extra emergency equipment on site.
- A backup to this plan is the development of regional hubs in Memphis, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona that could truck or fly additional equipment to stricken reactors.
- Nuclear watchdogs fear that by moving first, the utility industry is attempting to avoid more costly requirements that the NRC may impose.
From the article:
U.S. nuclear plants already have backup safety systems and are supposed to withstand the worst possible disasters in their regions, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. But planners can be wrong.
The Japanese utility TEPCO dismissed scientific evidence and geological history showing that the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant was susceptible to being struck by a far bigger tsunami than it said was possible. Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station was struck by a 2011 tremor that caused peak ground movement at about twice the level for which the plant was designed. It did not suffer major damage and has resumed operations. ...
