Posted on 08/23/2011 11:39:17 AM PDT by freespirited
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered just northwest of Richmond, Va., shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt throughout the Eastern seaboard and iron belt region of the United States. In the wake of the much more powerful Japanese earthquake of earlier this year, and its effect on the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant, this is certain to bring attention to the Virginian nuclear plant that may have been effected as well.
While there are no reports yet on the integrity of the local plant, reports of the epicenter being based in Mineral, Virgina suggest that the North Anna nuclear plant is located just a short 10 miles away.
The North Anna plant was built in the late 1970s and the two reactors went online in 1978 and 1980. According to not always reliable Wikipedia entry, the plant is located in a relatively rural area:
"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants: a plume exposure pathway zone with a radius of 10 miles (16 km), concerned primarily with exposure to, and inhalation of, airborne radioactive contamination, and an ingestion pathway zone of about 50 miles (80 km), concerned primarily with ingestion of food and liquid contaminated by radioactivity.[2]
The 2010 U.S. population within 10 miles (16 km) of North Anna was 21,396, an increase of 15.7 percent in a decade, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data for msnbc.com. The 2010 U.S. population within 50 miles (80 km) was 1,912,015, an increase of 22.6 percent since 2000. Cities within 50 miles include Richmond (40 miles to city center).[3]"
Expect to hear a lot more about North Anna and the U.S. nuclear power industry as a hot-button topic in the coming days and weeks.
Just reported on FOX that the two reactors have been taken offline ... this is SOP.
Epicenter was within 2 miles of the plant. I’m sure they SCRAMed
do you know where the term scram originated?
Much more than likely, they took themselves offline. The reactor safety systems include redundant seismic monitors to automatically trip the reactor upon sensing abnormal ground acceleration.
Very reassuring, thank you.
What crashed the reactors in Japan wasn’t the earthquake, it was the tsunami. Tsunami in Virginia very unlikely. Nothing to worry about here, but anti-nukes will make what they can of it.
I wonder about Hope Creek and Salem 1 and Salem 2 in south Jersey; haven’t seen anything on them yet.
Yeah. This article went on-line almost as fast as the nukes went off-line.
It is said to come from “Safety Control Rod Axe Man” back before automatic control systems... ...if you wish to see the rest of the story see:
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/scram.html
This earthquake is going to be politicized like nothing you’ve ever seen.
It’s a good thing Obama is on vacation or he would probably shut down all nuclear plants on the east coast. Where’s Biden, Obama didn’t leave the keys with him did he?
It’s a good thing Obama is on vacation or he would probably shut down all nuclear plants on the east coast. Where’s Biden, Obama didn’t leave the keys with him did he?
thanks, thought it was sam crane ax man.
Based on Richter scale, the Japan earthquake (approx 8.8) was approx 1000x stronger than the Virginia quake (5.9).
http://www.ornl.gov/info/reporter/no19/scram.htm
Nice facility with outstanding professional staff. I am sure the Obama Administration is making up plans to shut the facility down or sell it to the Chinese.
Who was the first SCRAM (on CP-1)?
Yes I’m sure it will and BUSH will no doubt get the blame for ALL of it!
Yes I’m sure it will and BUSH will no doubt get the blame for ALL of it!
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