Panel quizzes NRC, nuke owners over computer model
NEWFANE, Vt. --A hearing on the proposed re-licensing of Vermont Yankee nuclear plant wrapped up with federal regulators and the plant's owners testifying about a computer model designed to predict the effects of aging on the plant's piping.
At issue was ChecWorks, a system aimed at identifying problems in the piping of nuclear reactors.
Alex Karlin, chairman of an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board panel that held the four-day hearing in the Windham County Courthouse, was critical of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's review process, comparing it to a toy doll that when opened, contains smaller dolls inside, but has nothing at the center.
The hearing, which concluded Thursday, was held in response to challenges filed by the New England Coalition, a citizen's group that is opposed to the re-licensing of Vermont Yankee.
Plant owner Entergy Nuclear is seeking permission to extend the plant's operating license -- currently set to expire in 2012 -- by 20 years.
In 2006, the Brattleboro-based New England Coalition filed seven contentions about the proposed re-licensing of the plant. Three were the subject of the hearing by the ASLB -- questions about metal fatigue, the condition of the plant's steam dryer and
On Thursday, the ASLB judges questioned staff from the NRC and Entergy Nuclear about the computer model for detecting piping problems.
James Fitzpatrick, a former Entergy Nuclear engineer testifying as a witness on Entergy's behalf, said ChecWorks would be better if it were updated regularly with new data. He said he'd recommended that it be updated after refueling outages, but that that hadn't been done.
But a Vermont Yankee spokesman, speaking after the hearing, said the plant's plans for monitoring age-related deterioration are based on common industry practices.
"The bottom line is that the programs that we have designed to ensure proper assessment and aging management of plant components and structures when we move into the license renewal period are based on well-established nuclear industry expertise and best practices," said Rob Williams.
The NRC's staff has found no significant environmental or safety reasons that would block the license renewal, but the NRC as a whole hasn't ruled yet.
The ASLB will report back to the commission on its findings in the three areas raised by the New England Coalition. 