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Dennen: NRC To Inspect Nuke Plant

As reported earlier today, last week’s Virginia quake may have actually exceeded design standards at the North Anna nuclear power plant. The reactors were automatically powered down when the power failed from the quake.

An inspection team from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been dispatched to assist resident inspectors in determining whether design standards were exceeded. Employees are saying that the reactors could be down for six weeks to six months, depending on the results of the analysis.

This is troubling on so many levels.

Dennen provides more troubling background on the history of quakes and the North Anna plant:

The subject of earthquakes and North Anna Power Station goes way back, before construction even began in the early 1970s.

According to stories in The Free Lance-Star, some geologists and environmental groups warned of an active earthquake zone that runs through portions of Central Virginia, including Mineral.

In 1976, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found Dominion power’s predecessor, Virginia Electric and Power Co., guilty of making seven material false statements about geology at the plant. The company was fined $32,500.

Among the statements: That “faulting at the site is neither known or suspected.” Also listed was the company’s failure to tell the NRC staff or Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that it knew a fault existed at the site.

Vepco had appealed the fine, saying that statements it made about the fault “were believed to be true at the time they were made” and that there was no intent to mislead or deceive.

More recently, in February, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League brought up the location’s earthquake history in Dominion’s application for a combined license for third reactor pending before the NRC.

Units 1 and 2 went online in 1978 and 1980, respectively.

August 30, 2011 Environment, News Marc Short URL
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Have a Hot News Tip or Comment?

I’m happy to announce that we’ve setup a way for our readers to provide us news tips or comments. A tab that says “Contact Us” now appears at the top of every page within our blog. Click on it to submit a tip or comment today!

We’ve received a tremendous amount of tips over the last few weeks and want to assure you that we do read each and every one of them. By setting up a form, it will allow us to better manage the tremendous amount of emails we get on a daily basis.

Leaving My Marc has grown leaps and bounds, since launching late last year. It’s because of the support of readers like you! Thanks and keep the tips coming!

April 24, 2010 News Marc
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4/18 Week In Review: LMM Top Headlines

  1. PWC Chairman Corey Stewart Compares Obama Administration to Nazi Regime, On Eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day

  2. Stewart Offers No Apologies for Nazi Comparison, Reaffirms Using Tax Dollars to Break the Law
  3. Delegate Bob Marshall Suggests Shooting Lawmakers Over Policy Differences is OK
  4. Cuccinelli Has Mandate to Continue Wasting Our Tax Dollars
  5. Cord Sterling Sheds Moderate Myth, Comes Out of Closet as Tea
  6. Federal Income Taxes at Historically Low Levels for Middle-Income Families
  7. Obama: Tea Partiers Should Thank Me for Cutting Taxes
April 18, 2010 News Marc
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News: Gov. Kaine Announces Four Virginia Enterprise Zone Designations

Today Gov. Kaine announced that Portsmouth, Staunton, Prince George County and Southampton County/City of Franklin (a joint zone) were designated as Virginia Enterprise Zones (VEZ).

In a press released issued today by the Governor’s office, it was explained that

“The Enterprise Zone program is an important economic development tool in bringing investment and jobs to Virginia’s distressed communities,” said Governor Kaine. “With the loss of more than 1,100 jobs in the area due to the closing of International Paper, we believe the Zones will be a valuable tool for attracting new businesses to this area and supporting the expansion of existing businesses.”

The VEZ program was first established in 1982 through passage of the Virginia Enterprise Zone Act. In 2005, the General Assembly passed the Enterprise Zone Grant Act, which transitioned the program from tax credit to grant incentives. Under the 1982 Enterprise Zone Act, a zone was designated for a 20-year period; however, under the 2005 Enterprise Zone Grant Act, zones are designated for an initial 10-year designation period with two five-year renewals and a maximum of 30 zones are allowed. Current zones will be allowed to run out.

The grants are broken into two categories: Enterprise Zone Job Creation and Real Property Investment. Qualified businesses can receive grants for a maximum of 350 jobs created above a four new net job threshold (up to $800/job, based on wages offered); and for businesses making a qualified investment in industrial, commercial or mixed use real property within the zone, grants can reach a maximum $200K, in aggregate, within any five-year period.

Examples of qualified real property investments include Excavation, Paving, Driveways, Landscaping, Painting, Doors, Windows, Roofing, HVAC, Electrical/wiring and Flooring. For a full listing, visit the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Furthermore, per the press release:

“The Virginia Enterprise Zone program has been effective in supporting more than $1.5 billion in investment and the creation of more than 42,000 jobs since it was established in 1995,” said DHCD Director Bill Shelton. “These designations will work to incentives new jobs and new investment in these distressed areas of the Commonwealth.”

For more information on how these zones are designated and the criteria used in evaluating zone applicants:

Virginia Enterprise Zone Program

December 7, 2009 economy, Jobs, News, Tim Kaine Marc