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Investigative Journalist Rita King and Anthony Pietrangelo of the Nuclear Energy Institute on the safety of America’s nuclear power plants.
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What earthquake did what nuclear power plants under new intense scrutiny to nuclear reactors -- Virginia's north Anna power station the same counties the epicenter were automatically taken offline by safety system and at least nine other nuclear plants are being closely watched.
Though it does appear there operating normally but.
Is normal good enough anymore with more on the safety of these plants return investigative journalist Rita.
She joins us here in new York and Anthony.
The Indian point nuclear reactor just outside of New York what about 45 miles outside of New York.
It's not as safe.
As others it's still considered very safe through has a one in 101000 chance of having some regards -- -- 174000.
-- But that didn't edged close down why not.
It includes down because it wasn't right near at the -- senator would be would be my guess on the doesn't mean it it an unusual incident wasn't reported but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Does consider the incidence of of it.
Seismic activity Indian point to be higher as unit than any other plant so -- -- the fact that it did not shut down automatically as a result of the shape which was significant.
And not necessarily -- mean there is seismic activity in plants are are you know.
Outside.
This -- at the center and I think that's the they don't shut down automatically by the.
We have a we have a hurricane coming is if an earthquake isn't enough is it prepared to withstand the hurricane.
Well Indian point is built to withstand a six point -- magnitude.
Seismic event the hurricane is a completely different situation.
Right now Tony what does what happened the reaction of all these nuclear -- what does it tell you about our preparedness for this.
-- -- very were well prepared David.
The event at north -- -- today the plant shut down -- designed the emergency diesel generator started -- designed.
After they lost power to the grid as you mentioned there were several other sites that rode through the tremor they did not -- off -- power however and that's why they did not shut down.
Now Tony after Fukushima of course there was a lot of focus on our nuclear power plants particularly those.
In coastal areas bothered and see may be any danger of a tsunami in this case but are we prepared for something like they had in Fukushima where they go on.
Outside generators and then have a big tsunami and that washes out and then we get a heated up core.
-- are absolutely prepared for the worst natural phenomenon no matter where the plant is located.
The way the NRC regulates our plants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as they look at our historical review.
Of the region and take the most severe natural phenomenon on the design basis of the plant.
Is based on that with additional margin -- then.
Since the Fukushima that our entire industry has been focused on enhancing our capability to deal with not only natural phenomenon but.
Any kind of occurrence that could expect down the loss of AC power so we feel we're very well prepared and as a result of the actions we will implement both on our own and -- our regulator the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
These plants -- -- and have enhanced safety and reliability -- well.
After the -- after Hurricane Katrina the Waterford plant outside New Orleans also had gone back up diesel generators and the NRC -- find plant several 100000 dollars for having problems of those generators I hope.
That the NRC is also looking you know ahead to make sure that those generators that protect us and protect our spent fuel rods are kept safe and working order -- I trust what's -- He says he's looked into this for years and years what -- and I have however a lot of what He says that we're prepared for virtually anything that mother nature can throw at us.
Is kind of what the folks -- appreciate what we're saying is.
It's exactly what they -- saying there's one key difference though between Indian point Fukushima.
In the sense that Indian point is on a fresh water.
At you know the it at the Hudson river's fresh water so if that water had to be used to cool spent fuel rods if there is a huge -- there.
That is different than the salt water that was used for commission however I don't.
Wanna tackle what He is corrosive it would be it would be more helpful to have fresh or in that regard it would be however think you're exactly right they were saying the same and accretion myself prize and Tony again -- I trust me I know I know how how much you spent your life focusing on all this but it is eerily similar what you're saying what the folks who Fukushima were saying before they're.
They -- earthquake -- It's similar with regard to the earthquake took.
Out off site power the grid.
And even at Fukushima the plant began to shut down as designed.
It was really that tsunami that caused extensive damage at the facilities and the loss of -- Ability to generate power to shut down the plant safely.
There's many differences between our plants in the plants in Japan.
-- the planted Indian point are a totally different design than what used to Fukushima.
As you mentioned it's on it's not on the ocean there's no tsunami risk of that at Indian point.
Nevertheless it doesn't matter whether it's a hurricane at tsunami and earthquake operator error manufacturing defects.
We have to be prepared to DO with the unthinkable.
And we are well prepared it would be better prepared are we and enhance the -- quickly read it because I saw you shaking your head during some of what Tony was saying.
There are a lot of similarities between that the commission plans an Indian point of fact they're both designed by achieved -- you know promising until -- that's incorrect.
That's incorrect -- there there are a lot of the points and Westinghouse designs yet well.
It's not a lot He -- that's a Westinghouse a lot of differences.
But -- -- -- -- complex dynamic world right now with a lot of things are changing quickly and I don't know how we can say that we know for sure well -- One thing we know for sure is that the nuclear energy industry learned a lot today so -- this was this was a good test them on many different levels I think both -- you guys would agree and that.
-- Tony thank you very much for coming in appreciate it.
