JAPAN: Nuclear Reactor Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
March 17, 2011; 10:30 am

 

1. Can this happen here?
The events that have occurred in Japan are the result of a combination of highly unlikely natural disasters. These include the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history and the resulting devastating tsunami. It is highly unlikely that a similar event could occur in the United States.

Maine doesn't have an nuclear power plant, but we have a high level waste storage facility. The high level waste and spent nuclear fuel in encased in 60 separate thick steel cans and then each can is in a thick reinforced concrete container. These are dry casks and are designed to keep the spent fuel cool without the need for water or any liquid coolant, just air. The system is passive and doesn need electricity to keep the fuel cool.

2. I live near a nuclear power plant similar to the ones having trouble in Japan. How can we now be confident that this plant won’t experience a similar problem?
U.S. nuclear power plants are built to withstand environmental hazards, including earthquakes and tsunamis. Even those plants that are located outside of areas with extensive seismic activity are designed for safety in the event of such a natural disaster. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires that safety-significant structures, systems, and components be designed to take into account the most severe natural phenomena historically reported for the site and surrounding area. The NRC is confident that the robust design of these plants makes it highly unlikely that a similar event could occur in the United States.

3. Has this crisis changed your opinion about the safety of U.S. nuclear power plants?
No. The NRC remains confident that the design of U.S. nuclear power plants ensures the continued protection of public health and safety and the environment.

4. With all this happening, how can the NRC continue to approve new nuclear power plants?
It is premature to speculate what, if any, effect the events in Japan will have on the licensing of new nuclear power plants.

5. What is the NRC doing in response to the situation in Japan?
The NRC has taken a number of actions:
a. Since the beginning of the event, the NRC has continuously manned its Operations Center in Rockville, MD in order to gather and examine all available information as part of the effort to analyze the event and understand its implications both for Japan and the United States.
b. A team of 11 officials from the NRC with expertise in boiling water nuclear reactors have deployed to Japan as part of a U.S. International Agency for International Development (USAID) team.

6. What is the Federal family, i.e., NRC-EPA-DOE, doing to monitor the radiological consequence of the event in Japan on the United States?
A. The NRC is coordinating its actions with other Federal agencies as part of the U.S. government response. The NRC is examining all available information as part of the effort to analyze the event and understand its implications both for Japan and the United States. U.S. nuclear power plants have sensitive equipment to monitor the status of radiological conditions. Additionally, personnel at nuclear power plants have specific knowledge in radiological field monitoring techniques and could assist State and Federal personnel in environmental sampling activities, should that be necessary to evaluate public health and safety concerns.
EPA has permanent stationary radiological monitoring stations on the West coast. In the event of a confirmed radiological release with a potential to impact the U.S., EPA is the Federal agency responsible for radiological monitoring. DOE would be responsible for aerial monitoring, should there be a confirmed radiological release.