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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs this true? Tornado hits U.S. nuclear facility in Kenucky Sunday
http://nuclear-news.net/2013/11/19/tornado-hits-u-s-nuclear-facility-uranium-enrichment-building-damaged-parts-of-cooling-towers-destroyed-alert-declared-for-emergency-condition-photos/<snip>
Portsmouth Daily Times, Nov. 18, 2013: Tornado hit Paducah plant Sunday [in Kentucky]
WPSD, Nov. 17, 2013: One of the plants four enrichment production buildings, the adjacent cooling towers and nearby electrical switchyard sustained most of the damage. Several of the transite panels that cover the building were torn off or broken. Electrical power poles, wiring and other electrical circuits were also damaged. The shrouds or collars that surround the fans on this set of cooling towers were destroyed.
Screenshot from 2013-11-19 12:42:08
Damaged cooling tower (SOURCE: USEC)
NBC Lexington, KY, Nov. 18, 2013: Officials were continuing to monitor the facility Monday, but said there had been no hazardous material releases, according to the statement.
NRC Report, Nov. 17, 2013: [A]n alert was declared at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant due to an apparent tornado strike/severe weather event. [...] This event is reportable under 10 CFR 76.120(a)(4) where an emergency condition has been declared an Alert. [...]
The Courier Journal, Nov. 18, 2013: USEC stopped enriching uranium there in June.
Nearly all news outlets covering the Paducah tornado claim the plant stopped enriching uranium earlier this year. However, according to this report, (Emphasis Added) On 14 November 2013 Russia has shipped the last batch of low-enriched uranium [...] The cargo will be delivered to Baltimore and then to USECs Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky, where the uranium will be used to manufacture fuel for U.S. nuclear power plants.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)But, given the Climate Change here in the US that many of us are seeing. It stands to reason that in some weather event or other...that our Nuclear Plants (so many in vulnerable areas) would withstand some damage.
I wonder if we have any better than "TEPCO" for the Japanese...in that we would have to rely on GE (Who Brings Good Things to Life) and CEO Jeff Immelt who is POB's Job Czar or other Nuke Managers to save us from a Nuke Disaster.
Of course...we Americans might not be told about a NUKE DISASTER...and never find out until many years later. It's been our Govt. Pattern...for decades.
malaise
(268,678 posts)but it does have some local links
A Little Weird
(1,754 posts)Bruggers from the Courier Journal mentioned it but there wasn't much detail. I haven't heard any more about it since then.
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/watchdogearth/2013/11/17/tornado-damage-reported-at-paducah-nuclear-fuel-factory/
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts)malaise
(268,678 posts)but they're sure not discussing this on TV
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
(at least the ones that are known . . )
you would know why this is not being heard on the news.
Scary factoid:
"Population considerations"
111 million people live within 50 miles of a U.S. nuclear power plant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_safety_in_the_United_States
_______________________________________________________________________________
And that's just POWER plants -
There are plants for research, isotope creation for medical/technical use, plutonium for military use; and so on.
There are DOZENS, if not hundreds of decommissioned, destroyed or abandoned reactors all over the USA.
And waste containers (if that) as well scattered all across the nation.
and burial sites . . . . .
OK - so nuclear has a "safe" record because few die in the construction and maintenance of it -
But what about the millions,(if not a whole lot more) who will die from the "leftovers" ? ? ?
oh - that ain't death really,
it's collateral damage.
CC