And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Source: <A HREF="http://www.ohio.com/bj/news/docs/030324.htm"> http://www.ohio.com/bj/news/docs/030324.htm ========================================================= Fuel leaks elicit fears � Scientists point to tiny holes in some Perry Nuclear Power Plant reactors. Officials rule out safety threat The Perry Nuclear Power Plant should be shut down and repaired to help protect workers and the public in the event of an accident, the Union of Concerned Scientists told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday. The reason for the group's concern: pinhole leaks in the metal cladding surrounding uranium fuel in the plants' reactor cores. The NRC staff has determined that the pinholes do not pose an immediate safety threat to either workers or people living near the plant, located about 30 miles east of Cleveland. At an NRC hearing in Rockville, Md., the scientists' group argued that the leaks add to the amount of radiation in the plant, violating the terms of the license. In addition, argued David Lochbaum, the group's nuclear safety engineer, ``Both plant workers and the general public may face greater risk from radiation overexposure if an accident were to occur.'' Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., which owns the electricity-generating plant, sent Lew Myers, vice president of the Perry plant, and Howard Bergendahl, director of nuclear services, to counter the group's claims. They told the NRC that the tiny leaks were within the realm of safe operation, said Todd Schneider, spokesman for the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., which operates the plant. ``We have three rods that have minor leaks in them. They're microscopic in nature. That's out of a total of 56,000 rods,'' he said. ``If we were to enter an accident scenario with these leaking fuel rods, it would have no impact on our employees or the public; the plant is designed to accommodate that,'' he said. The fuel leaks discovered in September and October represent the eighth such occurrence since CEI opened Perry in 1987. Schneider said the leaking fuel rods are to be removed during a regularly scheduled shutdown at the end of March, when about a third of the plant's fuel bundles will be replaced. ``We have suppressed the leaks and are continuously monitoring the situation,'' he said. ===================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Explore a new interest; start a new hobby. Go to http://www.onelist.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DOEWatch List --- Subscribe online: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/doewatch Quote from Truman's diary July 25, 1945: "We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesized in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark. Anyway we think we have found the way to cause the disintegration of the atom." "The Doctor of the future will give No Medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." -Attributed to Thomas Alva Edison &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
