Millstone Nuclear Power Plant: Difference between revisions
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* Operating License Expires: November 25, 2025 |
* Operating License Expires: November 25, 2025 |
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* Extended Operating License Expires: November 25, 2045 |
* Extended Operating License Expires: November 25, 2045 |
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==Controversy== |
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{{See also|List of anti-nuclear groups in the United States#Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone}} |
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Nancy Burton, leader of Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone,<ref>[http://www.theday.com/re_print.aspx?re=17197981-b650-458c-ab01-d52bcd7594c8 State Supreme Court rules activist has right to challenge Millstone permit process]</ref> has claimed that Millstone's water intake and discharge system has "destroyed billions of fish and other marine life in Long Island Sound" and she alleges that "the permit renewal process that began in 1997 has been tainted by bias, state favoritism toward Millstone and a disregard for environmental laws".<ref name=bur>[http://www.newstimes.com/ci_12411199?source=most_emailed Conn. high court backs anti-nuke plant activist]</ref> |
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In May 2009, in what has been described as a "significant legal victory", the five justices of the state Supreme Court overturned a lower court judge's ruling that Burton had no standing to challenge the permit process. A spokesman for Dominion, said the company is disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision, and that Burton's claims of bias and favoritism have no merit.<ref name=bur/><ref>[http://www.theday.com/re_print.aspx?re=a4937038-be8c-4e74-bf07-316e73883d0f Court says Burton can challenge Millstone]</ref> |
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Burton, a former lawyer who has been fighting Millstone's effort to renew its wastewater discharge permit for over a decade, wants Dominion to install a "closed system" that would recirculate water to cool the reactors instead of continuously taking fresh water from the sound. Dominion has agreed to study technologies and measures aimed at reducing the power plant's effect on Long Island Sound.<ref name=bur/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 01:48, 22 May 2009
The Millstone Nuclear Power Station is the only nuclear power generation site in Connecticut. It is located at a former quarry (from which it takes its name) in Waterford. Of the three reactors built here, units two and three are still operating at a combined output rating of 2020 MWe.
Background
The Millstone site covers about 500 acres (2 km²). The power generation complex was built by a consortium of utilities, using Niantic Bay (which is connected to Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean) as a source of coolant water.
Although located in Waterford, Millstone is most clearly seen from downtown Niantic. It is visible from the Niantic Boardwalk area and from the Niantic River Bridge, and to anyone who travels on Amtrak through the area, as the train line goes right along the Niantic Bay and past the plant.
The Millstone site was placed on the NRC Watchlist in 1996, when it was revealed that employees who had raised nuclear safety issues had been retaliated against by members of plant management [1]. All three reactors remained shut down for over one year until both technical and safety culture issues were addressed.
Millstone has since regained its status by earning OSHA's top award for workplace safety in October 14, 2004 [2], and earned the Top Industry Practice/ Framatone ANP Vendor Award for its work developing novel ultrasonic leak inspection techniques in March 2001 [3]
Millstone Units 2 and 3, both pressurized water reactors (one from Westinghouse and one from Combustion Engineering), were sold to Dominion by Northeast Utilities in 2000 and continue to operate.
On 28 November 2005, after a 22-month application and evaluation process, Millstone was granted a 20-year license extension to both units 2 and 3 by the NRC.[4]
Licensing History & Milestones
Unit 1
Millstone 1 was a General Electric boiling water reactor, producing 660 MWe, shut down in November 1995 before being permanently closed in July 1998.
- Construction Permit Issued: May 19, 1966
- Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) Filed: November 1, 1968
- Provisional Operating License Issued: October 7, 1970
- Full Term Operating License Issued: October 31, 1986
- Full Power License: October 7, 1970
- Initial Criticality: October 26, 1970
- Synchronized to the Grid: November 1970
- Commercial Operation: December 28, 1970
- 100% Power: January 6, 1971
- Permanently Ceased Operations: July 21, 1998
Unit 2
Millstone 2 is a Combustion Engineering plant built in the 1970s, and has a maximum power output of 2700 MWth (870 MWe). It has 2 steam generators, and 4 reactor cooling pumps (RCP). It is currently undergoing an upgrade to its safe shutdown system which already met NRC standards. During its refueling outage in October 2006, the operator installed a new pressurizer.
- Construction Permit Issued: December 11, 1970
- Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) Filed: August 15, 1972
- Full Term Operating Licensing Issued: September 26, 1975
- Full Power License: September 26, 1975
- Initial Criticality: October 17, 1975
- Commercial Operation: December 26, 1975
- 100% Power: March 20, 1976
- “Stretch Power”: June 25, 1979
- Operating License Extension Requested: December 22, 1986
- Operating License Extension Issued: January 12, 1988
- Full Term Operating License Expires: December 11, 2010
- Operating License Expires: July 31, 2015
- Extended Operating License Expires: July 31, 2035
Unit 3
Millstone 3 is a Westinghouse plant that started operating in 1986, and has a maximum power output of 3411 MWth (1150 MWe). Recently, the NRC approved a power uprate for Unit 3 that will increase its electrical output 7.006% to 3650 MWth (1230 MWe. The increase will take effect by the end of 2008. [5]
- Construction Permit Issued: August 9, 1974
- Initial Criticality: January 23, 1986
- Commercial Operation: April 23, 1986
- Operating License Expires: November 25, 2025
- Extended Operating License Expires: November 25, 2045
Controversy
Nancy Burton, leader of Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone,[6] has claimed that Millstone's water intake and discharge system has "destroyed billions of fish and other marine life in Long Island Sound" and she alleges that "the permit renewal process that began in 1997 has been tainted by bias, state favoritism toward Millstone and a disregard for environmental laws".[7]
In May 2009, in what has been described as a "significant legal victory", the five justices of the state Supreme Court overturned a lower court judge's ruling that Burton had no standing to challenge the permit process. A spokesman for Dominion, said the company is disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision, and that Burton's claims of bias and favoritism have no merit.[7][8]
Burton, a former lawyer who has been fighting Millstone's effort to renew its wastewater discharge permit for over a decade, wants Dominion to install a "closed system" that would recirculate water to cool the reactors instead of continuously taking fresh water from the sound. Dominion has agreed to study technologies and measures aimed at reducing the power plant's effect on Long Island Sound.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Nuclear Warriors by Eric Pooley
- ^ Millstone Receives OSHA Recognition for Workplace Safety PR Newswire, 14-OCT-04
- ^ Sarver and Jordan: Maintenance at Millstone Nuclear News, October 2003
- ^ NRC Renews Millstone Nuclear Power Station Operating Licenses For An Additional 20 Years
- ^ http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2008/08-149.html
- ^ State Supreme Court rules activist has right to challenge Millstone permit process
- ^ a b c Conn. high court backs anti-nuke plant activist
- ^ Court says Burton can challenge Millstone