U.S.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is issuing an exemption that allows Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant owner Entergy to reduce its on-site insurance from about $1 billion to $50 million.
In a notice issued this week, NRC reasoned that because Vermont Yankee is shut down, the severity of potential accidents that could occur at the plant has been greatly reduced, and therefore there is much less risk for property damage. The notice is effective Monday.
“The proposed reduction in the amount of onsite insurance coverage does not impact the probability or consequences of potential accidents,” the notice reads. “The proposed level of insurance coverage is commensurate with the reduced consequences of potential nuclear accidents at VY. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that granting the requested exemption will not present an undue risk to the health and safety of the public.”
INTERNATIONAL
Work is under way at Britain’s Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing and decommissioning site, where about a dozen companies are delivering an estimated £500 million socioeconomic benefit package that will create 1,140 jobs per year until 2025.
The companies agreed to the decommissioning delivery partnership in January as part of decommissioning Sellafield, one of Europe’s largest nuclear sites. In an announcement Friday, Sellafield Ltd released details for three areas of the partnership.
Termed Lot 1, the first area will revolve around site remediation. Among the partners signed on in this area are Atkins, Hertel, North West Projects, Westlakes Engineering, Nexus, and Areva. Work began April 4, and year-long effort is expected to be worth between £10 million and £14 million.
Lot 2, which includes Jacobs, Atkins, and Westinghouse, will produce asset care, restoration, and commissioning work on the first generation Magnox storage pond. That effort is estimated at £9 million.
Lot 3, which includes Amec Foster Wheeler, Hertel, and Shepley Engineers will deliver installation of steel work, pipe work, SEP machine installation support, and manufacturing and construction tasks for the Magnox storage silo. That is expected to be worth between £6 million and £8 million.
Four electric power generators in western Japan have agreed to cooperate on an effort meant to improve emergency response and decommissioning at nuclear reactors.
Kansai Electric Power Co., Chugoku Electric Power Co., Shikoku Electric Power Co., and Kyushu Electric Power Co. announced their effort to further augment the Cooperation Agreement Between Nuclear Operators in Nuclear Emergency on Friday. The original agreement was signed by 10 electric power companies Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., and Electric Power Development Co. in 2014.
“The additional cooperation agreement, dispatching staff and providing material and equipment, enhances measures for preventing expansion of damage and recovering from disaster by making the most of our geographical proximity in nuclear emergency,” according to a press release issued Friday. “In addition to cooperation in nuclear emergency, we will also cooperate in initiatives for further safe and smooth decommissioning of nuclear reactors, and for establishing the facility for dealing with specific severe accident.”
