(We were waiting to front page this story until there was a little more “meat” on the bone; so now we’e bringing it out from under the radar at last. – promoted by Sue Prent)

*revised from previous post – emphasis added

Herald story; Posted on March 6, 2012 by VT Today:

Vermont Yankee reduces power to fix condenser

BRATTLEBORO – The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant had to reduce power Tuesday because of problems with its condenser, a spokesman for Entergy Nuclear said.

http://www.vttoday.com/vermont…

Problem is not new, from the above Herald story:

“It is the second time in recent months that Yankee has had to reduce power because of problems with the condenser.”

Chickens come home to roost:

By: Bob Audette, Reformer Staff, Brattleboro Reformer, [Jun 11,2009]

Earlier this week, Yankee reported that the plant’s condenser, which acts as a radiator to cool down steam from the plant’s reactor, had developed a leak of about one half gallon a minute. About 360,000 gallons of river water flow through the condenser per minute[..]Yankee technicians are planning to power down the reactor to about half its capacity to see if they can find the source of the leak. Last year, technicians were unable to identify the location of a similar leak.

In 2003, Gundersen testified that the condenser could prove to be a problem for continued reliable operation of the plant. He suggested that Entergy is not willing to pay the $100 million price tag for replacement unless it gets approval for extended operation.

The oversight panel found critical issues that need to dealt with quickly if Yankee is to be maintained reliably, wrote Gundersen in his reply to Shumlin.

“The recent discovery of further condenser tube degradation shows just how prescient the panel’s report is and how important the implementation of our recommended modifications and management changes is to the continued reliability of Yankee,” he wrote.

http://fairewinds.com/content/…

Testomony regarding replacement:

http://www.necnp.org/files/doc…

One short year ago:

“If they do decide to remain open, I don’t see them running for longer than until 2016, maybe 2017,” said Gundersen. Why? Because at that point the plant’s main condenser would have to be replaced. A new condenser could cost as much as $200 million – its price is largely dependent on the global cost of copper.”

http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011…

Problems presaged by Fairewinds Associates 10 years ago, Arnie Gundersen testimony:

16 Q5 Please give another example of a component likely to have an adverse effect on

17 reliability under extended power uprate conditions.

18 Response:  Another outstanding example of a worn component that is not likely to

19 withstand the stresses of extended power uprate through end of license in 2012 is the

20 steam condenser[..]  

http://www.fairewinds.com/cont…

Much more in this testimony shows the degradation of the plant at that time, it sure didn’t fix itself. Clearly, Entergy Louisiana always intended to run it into the ground & leave the mess to VT.

Backstory & overarching issue here is that key plant components are falling apart & will continue to fail. Embrittlement & metal fatigue are both age related conditions which will not go away, overiding ANY & ALL other issues making them moot. Entire issue of the present & other steady string of ongoing ‘mishaps’ started after  purchase of the plant by Entergy Louisiana & are due to longstanding faulty & incomplete maintenance procedures. A partial listing:

http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/no…

– At present, plant continues to leak radioactive nuclear waste into ground & groundwater

– Entergy Louisiana refuses to test the previously contaminated onsite drinking water well

– Leaking likely began in 2006/2007 as evidenced by sinkholes which were apparant on the site of VY in 2008, although a whistleblower claimed a leaking pipe in 2005 was repaired w/a “sealant.”

“It is likely that the Vermont Yankee leak existed for at least two years prior to its detection in the monitoring. well.”

[Detected 11/2009]

page 10:

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/jfo…

– Pipes are corroding due to microbiological corrosion from the inside out, as well as outside in:

“The pipes in the vault corroded from the inside out and not from the outside inward so there are two different failure mechanisms. Prior to the problems at Vermont Yankee, the NRC had only been concerned about pipes that corrode from the outside. Mr. Gundersen told the NRC that it should also be concerned about pipes that are not in contact with dirt and fail as a result of internal corrosion.”

Related:

http://vtdigger.org/2011/01/15…  

(This is big news.  In the interest of getting this up on the front page without overwhelming it, I have taken the liberty of creating a “fold” so our readers can get the full story when they click on “There’s more.” – promoted by Sue Prent)

In answer to Entergy’s request  for a delay in its proceedings the PSB had this to say: No.

Public service board denies decision delay on Yankee future

Mar 02, 2012 10:21 AM EST

By WCAX News

VERNON, Vt. – The Vermont Public Service Board has denied a request from the owners of Vermont Yankee to delay a decision on the future of the nuclear plant.

http://www.wcax.com/story/1706…

And:

Board Sets Own Pace On VY Future

Friday, 03/02/12 6:06am

The Vermont Public Service Board says it will set its own pace in deciding whether the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant gets a state permit to operate for another 20 years.

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail…

According to the Rutland Herald (paywalled):

PSB rejects Entergy’s request for delay

The Public Service Board has refused a request from Entergy Nuclear to delay its review of Yankee’s relicensing case.

Published: March 2, 2012

“The Public Service Board flatly refused a late-in-the-game request Thursday by Entergy that it step aside while the federal courts decide its role-if any-in the future of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.”

http://rutlandherald.com/secti…

Too funny. Since the trial which ended in a favorable verdict for Entergy, Entergy has continued a bare-knucked attempt to inject its own will into the proceedings which follow by issuing play-by-play demands on how the proceedings should continue as well as the outcome solely to meet their own objectives rather than allowing the process to simply play itself out & trusting the PSB to make a fair decision.

First, Entergy stated after trial that they would not challenge Murtha’s decision to send it back to the VT PSB after he also ruled that their suit does not maintain that the resting of jurisdiction of PSB to grant or deny the CPG for continued operation is pre-empted. Entergy did in fact demand, er, request  the PSB to rule quickly on the open docket declaring no additional information is necessary to decide Vermont Yankee’s fate, clearly expecting a CPG to be issued without delay.  

Then, when PSB notified all parties of its intention to open the proceedings by scheduling a status conference on 3/09/2012 in the statehouse (interestingly across the street from the usual location of the PSB), also posing a few questions it asks parties to provide answers to:

emphasis mine

“The board is expecting answers to a long string of questions when the parties convene that day. Last week, the board asked the parties some thought-provoking questions, some of which may be summarized like this:

– Does the board still has authority to grant Vermont Yankee a certificate of public good, following the recent federal court ruling.

– If so, should the board rely on existing testimony or start over?

– Does Vermont Yankee plan to keep operating? If so, what are the operators going to do with the spent fuel it produces? Permission to store the fuel onsite expires March 21

– Does the board still has authority to grant Vermont Yankee a certificate of public good, following the recent federal court ruling.

– If so, should the board rely on existing testimony or start over?

– Does Vermont Yankee plan to keep operating? If so, what are the operators going to do with the spent fuel it produces? Permission to store the fuel onsite expires March 21.”

http://blogs.burlingtonfreepre…

According to the Herald story, Entergy also asked the PSB to “force” the other parties to file their responses to the questions posed prior to Entergy’s.

An about face & more filings followed. Irony behind the facts & reality of unexpected consequences was seemingly not lost on Entergy Louisiana’s legal team who, in its recent filing asked Judge Murtha to block any attempt to act on grounds of the expired nuclear waste storage permit:

“The company that owns the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant said Monday night it would appeal a federal judge’s order allowing the plant to stay open past its originally scheduled shutdown date, and asked the original judge to revisit his order and prevent the state from barring the future storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Vernon reactor.  

The moves by Entergy Corp. came in a series of legal filings with the U.S. District Court in Brattleboro, where Judge J. Garvan Murtha last month issued an order widely viewed as strongly in the company’s favor, and at the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, where the company gave notice it would appeal every aspect of Murtha’s order.

Entergy asked Murtha to issue an injunction against Vermont to bar it from trying to enforce state laws against the storage of high-level radioactive waste generated at the plant after March 21.”

http://blogs.burlingtonfreepre…

So now, it appears the request to “revisit” really means ‘decree by fiat’.

As with the leaking radioactive nuclear waste from the troubled plant, the smackdown  continues. Could that looming Mach 21 closure date from the 2002 MOU be the writing on the wall in what has become a real life David & Goliath saga? Stay tuned.  

(Great, hard-hitting documentary from an international news source that features our own bete noire, Vermont Yankee. – promoted by Sue Prent)

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on Feb 23, 2012

“The US has more than 100 reactors similar to Japan’s destroyed Fukushima plant. Some located in earthquake zones or close to major cities are now reaching the end of their working lives. People & Power sent Joe Rubin and Serene Fang to investigate.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f…

Investigative piece from Al Jazeera English program “People & Power” focuses on US ageing reactors, highlighting deplorable conditions & other risks which have existed as well as the rationale behind the decision making process concerning these potential disasters-in-the making.

The battle of “VY v VT” as well as New York’s Indian Point are included plus a few familiar faces. Information examining the role of the NRC, supposed nuclear safety czars, the degradation & potential risks of US plants are discussed, leaving little doubt that the NRC is beholden to the nuclear power plant owners rather than the safety interests of the public they claim to protect. For those following these events, I think we get this.

Story also touches upon reported mutiny inside the NRC which appears to be due to chairman Jaczko’s insistance upon following directives based upon new information from studies conducted after the disaster at Fukushima Daiichi.

Following the disaster, from what information is available, there is a recognition of not only the destruction but safety issues regarding contamination which continue, the myriad of other resultant problematic issues such as how to fix them, what to do with the contamination & the awareness that there’s no putting this genie back in the bottle.

How this debacle is & has been handled, timliness of crucial information reported by those tasked with protecing the public, rescue efforts & the virtual information blackout witnessed exposes a reality that the rest of the population surrounding these deadly threats are mere pawns & potential statistics in the deadly gambit of the nuclear power industry, promoters & enablers.

As ageing reactors are run using brinkmanship methodology primarily to further the interests of those connected to this industry, many of our friends, family & gullible public have no more of a clue to the danger lurking than the unwitting Japanese public. Ignorance is bliss.

The unending problems & potential risk posed by our own ageing reactor, Entergy Louisiana’s VY are “Friends & Neighbors” I think the region can survive without.

[Edited version of previous post]

I must admit, these juicy tidbits put a smirk on my face. This is rich:

Vermont Yankee status conference March 9

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Terri Hallenbeck

“Whether the board will say which it’s going to do at this status conference or just hear from the parties remains to be seen.

The irony of this hearing: It will be held in Room 11 of the Statehouse, a larger space than the PSB hearing room across the street. The federal court ruling took the decision out of the Statehouse and now, here it is back in the Statehouse.”

http://blogs.burlingtonfreepre…

Regulators Have Questions For Vermont Yankee

Friday, 02/24/12

John Dillon

“The PSB also asked Yankee what it planned to do with radioactive waste produced after March 21st. The board noted that it previously ordered that Yankee could not store waste on site that’s produced after March 21.”

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail…

DA DUN!

(Under the heading of “having one’s cake and eating it too,”  Entergy and the NRC wants  the state of Vermont to butt-out of safety issues, but also to ignore the endless blips in the plants “reliability” record.

Stardust draws our attention to yet another of these failures.  Not that we’re counting! – promoted by Sue Prent)

Stuck valve causes power reduction at Yankee

By SUSAN SMALLHEER

Staff Writer – Published: February 2, 2012

BRATTLEBORO – The Vermont Yankee power plant has been at reduced power for the past two days because of a problematic valve in a turbine in the non-nuclear side of the plant.

http://www.timesargus.com/arti…

Panel to discuss Vermont Yankee on Tuesday 1/17

Making Vermont Yankee Accountable

WHAT:  Forum with Panel discussion and Q&A to address what will happen when Vermont Yankee (VY) shutters in 2012. A three-person panel will talk about the federal court case of Entergy vs State of Vermont, VY transition, clean-up, long-term waste storage and the role citizens can play in the process.

WHERE: Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, VT

WHO: Deb Katz, Executive Director of the Citizens Awareness Network;

Chris Williams, Organizer for Vermont Citizens Action Network

Robert Stannard, Citizen Lobbyist for the Vermont Citizens Action Network

Denis Rydjeski, Sierra Club

The overwhelming vote in the Senate to reject Vermont Yankee as part of Vermont’s Energy future and the legislature’s refusal to return to the issue in 2011 was a great victory, but the debate continues with Entergy suing the state and continuing its campaign to wear the legislature down to get a deal ro continue operation. So citizens must remain engaged and demand continued legislative action to support a successful transition to sustainable energy and stricter decommissioning and operational standards going forward. How Entergy will address the issues of transition, closure, decommissioning is more significant than ever.

Vermont Yankee’s power has already been replaced. But questions remain. Can citizens play a role as VY is properly dismantled, cleaned up and radioactive waste safely stored? With the slow motion Fukushima disaster highlighting the   vulnerabilities of Mark ! reactors, how will the state deal with increased vulnerability of this aged reactor?

CAN has been involved with closure and decommissioning of other reactors in New England. The forums were scheduled because network members believed there is a lack of relevant information on decommissioning, the choices Entergy is making and the industry standard on decommissioning.

http://www.nukebusters.org/

( – promoted by Sue Prent)

My my. Another lawsuit? Wow. As all VY watchers await the next chapter in the “VY v VT” lawsuit — that is the decision to be handed down by Judge Murtha, just when ya think we’re lawsuited-out, here comes another one.

– Currently, Entergy Louisiana is suing the state of VT claiming VT cannot stop the plant from operating if NRC has relicensed the plant.

– Previously, Entergy unsuccessfully attempted to recieve a court injunction to continue operation after the scheduled closure date of 3/12/2012 as the lawsuit winds its way through the courts.

– Some VY employees are suing VT claiming VT violated constitutional rights that they claim they are entitled to per the licenses they hold, that if they go to another plant they must reapply & are not guaranteed the positions they now hold.

– VT is also claiming VY license invalid because Entergy failed to include or seek the required water quality permit, appears NRC just rubberstamped the application.

Now VT utilities, GMP & CVPS are suing Entergy Louisiana claiming cooling tower collapse cost the utilities as well as ratepayers an unnecessary expense as a result of their negligence.

(See full press release below the fold.)

Press release via VTDigger:

http://vtdigger.org/2012/01/10…

CVPS, GMP sue Entergy-Vermont Yankee over cooling tower failures

by Press Release | January 10, 2012

For immediate release

January 10, 2012

Source

Marketwire

COLCHESTER, VT-(Marketwire – January 10, 2012) – Seeking to recover costs resulting from Vermont Yankee cooling tower failures in 2007 and 2008, the state’s two largest distribution utilities have filed a lawsuit against Entergy-Vermont Yankee (Entergy) in Vermont Superior Court in Windham County.

“This case arises out of Entergy’s breach of its contractual obligation to use ‘Good Utility Practice’ in its management and operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Station,” Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power said in a joint statement today. “Entergy’s failure to implement and exercise sound practices with respect to the maintenance, repair and improvements of the facility’s cooling towers caused tower failures in August 2007 and July 2008. The failures resulted in significantly reduced power output, which in turn deprived us of power due to us and our customers at specified, below-market prices.”

In the first instance, a tower failure on Aug. 21, 2007 caused the plant to reduce output by 65 percent for 11 days. A subsequent Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigation blamed the failure on over-tightened bolts and salt and fungal degradation that went undetected by Entergy. The NRC found the failure to find the problem was the result of Entergy’s reliance on “remote” inspections, rather than direct, hands-on inspections.

“In failing to carry out hands-on inspections, Entergy failed to take into account considerable and relevant industry operating experience that had previously identified the importance of that kind of direct examination,” CVPS and GMP said. “That led directly to the first tower failure.”

In the second tower failure in July 2008, the plant reduced output for 12 days. This failure was caused by failed pipe supports within the tower. In both cases, CVPS and GMP contend that Entergy’s failure to use “Good Utility Practice” led directly to the failures.

“The failures and omissions of Entergy in managing and operating Vermont Yankee led directly to both tower failures,” the companies said. “This was a clear breach of Entergy’s obligations under its power purchase agreement with CVPS and GMP.”

The companies are seeking compensatory damages of $6.6 million to cover increased power costs and lost capacity payments resulting from the tower failures, plus interest and all legal costs.

“We filed this action only after lengthy efforts to reach a settlement with Entergy,” the companies said. “Due to the statute of limitations and Entergy’s failure to accept responsibility for its failures and contract breaches, we reluctantly must take this action now.”

The companies have requested a trial by jury.

(I LOVE this idea, and just had to kick it upstairs!  It’s time for Vermont Yankee to start thinking about re-deploying those valued employees its always talking about into a monitoring and maintenance team for a reactor on its way to dismantling.  It’s time to brace the decommissioning fund, level with the stockholders and generally get their house in order for closure.  Enough of the stalling and bluff brinksmanship. – promoted by Sue Prent)

More info:

http://safeandgreenenergyallia…  

(This is extremely important and timely information for the GMD community.  

Maintaining the spotlight on Entergy’s outrageous attempt to strong-arm the State of Vermont is necessary now more than ever.  That the rally and vigil is being held in poor storm-torn Brattleboro should be reminder enough of what is at stake if we fail to stop Entergy now. – promoted by Sue Prent)

http://www.evacuationplans.org

With the merger of GMP and CVPS, sale of CVPS to Gaz Metro of Quebec & likely approval by VT PSB, this event reflects changes taking place in the electric power markets in Quebec, northern regions of & including the rest of New England & VT. Some of us may be wondering, what it means for VT & each one of us in particular.

It has been known, at least for over a year year a half, that HQ has an interest in markets south of VT, southern NE, NY & NJ. There is a proposal for a transmission line running through Champlain Valley:

http://www.saratogian.com/arti…

Northern Pass is its NH counterpart:

http://www.wmur.com/northern-p…

Howard Dean recognizes this bigger picture, what it means for VT, has weighed in & supports the merger of GMP/CVPS as well as the sale to Gaz:

– emphasis

“Dean says a subtext of the deal will be the build out of a new transmission corridor from Canada to the urban areas points south of Vermont.

The corridor is “the real game of Hydro-Quebec,” he said. Hydro-Quebec owns a massive dam system in northern Quebec that will be providing about 30 percent of Vermont’s power over the next several decades.

“We’re a nice market,” Dean said.”But the south is a great market.

I don’t have any doubt we’re going to end up with a (new) transmission corridor.”

http://vtdigger.org/2011/06/28…

Many opponents are those who stand to lose, of course the power plants who would be outbid & forced to lower their cost or fold:

http://www.hartfordbusiness.co…

Some say that Canada is trying to gain control of our transmission lines. There could be truth to this, however it’s up to the states in the region to assure that this does not happen & use this opportunity to benefit the region.

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail…

As the region’s governors met in Nova Scotia last week, they are now collaborating to bring power from Quebec to markets south:

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail…

In VT, VELCO is where the action is:

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail…

Fortunately, the residents of VT have some lawmakers who display a keen interest in ascertaining what is the greatest benefit to Vermonters, negotiating what is in the best interest for all concerned & seeing that it works to benefit our state, the residents as well as the business community to keep VT’s economy strong:

CVPS-GMP merger Lawmakers seek leverage in deal

By Thatcher Moats

MONTPELIER – A day after Vermont’s two largest electric companies announced a deal to merge, some lawmakers said they view the buyout as a chance for the state to take more control over Vermont’s electricity transmission system, a move they argue would protect ratepayers.

http://www.vermonttoday.com/ap…

The sale of CVPS & merger w/GMP including related issues are part of a larger picture which includes the lucrative power projects plus agreements between Quebec & southern markets and the role VT has in this regional power play.

*crossposted