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http://emergency.westchestergov.com/PR%20IP10%20Nov%207.htm
CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN
MEDIA INQUIRY: (914) 864-5437___________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 7, 2007____________
RELEASE TIME: ____12:42 p.m.:_______ RELEASE #: 11_____
County Executive Andy Spano has announced that emergency evacuation buses for the general public will begin picking up passengers at 1:00 p.m. today in Buchanan, Peekskill, Verplanck, Montrose, Cortlandt and Croton-on-Hudson.
Entergy, the operator of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, has reported a release of radiation at the plant.
However, field monitoring teams from the county’s Health Department who took readings earlier detected only background levels of radiation. Those readings were taken at lower South Street and Welcher Ave. in Peekskill, which is within 2 miles of the plant, and Furnace Dock Road and Maple Avenue in Cortlandt, about 5 miles from the plant.
Field monitoring teams are composed of specially trained environmental health inspectors who have the capability of determining whether radiation has been released from the nuclear power plant. Field monitoring teams measure the actual amount of radiation in the environment.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman M.D., M.P.H is in the Emergency Operations Center to oversee the field monitoring teams and to assess their results.
A General Emergency, which was declared at Indian Point at 11:51 a.m., is the most serious of four classifications of radiological emergency as designated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Emergency Bus Pick-up Stops are as follows:
Buchanan
W1 -- Bleakly Ave. at: Broadway; Rte. 9A at: Tate Ave., Gallagher St. and
Rockledge Ave.
W2 -- Westchester Ave. at: Buchanan/Verplank Elementary School, 4th St., 1st St., Tate Ave.; Tate Ave. at: 1st St., 4th St., Henry St. & Kings Ferry Rd
Peekskill
W5 -- Washington St. at: South St., Hudson Ave., Frost Ave., Requa St., Bay St & Franklin St
W6 -- Depew St. at: Franklin St., Bay St., Requa St., Hudson Ave., Elm St., South St., & Central Ave.
W7 -- Hudson Ave. at: Halstead St., Pomeroy St., Pine St., Wells St., Walnut St., Fremont St., Union Ave
W8 -- Elm St. at: Wells St., Fremont St. & Union Ave.
W9 -- Maple Ace at: Beverly La., Ferris St., Hudson Ave., Elm St., Riverview Ave., Nassua St. & Pine St.
W10 -- Rte. 35/202 at: South Division St., Arch St., Armstrong Ave., Finch St., Cayuga Dr. & Private Residences
W11 -- Rte. 6/Main St. at: No. James St., Broad St., Fields St., Charles St., Southard Ave., Armstrong St., Hamilton Ave., Husted Ave., Keney Dr., Beach Shopping Center, Conklin Ave., & Kissam Rd.
W12 -- Constant Ave. at: High St. & Kissam Rd., Kissam Rd.; at: James St., James St.; at: Constant Ave.
W13 -- Frost La. At: Vail Ave., Carhart Ave., Lindenberg Pl. & Oakwood Dr.
W14 -- No. Division St. at: Parkway Pl. & Lockwood Dr.; Lockwood Dr. t: King St., Albert Rd., Bernard Rd., Lyman Ave. & Highland Ave.
W15 -- Nelson Ave. at: John St., Paulding St., Orchard St & Constant Ave.; Constant Ave. at: Highland Ave.; Highland Ave. at Phoenix Ave., Liberty St., Reynolds St., Garfield Ave. & Pemart Ave.
W16 -- Division St at: Howard St., Cortlandt St., Orchard St., Constant Ave., Phoenix Ave., Warren Ave., Permart Ave. & Righi Ct.
W17 -- Rte. 6/Main St. at: Division St., Nelson Ave., Decatur St., Hadden St., Spring St. & Peekskill Motor Inn
W18 -- Lower South St. at: Welcher Ave., Louisa St., Franklin St., Old Bay St., Requa St. & Hudson Ave.
W19 -- Washington St. at: Maplewood Ave., Shenandoah Ave., Hoover Ave., Sherman Ave. & Welcher Ave.; Welcher Ave at: McKinley St. & Patricia Apartments
Verplanck
W3 -- Broadway at: 16th St., 14th St., 11th St., 8th St., & 6th St.
W4 -- Westchester Ave. at: 14th St., 8th St., & 6th St.
Montrose & Blue Mountain
W21 -- Kings Ferry Rd. at: Coachlight Sq. Condominiums, Glenwood Dr., Montrose Point Rd., Hunt Ave & Rte. 9A
W22 -- Sunset Rd. at: Kings Ferry Rd., North St., Montrose Point Rd., Meadows Rd., Tommy Thruber Lane & Dutch St.; Dutch St. at: Crugers Rd., Private Residences & Rte. 9A
W24 -- Washington St. at: Boulder Dr. & Montrose Station Rd., Montrose Station Rd. at: Travis Lane; Rte. 9A (south) at: Lancaster Ave., Victoria Ave., Trinity Ave. & Crugers Station Rd.
Mount Airy
W98 -- Rte. 129 (Yorktown Rd.) & Short Hill Rd.
Mt. Airy Rd. East at: Colabaugh Pond Rd., Joseph Wallace Dr.,
Windsor Rd., McGuire La., Hale Hollow Rd.
Colabaugh Pond Rd. at: Woodale Rd. & Private Residences to
Mt. Airy Rd. East
Croton-on-Hudson
W30 -- Rte. 129 at: Dailey Dr., Niles Rd., Batten Rd. & Wood Rd.
Cleveland Dr. at: Gerstein St., Loconto St., Peter Beet La. & Old Post Rd.
Old Post Rd. at: Sunset Dr. & Morningside Dr.
Morningside Dr. at Lexington Dr.
W31 -- Radnor Ave. at: Melrose Dr., Irving Ave., Emerson Ave.,
Thompson Ave. & Elmore Ave.
W32 -- Old Post Rd. South at: Prospect St. & Cleveland Dr.
Cleveland Dr. at: Emerson Ave., Olcott Ave., & Benedict Blvd.
Benedict Blvd. at: Young Ave. & South Riverside Ave.
Croton Point Ave. at ramp to Rte. 9 North
W33 -- Rte. 9A at: Warren Rd., Skyview Nursing Home & Wolf Rd. (both
intersections)
North Riverside Ave. (Old Rte 9A) at: Brook St., Municipal Pl.
W34 -- Stevenson Pl. at Old Post Rd.
Old Post Rd. at: Prospect Pl., Lounsbury Rd., Brook St., Grand St. &
Holy Name of Mary School
Maple street at Wells Ave., Riverside Ave.
So. Riverside Dr. at Oneida Ave.
W35 -- Mt. Airy Rd. South at: Glengary Rd., Riverview Trail, King Street &
Grand St.
Annsville, Van Cortlandtville, Crompond & Continental Village
W36 -- Gallows Hill Rd. at: Hillcrest Ave., Kingston Ave. & Pumphouse Rd. at Dogwood Rd. Dogwood Rd. at: Crescent Hill Dr., Brook St. & Albany Post Rd.
W37 -- Sprout Brook Rd. at: Schuyler La., Strang La., Sprout Park Ent., Spr. Brook Pool & Albany Post Rd.
W38 -- Route 9 North at: Reef & Beef Restaurant (Annsville Circle),
Private Residences, Jean Dr., Jack Rd. & So. Mountain Pass.
W39 -- Rte. 6 at: Lexington Ave., Baker St., Westchester Mall Entrance,
Renee Gate, Westbrook Dr., Jerome Dr. & Locust Ave.
W40 -- Westbrook Dr. at: Cynthia Rd. & Fawn Ridge Rd.
Fawn Ridge Rd. at Birch La.
South Hill Rd. at: Arthur St. & Red Mill Rd.
Red Mill Rd. at: Monroe Pl. & MacArthur Dr.
MackArthur Dr. at Lockwood Rd.
W41-- Locust Ave. at Frederick St.
Frederick St. at Allan St.
Dale Ave. at Linda Pl.
Richmond Pl. at Aqueduct Pl.
W42 --Terrace Pl. at Alpine Dr.
Varian Rd. at Oregon Rd.
Oregon Rd. at: Root La., Skylark Dr., Westbrook Dr., School St.,
Young St. & Old Oregon Rd.
W43 -- Oregon Rd. at: Catherine Street, Gilbert St., Pumphouse Rd.,
Gallows Hill Rd., Locust Ave., Durrin Ave., Adams Rush St. &
Knollwood Rd.
W44 -- Gilbert St. at Revolutionary Rd.
Eton La. at Fox Hill Rd.
The Oval at Waterbury Parkway
Waterbury Parkway at Ridge Rd.
Fairview Place at Gabriel Drive
Gabriel Dr. at Locust Ave.
Locust Ave. at: Broadie St., Rancho Dr. & Oregon Rd.
W45 -- Lexington Ave. at: Morris Lane, Dyckman Dr., Private Residences &
Crompond Rd.
Crompond Rd. at: Baron De Hirsch Rd. & Maple Row
W46 -- Maple Row at Paulding La.
Paulding La. at: Pine Rd. & Townsend Rd.
Townsend Rd. at : Baron De Hirsch Rd. & Briar La.
W52 -- Lexington Ave. at: Nelma Ave., Lakeland Ave., Lawrence Rd.,
Crawford Rd., Decatur Rd., High St. & Rte. 6
Toddville and Quarry Acres
W29 -- Croton Ave. at: South Gate Estates, Mtn. View Rd., Maple Ave.,
Baptist Church Rd. & on demand to Rte. 129
W47 -- Furnace Dock Rd. at: Gilman La. (Harmony Hill ) & Croton Ave.
Croton Ave. at: Lynwood Rd., Croton Park Rd. & Crompond Rd.
W48 -- Lafayette Ave. at: Lyncrest Rd. & Ridge Rd.
Rte. 202/35 at: Conklin Ave., Northridge Rd., Clinton Ave.,
Crestview Ave., Forest Rd. & Rick La.
Mohegan Lake & Shrub Oak
W49 Rte. 6 at: Barger St., Sunnyside St., Mountain Brook Rd. & Mill St.
Strawberry Rd. at: Rte. 6, Briarhill St., Eleanor Dr. & Foothill St.
Lexington Ave. at: Strawberry Rd. & West Rd.
W50 Rte 6 at Mohegan Ave.
Mohegan Ave. at Sagamore Ave.
Sagamore Ave. at: Delaware Rd. & Narraganset Rd.
E. Main St. at: New Rd., Stoney St., Gino’s Restaurant, James St. &
Barger St.
W51 Stoney St. at: Winding Court, Quarry Dr., Judy Rd., Scofield Rd.,
Ivy Rd. & Glen Rd.
W52 Lexington Ave. at: Nelma Ave., Lakeland Ave., Lawrence Rd.
Crawford Rd., Decatur Rd., High St. & Rte. 6
W53 Lexington Ave. at Amazon Rd.
Amazon Rd. at: High St., Mogul Dr., Sylvan Rd. & Dale St.
Dale St. at: Winonah Trail
Mohegan Ave. at: Christine Rd. & Kimble Ave.
Furnace Woods, Pleasantside & Peekskill Heights
W20 -- Watch Hill Rd. at: John Alexander Court, John Cava La.
Mountainside Trail, Furnace Woods School & Furnace Woods Rd.
Furnace Woods Rd. at: Blue Ridge Lake Estates, Galloway La. &
Maple Ave.
W27 -- LaFayette Ave. at Matasac Rd., Lafayette Ave. on demand to Maple Ave.
Maple Ave. on demand to Croton Ave.
W28 -- Maple Ave. at Furnace Dock Rd.
Furnace Dock Rd. at: Fieldcrest Ct.,
Sniffen Mtn. Rd., Hillside Dr., Lakeview Dr., Inwood La., Brook La.,
Washington St. & Mt. Airy Rd. West
The buses are available for anyone who doesn’t have their own transportation out of the area or who can’t arrange a ride with a neighbor. Buses will take passengers to designated reception centers outside the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone. Please be at one of the bus stops by 1:00 p.m. as there will only be one round of pickups.
Residents in these areas with mobility impairments are advised to call (914) 493-8251 if they need assistance in evacuating the area. TDD for the deaf is available by calling (914) 593-5905.
Residents within the Emergency Planning Zone are urged to tune into a local or New York City radio station for up-to-the-minute information.
These areas are being taken for the protection of the public. County officials are continuing to monitor the situation at Indian Point.
Those leaving their homes are asked to lock all doors and windows and take blankets and pillows as well as any important medications and to swallow one 130 milligram dose of KI – potassium iodide (Children under 1 year should be given a 65 milligram dose – one half the tablet). If you do not have KI you will be able to get it at your reception center. In Westchester County, KI can be obtained at two additional locations: Rockefeller State Park, Route 117 in Mount Pleasant; or the South rest stop on Route 684 near Katonah.
No pets will be allowed on the buses.
A General Emergency is the highest of four classifications of radiological emergency as designated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Area residents who want more information on plant conditions and the ongoing emergency response can call the Public Inquiry Line at (914) 995-1111 or log onto http://www.westchestergov.com.
# # # #
Note to editors and news directors: The Transportation Management Center (TMC) is located in Hawthorne and is the primary source of official information. For more information, reporters should come to the TMC at 200 Bradhurst Avenue, which can be reached from the Hawthorne exit on the Sprain Brook Parkway.
Anna Lagerkvist reports for the technology news site Tech.co.uk (article no longer available online) that Hyperion’s claims have been met with considerable skepticism from anti-nuke activists. "Nuclear power is an expensive distraction from the real solutions we need to tackle climate change, like energy efficiency and renewables, ” said Ben Ayliffe, a spokesman for Greenpeace UK. “We should be concentrating on these rather than on crack-pot ideas about portable reactors."
| The state has gone to court to force the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to look at the safety of waste storage at Pilgrim. (File/The Boston Globe) |
The state attorney general's office has gone to federal court to argue that the storage of nuclear waste at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant should be studied by federal regulators as a possible danger to residents.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Brock, in oral arguments in the US Court of Appeals in Boston last week, challenged the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's refusal to hold a hearing on the safety of storing spent fuel at the Plymouth plant. Briefs in the case will be prepared over the next month and filed by the end of January.
Brock's office is arguing that the potential risk of fire in the spent-fuel storage pools - whether sparked by accident or terrorism - should be weighed by the NRC in its decision on whether to extend Pilgrim's license for another 20 years.
Last year, the five members of the NRC, appointed by the president, rejected that notion. Instead, they accepted their staff's conclusions that the consequences of a "spent-fuel pool accident" are unlikely to be serious.
The state appealed, leading to last week's hearing.
The possible danger of storing nuclear waste on site has become a rallying cry for critics of the NRC, which regulates the nuclear power industry.
Local advocates, including residents of Plymouth and Duxbury, signed a letter to Attorney General Martha Coakley this week backing her action in taking the spent-fuel issue to court. The letter states that Massachusetts's actions have set a precedent that other states such as New York are following.
The governor and attorney general of New York have gone to court to question the security of the Indian Point reactor.
New York officials contend that the attacks of Sept. 11 changed the nature of risk at nuclear plants, warranting a new and critical look at the safety of on-site spent fuel storage.
A
While spent nuclear fuel rods are stored outside New York's Indian Point reactor facility, at Pilgrim they are stored in water inside the plant.
Critics of that method, including the National Academy of Sciences, have argued that Pilgrim's storage method renders the plant vulnerable to a spent fuel fire caused by an attack or by human or mechanical error.
Both NRC and Pilgrim officials have repeatedly defended the safety of the plant. The NRC has pointed to security upgrades it required plants to institute after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said his agency took the possibility of a terrorist attack into consideration in previous court challenges and concluded that even under the "most severe, plausible-threat scenarios" - ground assault and aircraft impact - radiation emissions would probably be too low to pose a problem for Pilgrim's neighbors.
Local critics of the NRC say the outcome of the state's appeal may have important consequences for Pilgrim's neighbors.
Without a victory on appeal, "highly toxic spent fuel assemblies will be stored on site for the indefinite future," said Mary Lampert of Pilgrim Watch, a regional advocacy group that also raised the spent fuel storage issue.
The NRC has ruled that both issues of stored nuclear waste and plant security - concerns frequently raised at public meetings held on relicensing in the Plymouth area over the last two years - are outside licensing proceedings and therefore off the table when the NRC decides whether to extend Pilgrim's operating license.
But those issues are considered in the ongoing regulation of the nation's nuclear facilities, the NRC states.
Having heard the oral arguments, the court asked the two parties whether they could agree on a date for holding a review of the state's appeal, Sheehan said.
Amie Breton, spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office, said the court is expecting written briefs by Jan. 31 if a date has not been set.
In addition to the current appeal, the state has also filed a so-called rule-making petition asking the agency to change its current licensing policy and consider spent fuel storage in relicensing reviews. The appeal was necessary, Lampert said, because relicensing could occur before the petition to change the rules is decided.
Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.
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Iran still seeking nuclear bomb - Olmert Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that Iran was still pursuing a nuclear weapon and called on the international community to pressure the Islamic Republic to suspend its... (photo: AP Photo/Amos Ben Gershom-GPO,HO) Election Government Minister Photos Politic | |||
Pakistan dismisses nuclear theft threat PAKISTAN'S military vowed a strong response to any international attempt to seize its atomic arsenal as the army successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile. The security of Pakistan'... (photo: AP Photo/B. K. Bangash) Military Nuclear Pakistan Photos US | |||
By Paul Dobson
Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Police arrested a 30-year-old man after a bomb was found at the house of a contractor who worked at the U.K.'s Sellafield nuclear site, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported, without saying where it got the information.
Sellafield worker in bomb scare | ||
Explosive experts were called to Southey Walk in Egremont, Cumbria, on Monday afternoon, where the "rudimentary device" was made safe. Police are now seeking Darren Morris, the property's current occupant, who was last seen in a local pub. The 30-year-old is understood to have been involved in maintenance work at the nuclear reprocessing complex. Cumbria Police are liaising with Sellafield Ltd in a bid to trace Mr Morris. Acting Supt Gary Slater said: "I would like to reassure local people that this is an isolated incident and something which is rare in Cumbria. "A thorough investigation is under way, but we are asking for the public's help in finding Mr Morris." 'Security measures' The contractor was last seen at the Red Lion pub in Main Street, Egremont, on Monday afternoon. A spokesman for Sellafield Ltd said: "Following an incident in Egremont on Monday, Sellafield Ltd and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary were asked to assist Cumbria Police in its search for Darren Morris, who has recently worked on the site as part of externally contracted work. "The request came following the discovery of a suspicious package at a house occupied by Mr Morris. "Sellafield Ltd and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary will continue to work with Cumbria Police in an effort to trace Mr Morris." | ||
OK, we extrapolated based on the experience here at Indian Point that the NRC will help in a cover up of the newly found Tritium Leak at Entergy's Palisades reactor site, but you can bet money that Neil Sheehan will be running to the news media shortly claiming there is no immediate risk to the General Public of Michigan, and that Entergy is within their license allowances since the tritium has not left the site yet...sounds like a COVER UP TO US.
We have some very serious issues in this country, and in our own district here in New York, with Indian Point and Illegal Aliens at the top of the list, followed closely by the War in Iraq. Congressman John Hall's bill calling for and ISA (Independent Safety Assessment) of Indian Point languishes in obscurity in some long forgotten subcommittee, but in their race to appease the radical right wing voters of America, Congress is falling over backwards to eliminate separation of Church and State with H. Res. 847!Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great financial significance to Americans and their greedy corporations, and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians and those who just like the concept of Santa Claus and getting gifts throughout the United States and the world; Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 supposed Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population; Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 supposed Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest self serving religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population; Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible; as long as it is not inconvenient, and requires no personal sacrifice; Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization; and the molesting of tens of thousands of Children in the name of Christ...(see Catholic Priests in footnote); Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity; Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ; even Mitt Romney; Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and the gifts and feasting are just extra added attractions; Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others, such as their corporate masters that make them work on Christmas Eve: Now, therefore be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives--Having Nothing Better To Do
(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world; right behind Nascar, and Sunday Football
(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide; as long as it does not interfere with Corporate Profits, or Homeland Security
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas Sales and the Christian faith(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in driving holiday sales, and the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide, but its OK to think of homosexuality as a abomination against God; and
(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

| Romney Counters Ron Paul Blimp with Nuclear Submarine, and Takes Aim at Mike Huckabee http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/?itemid=2877 | |
| by Kamal El-Din | |
The Romney campaign has pulled out all the stops as polls show their candidate in free fall. At a press conference today Mitt Romney unveiled his newest weapon in his struggle to win the presidency, the Romney Family submarine. The re-conditioned nuclear submarine sporting sharp new paint and a full payload is sure to be a hit with the Romney Faithful. The sub is scheduled to appear dozens of campaign events and TV commercials. The 'Romney', a three hundred foot nuclear powered ballistic submarine should be just the thing to help Romney counter the high flying Ron Paul Blimp and the soaring poll numbers of Mike Huckabee. |
WASHINGTON - House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a defense policy bill that would require the Navy to design all future classes of major warships with nuclear power — a decision that potentially opens up more work for Northrop Grumman Newport News.
The Newport News shipyard is one of only two nuclear-capable yards in the country and the only one with a history of building large surface combat ships.
The only nuclear ships in the Navy's fleet today are aircraft carriers and submarines.
But the new policy — if given final approval by Congress, as expected in coming days — would require new classes of surface warships to go nuclear.
The policy would have an immediate effect on the next-generation cruiser, the first of which is set to get under construction in 2011.
A study of design options for the ship is nearing completion in the Pentagon.
The new congressional language would require the cruiser to be nuclear-powered unless the secretary of defense notifies Congress that a nuclear system "is not in the national interest."
Navy officials have long expressed interest in nuclear power because of the endurance that it provides ships at sea by forgoing the need for refueling.
But in testimony to Congress this year, they warned that nuclear cruisers would be costly, perhaps adding $600 million to $800 million to the price of a ship.
Lawmakers acknowledged the cost but said the United States had a national security interest in building toward a nuclear fleet.
As you read this article, keep in mind that Indian Point sits atop its own EARTHQUAKE fault here in New York. It seems, that TEPCO knew almost four years before the near catastrophic earthquake that their seven reactor site was sitting atop an ACTIVE FAULT LINE that could at any moment cause a richter scale 7 earthquake! Even worse, Japan's equivilent of the NRC also knew about the active earthquake fault line. In short, both TEPCO, and the regulator decided to roll the dice with human health, and public safety. My question, "The arrests start when?"By Megumi Yamanaka
Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Tokyo Electric Power Co., Japan's biggest power utility, said it knew in 2003 an undersea fault near its Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear facility could cause a magnitude 7 earthquake.
A survey by the utility in 2003 found the fault near the nuclear plant was active, conflicting with results from a survey conducted between 1979 and 1980, according to documents Tokyo Electric filed to a trade ministry committee on Dec. 5.
Tokyo Electric didn't reveal the 2003 findings because the company didn't expect that to affect plant safety, Masaaki Kobayashi, a company spokesman, said by phone today. The company informed the ministry's nuclear safety agency of the result at that time.
"The nuclear safety agency also concluded at that time there was no danger,'' Yoshinori Moriyama, director of the agency's nuclear power licensing division, said by phone. The nuclear watchdog made the decision based on data provided by the utility.
The safety agency in 2002 asked Tokyo Electric and Japan's other nuclear plant operators to conduct surveys using the latest seismological knowledge as a safety precaution.
The power company used the results of the 1979 and 1980 survey when it applied to add two reactors to the facility in 1988. The Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant has seven reactors with a total generation capacity of 8,212 megawatts. The first reactor started operation in 1985.
According to the 2003 assessment, the fault was 20 kilometers (12 miles) long, nearly triple the 7 kilometers discovered during the 1979 and 1980 survey.
The company expects to complete a new seismic survey of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa area by the end of March.
To contact the reporter on this story: Megumi Yamanaka in Tokyo at myamanaka@bloomberg.net.
What if it WERE YOUR CHILD?