I do declare, what's the upset over the supposedly leaking pipes at Vermont Yankee ?

Let's be logical about this.

Vermont Yankee engineer David McElwee, (who knows a lot more about nuclear power plans, plants and radiation than anyone writing here, or anyone in the legislature, well except Patricia from Vernon) said that Vermont Yankee has no underground piping that could carry irradiated water and we can cross any questions we may have about it off.



http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/01/14/vt-yankee-says-it-unintentionally-misled-legislative-panel-on-nuclear-plant-underground-pipes-20839/

excerpt below

“Other than piping carrying gaseous material … we have none,” McElwee wrote. He said the gases had “very low amounts of contamination” and no way to contaminate groundwater. “We consider this issue closed,” he said.


Closed, do you hear ?

Since there is no way to contaminate groundwater, it follows that the groundwater is not contaminated.

It is, possible that McElwee was misinformed by others.

If so, it would be good to name names.

Actually, it would be GOOD to name names, as opposed to wrong to not name names.

Currently there are three stories unfolding.

Which way will the plume travel ?

Towards the river ? As unpleasant as that it is, it would be better than travelling in a more concentrated form towards the waters that feed into the water supply. While the phrase "the solution to pollution is dilution" is noxious in some respects, there is some truth to it. It appears that the plollution of the river will be a "pulse" type, not a permanent ruination. Flowing water in the river, billions of gallons of it, will eventually effectively dilute the pollution to negligible levels over time. It's not great. Now that its in the groundwater, it could be worse than going to the river. By all means lets stop adding to the plume, now, but let's hope it doesn't head for the water supply.

Another story that is unfolding is whether the AG will get involved and demand sworn testimony to determine who was lying under oath, and who knew what when.

A third story that is unfolding is whether VY will be allowed to use the non-existent pipes all the way till the time when they have to re-fuel.

The last story seems to be unfolding that way. They will probably will use pipes that might be leaking all the way until they have to power down to refuel, and the state might just let them do it.

There is a theoretical benefit for Entergy to delaying the certainty over whether pipes leaking for as long as possible.


Rolf