Whistleblower Claims Nuke Plant Leaks Date Back Two Years

[bananas]

"Utility regulators said the claims are true":

http://www.wptz.com/news/22606213/detail.html

Whistleblower Claims Nuke Plant Leaks Date Back Two Years

POSTED: 7:27 pm EST February 18, 2010
UPDATED: 8:35 am EST February 19, 2010

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- An e-mail from an anonymous whistleblower claiming Vermont Yankee nuclear power station officials were aware of a radioactive leak years ago and failed to properly fix it is being investigated by the state attorney general’s office.

On Wednesday, state officials said the e-mail claims that leaking underground pipes carrying radioactive fluids at the Vernon plant were first discovered two years ago and never reported to authorities. Utility regulators said the claims are true, but are now exploring them further with help from the state attorney general's office.

The tip, from a person who claims to be a VY employee was received last weekend, and alleges Yankee employees were told to patch the leaking pipe rather than shutdown the power plant to make permanent repairs.

The scenario is eerily similar to the one unfolding over the last six weeks around the 38-year old reactor, which has touched off concern statewide and is threatening VY's application for license renewal.

<snip>

You can't trust the nuclear industry.

[Zoeisright]

1. You sure can't. Follow the money.

Those bastards have ripped off the American taxpayer to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. They are making money hand over fist and they will do ANYTHING, including make people sick and kill them, to keep it rolling in.

[bananas]

2. More info in another article

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100219/NEWS04/2190335/1003/NEWS02

Whistleblower claims previous leak

By Susan Smallheer STAFF WRITER - Published: February 19, 2010

MONTPELIER — An apparent Entergy Nuclear whistleblower contacted a critic of the company, saying the radioactive leak at the Vermont Yankee reactor isn't the first time the company has coped with leaky underground radioactive pipes.

On Sunday, the person contacted Arnie Gundersen, a nuclear engineer who is a consultant for the Vermont Legislature and a member of the Vermont Public Oversight Panel.

The whistleblower told Gundersen that about two years ago the company experienced another tritium leak in the same general location that involved a drain pit in the advanced off-gas system, the same place Entergy Nuclear is now excavating in hopes of finding the problem.

<snip>

Gundersen said the employee gave such detailed information it was obvious to him that the person worked at the reactor. Gundersen himself is a former nuclear industry whistleblower.

<snip>

The article has some more information.
The reader comments are also informative:

READER COMMENTS

Is this the same ventilation problem stemming back to 1993 of which William Irwin, the radiological health chief for the Department of Health said "The cause was identified, the cause was eliminated".
And what of the state consultant who left cobalt 60 contamination out of at least one report, do we still use their services?
I wonder if Mr. Irwin is thinking back to september and his blind acceptance of the storm drain, we left highly radioactive equipment out in the rain explanation.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090917/NEWS02/909170373/1003/NEWS02

I wonder now, what is the state consultant going to leave out of these reports, and is William Irwin competent?
-- Posted by None None on Fri, Feb 19, 2010, 3:20 pm EST

This wouldn't surprise me in the least, but I'm taking a wait and see attitude on this one.

I wouldn't put it past Entergy to plant a fake whistleblowing tip that eventually blows up, is proved incorrect, and makes VY look like innocent victims of an Anti-Nuclear Agenda Gone Wild.
-- Posted by Son Of That Guy on Fri, Feb 19, 2010, 9:30 am EST

More info ... VTDigger.org broke this story yesterday:

http://vtdigger.org/2010/02/18/unnamed-employee-alleges-there-was-a-radioactive-pipe-leak-two-years-ago-at-vermont-yankee/

Copy of PSB letter

http://vtdigger.org/files/2010/02/VY-employee-allegation.pdf

.
-- Posted by Ron Pulcer on Fri, Feb 19, 2010, 9:05 am EST

I'm confused. Is Entergy taking this previous unreported leak very seriously? Or are they taking one of their own squealing on them very seriously?
-- Posted by you've got to be kidding me on Fri, Feb 19, 2010, 7:24 am EST