Indian Point 3 Shuts Down after ‘Electrical Disturbance’

20 Million people live or work within a 50-mile radius of 41-yo Indian Point NPP

Indian Point’s Unit 3 nuclear power plant shut down Monday evening around 7:20 p.m. following an electrical disturbance external to the plant, said the operator, Energy Nuclear.

The unit’s main electrical generator shut down as a protective measure following the disturbance, the cause of which is not immediately understood, said the operator.

“There was no release of radioactivity and no threat to the safety of workers or the public.”

Indian Point Energy Center

Indian Point Energy Center, in Buchanan, N.Y., houses two active nuclear power plants, unit 2 and unit 3, which together generate about 2,080 megawatts of electricity for New York City and Westchester County.

Unit 3 caught fire on May 9 [reportedly spilling about 25,000 of the transformer’s dielectric fluid] and returned to service May 24 following replacement of a main electrical transformer which had failed, according to the operator.

At least 9 incidents involving the two reactors have been reported since 1972, just five months after Indian Point 2 began operating.

Unit 2 is more than 41 years old and Unit 3 was commissioned about 40 years ago.

The average age of U.S. commercial reactors is about 34 years. The oldest operating reactors are Oyster Creek in New Jersey, and Nine Mile Point 1 in New York. Both entered commercial service on December 1, 1969, according to EIA.

Currently 104 commercial nuclear power plants operate on 64 sites in the 48 contiguous United States. Sixty-nine of the 104 are pressurized water reactors (PWR) and the remaining 35 are boiling water reactors (BWR).

Operating Nuclear Power Plants vs. Major Metropolitan Areas

Source: Prepared by CRS and the Library of Congress Geography and Maps Division based on U.S. Census Bureau data 2011.

Explosive Wildfire Destroys Homes Forces Hundreds of Evacuations in AK

Alaska wildfire grows 7 folds in as many hours

The 700-acre wildfire called Card Street Fire, has destroyed dozens of homes on the Kenai Peninsula, threatening hundreds of additional structures and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

Meantime, Alaska Governor Walker issued a disaster declaration for the affected areas.

Image credit: Stefan Hinman/Mat-Su Borough spokesperson. More images…

Sockeye Fire near Willow

Another fast-moving fire near Willow, the Sockeye Fire, has destroyed at least 25 primary homes and as many as 20 secondary homes, according to Alaska Forestry Division spokesman Sam Harrel.

Alaska Division of Forestry’s latest update on the Sockeye Fire near Willow:

The fire is still estimated at 6,500 acres [the fire is now up to 8,500 acres]  and fire managers flew the fire this morning to get a gauge on fire activity and how far the fire has spread since last night. Heavy smoke over the southern perimeter of the fire south of Willow Creek has made size up difficult and fire managers are working to produce an updated map of the fire. As of late last night, the head of the fire was burning just south of Willow Creek and did not show much movement overnight. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has set up a call center for people seeking information about the fire. The number at the call center is (907) 861-8326. For a recorded update, call (907) 761-3700. Fire activity died down last night due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidities but activity is expected to increase today as a result of a Red Flag Warning for strong winds, hot temperatures and low relative humidity. Winds are expected to be out of the north again today, which will likely push the fire south. Fire managers plan to utilize roads and natural barriers to help control the fire. They are focusing on holding the fire at the railroad tracks on the east side of the Parks Highway and the Susitna River serves as a natural barrier on the west side. Evacuation advisories remain in effect from Miles 63 to 78 and extend two miles to the east of the highway and to the Susitna River on the west. Anyone still in that evacuation zone should seriously consider leaving the area for the safety of themselves and firefighters. As of late last night, there were approximately 25 primary structures and 10-20 secondary structures destroyed by the fire north of Kashwitna Lake on the north end of the fire. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has a team that is assessing structure damage today to get a clearer indication of how many homes and structures were lost. Eight smokejumpers were deployed to remote cabin sights for structure protection and more resources have been ordered from the Lower 48 and Canada and are enroute to the fire. That includes five Type 1 hotshot crews, five Type 2 crews, two air tankers, and multiple helicopters, including three Blackhawk helicopters from the Alaska Air National Guard.