6 East Coast Nuclear Power Plants declare "an unsual event" due to earthquake. One plant shutdown!

[Better Believe It]

North Anna nuclear plant in Virginia in shutdown mode according to CNN news.

From Wikipedia:

The North Anna Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant on a 1,075-acre (4.35 km2) site in Louisa County, Virginia. The site is operated by Dominion Generation company and is jointly owned by the Dominion Virginia Power corporation (88.4%) and by the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (11.6%).

The plant has two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors which went on-line in 1978 and 1980 respectively. Together the reactors generate 1.79 gigawatts of power, which is distributed mainly to the greater Richmond area and to Northern Virginia. In March 2003, the NRC approved 20 year license extensions for both Units 1 & 2.<1>

An artificial lake, Lake Anna, was constructed on the North Anna River to provide a reservoir of water coolant for use with the nuclear plant. Exhaustive studies have shown that the lake's abundant aquatic life are not harmed by the plant's operation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Anna_Nuclear_Generating_Station

[uppityperson]

1. k&r

[TheWraith]

2. So you're complaining that they're overly cautious?

I'm sure if they kept operating, you'd complain that they were ignoring the danger.

[OhioChick]

4. Did the OP complain? n/t

[TheWraith]

5. Nope, OP just spreading FUD by insinuation. nt

[OhioChick]

7. They posted what they heard with a link w/information.....

????

:shrug:

[HappyMe]

6. I didn't read any complaining into the post.

But, wtf do I know. B-)

[FBaggins]

3. Lake Anna is close to the epicenter

Something close to a 6 that close to a reactor probably SHOULD shut it down. Particularly in an area not know for quakes near that level.

[Better Believe It]

8. According to CNN they lost outside electrical power and had to activate their diesel generators.

[FBaggins]

10. And earthquake can certainly do that.

It's one of the reasons that they shut down above a certain richter level.

Just wait until the tsunami makes it across Laka Anna.

[OhioChick]

9. Nuclear Plant Near Epicenter Shuts Down

A nuclear power plant located in Louisa County, the epicenter of the earthquake in Virginia, has shut down.

The North Anna Power Station, operated by Dominion Power, has two reactors. The plant declared an "unusual event" in the wake of the 5.9 magnitude quake, which is the lowest stage on the plant's emergency scale.

As a result, the plant has been shut down.

Check back with NBC Washington for more updates as they become available.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Nuclear-Plant-Near-Epicenter-Shuts-Down-128261808.html

[Yo_Mama]

11. Well, it IS an unsual event.

Better safe than sorry.

No problems at the plant, just, you know, standard measures.

[FBaggins]

12. North Anna is reportedly 7th on the NRC's list of earthquake-endangered plants.

With a 1 in 22,727 chance annually of core damage due to earthquake.