For decades the official position of the U.S. government and the nuclear industry is that very little radiation was released during the March 1979 partial meltdown of Three Mile Island. Unfortunately, that lie has been told so often it has become part of the “official science.” We “human dosimeters,” who live in the shadow of TMI, have long questioned “official science.”
March 28, 2019 marks the 40th Annversary of the Three Mile Island accident. It woke up millions to the dangers of nuclear power and remains one of the largest nuclear disasters in the world. But the terrible impacts of the partial meltdown, explosion, and releases of radiation on communities around TMI have always been downplayed, ignored, and simply covered up. Survivors and community members are gathering to commemorate the accident over the next week, with events, activities, and protests in Harrisburg, PA and the surrounding area.
On March 29 and March 30, 1979 the second and third days of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, the situation at the damaged Unit 2 reactor spiraled out of control.
As a new reporter covering the statehouse for Ottaway Newspapers, I adapted to changing circumstances in what became the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history.
In its current configuration, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station has enough space on-site to store spent fuel until 2019.
But that won't stop the power plant from continuing operations well beyond that date, according to Exelon Spokesman David Tillman. In fact, the need for more dry cask storage will bring a sizeable construction job to the plant, which is in southeastern York County.
Attached is Three Mile Island Alert's petition for enforcement action regarding the replacement steam generators. A fluttering behavior of the steam tubes to the point of damage was not predicted by design analysis. The behavior could cause steam tube rupturing during reactor transient conditions. Although analysis has been performed on steam tube loads under transient conditions, the fluttering and damage mechanism has not been analyzed.
The aggressive design, an admission that "the margin to buckling was not conservative," geometric changes from the previous steam generators, in addition to a design flaw and a manufacturing flaw, means that the steam generators are in violation of regulation §50.59 in 10 CFR "Changes, tests and experiments."
Our request for enforcement action and supporting facts are stated in the petition.
