As I wrote the other day, the Arizona Corporation Commission invited Arizona Public Service Co. to an informational meeting about the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix which occurred Tuesday 29-Mar-2011.
According to the Arizona Republic, the plant has significant design differences that would likely prevent the type of problems that are occurring in Japan. In addition to discussing the design, officials shared some potential disaster scenarios that could occur and safety plans and procedures in place to respond. Some data shared at the meeting included…
Flooding: Although there is low risk of major flooding in the area, officials have prepared for an emergency in which the plant is flooded by broken pipes or other means inside the plant.
Earthquakes: Arizona has a low risk of extreme earthquakes but the plant was designed to withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake occurring on the nearest active fault, which is 72 miles west of the power plant in California. The State Geologist still monitors for earthquakes and searches for new faults, however the seismic monitor nearest Palo Verde, one of eight in the state, was vandalized and much of the equipment above ground was stolen last year and the agency has been searching for funds to refurbish it.
Power: Palo Verde is prepared with several backup sources of power … Each of the three reactors has an emergency diesel generator and a backup generator; the plant has two natural-gas-burning turbines that can be fired up to supply electricity if diesel generators fail; and, if those fail, the plant has four redundant battery sets on each generator, which would be expected to protect the plant for three days.
Water loss: If water were cut off to the plant, operators could turn to more than 3 billion gallons stored on site, including in the plant’s evaporating ponds, he said. The plant also has several deep-water wells nearby it could tap for emergency water, although that would require power.
Fissures: Also of minor concern at Palo Verde are earth fissures, large cracks in the ground that are caused by pumping groundwater, Allison said. These were discovered in Arizona in 1949 and occur only in a few other places nationally. One fissure is near Palo Verde to the east.
Also .. on April 8, plant officials and government leaders will have access to a new 32,000-square-foot Energy Education Center, located about 20 miles east of the plant. The facility will help officials respond and share information with the public, and allow operators to hold drills and plan emergency responses. The new center will also house an Emergency Operations Facility currently located at the plant and a Joint Information Center currently located at the Papago Military Reservation in Phoenix. There’s even a live camera feed of the plant and a 222-seat auditorium where officials and agencies can brief the public and the media.
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