Entergy replaces radiation monitors; state asks the NRC to investigate “spurious” radiation spikes at Vermont Yankee
[link to fairewinds.org]


Four times since mid-June, monitors have recorded “spurious spikes” in radiation levels inside the Vermont Yankee plant.

The “false positives” for high radiation levels were a result of faulty equipment that produced inaccurate results and did not indicate there were actual increases in radiation in the building that contains the spent fuel pool, according to Rob Williams, a spokesman for the plant.

Entergy notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the equipment malfunction last week.

On Friday, the Vermont Department of Public Service sent a letter to NRC asking for a “full accounting” of the incidents. In addition, Darren Springer, deputy commissioner of the department, insisted the NRC require Entergy to report serious equipment “failures” immediately. The first spike occurred on June 14; the state was notified of the incidents on Thursday. Under NRC rules, Entergy has 60 days to file a report.

Chris Recchia, commissioner of the department, said the false positives are alarming because the radiation monitors are the fundamental warning system for the plant. The monitors, he said, must be perfectly calibrated so that the readings are accurate. “What happens if there was actually a radiation leak and the equipment didn’t register anything or didn’t register the proper amount?” he said.

Springer expressed this sentiment in the official letter to the NRC, which the agency is obliged to respond to. “Failure of the radiation monitoring equipment is a serious issue, and could have under other circumstances led to significant harm if the failed equipment had not detected a radiation release at the plant,” he wrote.