[hanniabu]

Sorry but I don't trust any nuclear plant in the US to put safety over profits over the long term, especially after all the illogical deregulation done the last 4 years.

There's also already some questions on safety in regards to current plants. They're constantly loosening tolerances and changing the way tests are performed to make otherwise failed tests fall within acceptable limits. Plus the plants are already operating 2x their engineered lifespan. Yeah, no thank you.

[gbrown_]

How much are loosening regulations a concern for nuclear in the US?

Obviously recently general utilities haven't fared well as of late (Texas) or nuclear in the past (e.g. Rocky Flats). But as a foreigner who thinks as far as nuclear power is concerned, the DOE seems to being an OK job as of late. Could you share the specifics of the tests you are referring to?

[hanniabu]

This first link makes me absolutely furious. There's too much to quote from here, but this succicnt excerpt touches on the water test. It goes into more detail in another part of the article. The post has numerous example of very concerning issues.

> When valves leaked, more leakage was allowed — up to 20 times the original limit. When rampant cracking caused radioactive leaks from steam generator tubing, an easier test of the tubes was devised, so plants could meet standards.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43455859

> The proposal comes as most of the nation’s nuclear power plants, which were designed and built in the 1960s or 1970s, are reaching the end of their original 40- to 50-year operating licenses. Many plant operators have sought licenses to extend the operating life of their plants past the original deadlines, even as experts have warned that aging plants come with heightened concerns about safety.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/climate/nrc-nuclear-inspe...

> The nuclear industry is also pushing the NRC to cut down on safety inspections and rely instead on plants to police themselves. The NRC “is listening” to this advice, the Associated Press reported last month. “Annie Caputo, a former nuclear-energy lobbyist now serving as one of four board members appointed or reappointed by President Donald Trump, told an industry meeting this week that she was ‘open to self-assessments’ by nuclear plant operators, who are proposing that self-reporting by operators take the place of some NRC inspections.”

https://newrepublic.com/article/153465/its-not-just-pork-tru...

[gbrown_]

Thank you for the detailed and insightful reply!

[philipkglass]

The Union of Concerned Scientists has posted a great blog series "Role of Regulation in Nuclear Plant Safety." It's written by Dave Lochbaum, a degreed nuclear engineer who worked at American nuclear plants for 17 years. I think it's a better overview of NRC action and plant safety than any one incident. I've collected all the links here.

Series introduction: https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/role-of-nuclear-regul...

Flooding at Nine Mile Point: Regulation and Nuclear Power Safety #1 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/flooding-at-nine-mile...

Three Mile Island Intruder: #2 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/three-mile-island-int...

Empty Pipe Dreams at Palo Verde: #3 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/empty-pipe-dreams-at-...

Yankee Rowe and Reactor Vessel Safety: #4 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/yankee-rowe-and-react...

Flooding at a Florida Nuclear Plant: #5 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/flooding-at-a-florida...

Containment Design Flaw at DC Cook Nuclear Plant: #6 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/containment-flaw-at-d...

Pipe Rupture at Surry Nuclear Plant Kills Four Workers: #7 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/pipe-rupture-at-surry

Anticipated Transient Without Scram: #8 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/anticipated-transient...

Naughty and Nice Nuclear Nappers: #9 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/naughty-and-nice-nucl...

Breaking Containment at Crystal River 3: #10 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/breaking-containment-...

Fatal Accident at Arkansas Nuclear One: #11 https://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/fatal-accident-at-ark...