'''Statement of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Thursday, June 16, 2011


Hearing: Full Committee and Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety (Joint)
 

"Oversight Hearing: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Preliminary

Results of the Nuclear Safety Review in the United States following the Emergency at

the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in Japan."'''

 

''Prepared remarks:''

 

It has been over three months since Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and

tsunami, and it is expected to take additional time before cold shutdown of all reactors

at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will be achieved.

The emergency in Japan serves as an important wake-up call for the United States, and

we cannot afford to ignore it. If there is one lesson to be learned, it is that we must plan

for the unexpected.

I am pleased to see that the NRC is taking initial steps to reevaluate current

assumptions about the safety and security of nuclear power plants in the U.S., in light of

what has happened in Japan. For example,

 

• the NRC’s inspectors have inspected and issued reports on the 104 operating nuclear

reactors and their readiness to address power losses or damage following extreme

events; and

 

• the NRC is in the middle of a 90-day Task Force review of its processes and

regulations in light of the events in Japan.

The most recent inspections of California’s two nuclear power plants turned up

numerous problems that need to be corrected. Among other things, NRC’s inspections

at Diablo Canyon Power Plant found that:

 

• State highways and access roads needed to reach diesel fuel and an alternative

seawater source for cooling may be inaccessible after an earthquake; and

 

• Hoses needed to get cooling water from the reservoir to the plant were blocked by a

security fence.

NRC’s inspections at San Onofre Generating Station found:

 

• A lack of a written agreement for a fuel oil supply to support emergency diesel

generators for more than 7 days; and

 

• Some firefighting equipment was stored in locations that could be impacted by an

earthquake.

I have concerns about seismic issues at both California plants. Diablo Canyon has

submitted its application to the NRC for license renewal. The 3-D seismic studies need

to be considered as part of the license renewal process at Diablo.

3-D seismic studies should also be part of the NRC’s review of San Onofre’s license

renewal application, once it is submitted.

 

I expect the NRC to closely examine the results of these inspections in California and

other states across the country, as well as reexamine current regulations such as what

is considered in the NRC’s review of license renewal applications.

I also expect the Commission to implement Task Force recommendations that will help

ensure the health and safety of all Americans.

 

I applaud the Commission for making the results of its inspections of the U.S. nuclear

power fleet available to the public immediately after compilation by NRC staff in May

and June.

 

I also believe it is critical for public confidence in the safety of our nuclear facilities that

the results of the 90-day Task Force report be available to the public as soon as it is

compiled by NRC staff in July.

 

Complete openness, transparency and prompt disclosure are vital to maintaining the

federal government’s credibility and the confidence of the American people.