The nuclear power industry in the United States contributes 20% of the total electrical power generation with105 reactors located across the country. The table below summarizes the current status: 69 units are Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) while 36 units are Boiling Water Reactors (BWR). In addition, 10 reactors have been permanently shutdown, two of which were full size PWRs. No new reactors are currently planned. The links below will connect to manufacturers and operators of power stations. The U.S. nuclear industry maintains a complete capability to mine and enrich uranium, and fabricate fuel assemblies. Since 1977 the U.S. has selected the once though fuel cycle, with no reprocessing of spent fuel, as the national standard. Existing reprocessing facilities are not operating, therefore. Long term storage of civilian spent fuel, as well as some defense high level waste, will occur at the Department of Energy (DOE) Yucca Mountain Site in the State of Nevada. This repository is in the site characterization and research stage; the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) web site is a good place to start for further information. National RegulationRegulation of the civilian nuclear industry at the national level is the function of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Through the NRC site you can reach maps, photos and "Plant Information Books" for each reactor site. The NRC maintains resident inspectors at the reactors and Daily Plant Status reports are sent to the NRC; these can be accessed at the NRC web site to learn of the operational status. In addition, the daily reports contain notices of all "Events", most of which are routine notes concerning potential problems. In the case of an emergency, federal law mandates connection of an "Emergency Response Data System"(ERDS) from the reactor control room direct to the NRC Operations Center. This would allow NRC experts to provide detailed oversight and advice to any emergency response effort.State RegulationEach state has local responsibility for oversight as well. State inspectors have access to the reactor sites and air radiation monitoring equipment operates continuously. Soil, water and biological samples are also taken at regular intervals. Some states, like Georgia and New Jersey, are using web sites to explain their oversight activities with diagrams, maps, and typical data. Other states issue public reports on an annual basis.Environmental RegulationAnother major safety function is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA monitors radiation in the environment in a nationwide system known as Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS). Air, water (rain, drinking and surface) and milk are all measured for radiation buildup. For example, the air monitoring network has 69 sites that sample twice weekly. The ERAMS can operate on a more frequent basis in case of an real or potential emergency. The EPA publishes quarterly reports and is in the process of making these available on the Internet.
Source: 1998 World Nuclear
Industry Handbook
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
