Lessons learned from 2011 Japan tragedies

Nearly four years ago, a Japanese nuclear plant withstood a large earthquake, but sustained severe damage from a tsunami that accompanied the quake. Since then, the U-S Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Duke Energy have been engaged in study and discussions about the potential for damage to the dams and dykes around the Keowee-Toxaway Project. Specifically, the consequences for flooding in the scenario of a failure of the 385-foot Jocassee Dam in Oconee County. According to correspondence between Duke and the government watchdog, those studies and discussion are continuing—including a December 3 meeting at NRC headquarters near Washington, D-C.