Nuclear industry takes heed of Japan tragedies

A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates the industry, including Duke Energy, is taking heed of lessons learned from 2011 when a large earthquake, accompanied by a tsunami, inflicted heavy damage to a Japanese nuclear plant. Nearly four years later discussions continue between the NRC and Duke as to how better protect Duke’s power projects in Oconee County from a similar natural disaster. “They (Oconee) have begun to acquire the equipment that would be necessary for some of these mitigation strategies and some of that equipment will be stored onsite—some additional pumps and other equipment that would be available if they had a severe accident,” said Roger Hannah, senior public affairs officer for the NRC’s Atlanta office.