Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Feb. 3, 1994, edition 1 / Page 9
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Restart Of Brunswick Unit 1 Off To Slow Start Monday BY SUSAN USHER Workers at Carolina Power & 1 .ight Co.'s Brunswick Nuclcar Plant Monday began the slow, meticulous process of restarting Unit I after a 21-month shutdown, only to pause again. As of Tuesday afternoon the unit was hack in the restart sequence, hut had not hegun generating heal, ac cording to plant spokesman Mac Harris. After receiving agreement for restart from the NRC ifti?rnMnn u/Mrlcrv nil)!*"** ? - "unJ .....u. . .. ra.xlj.& rods Monday night in an effort to trigger the self-con tained chain reaction needed to bring the unit to life, to begin generating heat. The nuclear reaction within the unit is controlled by rods inserted among a grid of tubes that each hold stacks of fuel pellets. By varying the number of control rods drawn and how much they are withdrawn, the nuclear reaction can be increased or slowed down. When the reaction didn't begin at the predicted stage Monday night, said Harris, the pull was halted anil staff began recalculating the point of "criticality" less conser vatively. "Having a calculated point of criticality is not re quired, hut that's the way we do business." said Harris. "When we got to the point where we should see this happen, it did not. We have to ask why not?" While the unit had returned to the restart sequence begun Monday, "exactly when we'll he pulling rods again. I don't know," Harris said Tuesday. If the restart goes according to schedule the unit will be producing full electrical power for CP&L customers within 30 to 50 days. CP&L is following a procedure similar to that used in bringing Unit 2 on line last April and May. The "power ascension" timetable allows for testing of systems at various temperatures and pressures as power level increases, and allows for two shutdowns ? fly nrnhlf^mr nwrl o-m'* U..?.ll.wl t\J IIA *?!?? tliUt VM>|< u|/ UIIU CUM i *?W tiuiiutvu otherwise. "It's a very deliberate process." said Harris. "We want to know what we're doing as we go through the process. This unit has been down since April 1992 and we're not going to rush to bring it back up." As of Tuesday CP&L had not encountered anything other than the routine repairs that must be made during restart as the systems begin operation. "There are some things you can't check until you put it back together and see how it works," said Harris. According to officials with CP&L and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a successful restart will a key factor in how soon the plant may be removed from the NRC's "watch list" of problem plants. On April 21. 1992, CP&L shut down both Units 1 and 2 after discovering counterfeit and improperly in stalled bolts in the walls of the emergency diesel genera lor nuililing. The NRC became conccrncd about the structural soundness of other critical areas of the plant anil subsequently placed the plant on its watch list on June 30, 1992. By the time Unit 2 came back in service last May, the utility had inspected more than 34_S,(MM) structural components and completed major upgrades to the ma sonry walls, miscellaneous structural steel, emergency diesel generators and other key systems. I 1 U'w ?????!*????# Iwluff MWtV'W ? m>-ii ate v/iiit w iau.i ?|<viutwu n iiiiuui iiuwiiupiiwti .iiiivw ??.? restart. Still, at semiannual safety performance review meet ings held last June and again Jan. 11-13, NRC senior managers chose to leave both Units 1 and 2 under in creased monitoring to assure continued progress, while praising improvements that had been made over the past IX months. "Ust June, the NRC laid out three criteria they ex pect us to meet before they will consider taking us off the list," said Roy Anderson, vice president of the Brunswick plant, in a prepared statement. "These are the successful restart of Unit 2. sustained trouble-free opera tion of Unit 2, and the restart of Unit 1. "We have met two of these criteria in exemplary fashion, and we are in the process of meeting the third." The plant will remain on the "watch list" for at least the next six months, until the next review. In a letter It) ( Pit I. dated Ian. 25, James M. Taylor, NRC executive director for operations, summarized NRC discussions of the plant as follows: "The effectiveness of organizational changes and management realignments has been clearly demonstrat ed during the recovery of the station and the post-recov ery operation of Unit 2. Brunswick Unit 2 has operated safely and reliably with minimal problems since startup ?r? Ar>ril HK)1 " r lie further notes that management has conveyed its higher standards to employees, that equipment is per forming well, the plant condition is "substantially im proved" and staff teamwork "exceptional" Further, Taylor states that CP&L has adopted a "pro active safety attitude and conservative decision making" in resolving issues and that staff has begun moving quickly to identify and correct potential issues, and is making "good progress" in reducing work backlogs on both units. The NRC recommended that plant management now direct its focus to a safe startup of Unit 1 and demonstra tion of "sustained good operational performance" of both units. Anderson said plant employees are focusing on the restart, safe unit operation and preparing for a Unit 2 re fueling outage scheduled to begin in late March. Draff Basin Plan Offers No Solution For Mercury Taint In Waccamaw River Fishery A draft plan for water quality management in the l.umher River Basin to be presented Monday will offer no solution or strategy for addressing mercury contamination of largemouth bass and blackfish in the basin's Waccamaw River. However, the plan contains information its shapers expect will im prove communication and cooperation among the various agencies that deal with water quality, according to Greg Thorpe, chief of the water quality planning branch in the state Division of Environmental Man agement. The draft will be presented for public comment at a meeting in Whiteville on Mondav from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Columbus County Cooperative Extension Service office ai the Courthouse Annex, !!2 West Smith Street. Staff of the N.C. Division of Environmental Management (DEM) will present a 30-minute slide show, then ask for comments and questions. The plan will offer no new regulaioiy progianis fot protection of water quality. "We're attempting to use data to identify where problems arc so they can be better addressed by existing programs," said Thorpe. This im proved data-sharing and communication is expected lo "foster greater cooperation in getting best-management practices in place." The study includes no specific strategics for dealing with the mercury contamination in Waccamaw River because DEM still doesn't know its source, said Thorpe. "There are some possible sources, but it will take a lot more study to determine that." Asked about the possibility that drainage or discharge into the river is a contributing factor, Thorpe said it's "difficult to know" if the water quality standard of the river is being violated. In part that is because only natural-level traces of mercury have shown up in the water column, while excessive concentrations have shown up in two species of preda tor-type fish. Those concentrations prompted the state to post advisories last year encouraging the public to limit intake of largemouth bass and blackfish taken from the river, with children and women of childbearing age en couraged to stop eating both types of fish. "Certainly anytime you increase the number of canals going into a wa ter body it may or may not be increasing the pollutant level of that water body," Thorpe said. "We don't have any idea if those canals or activities around them are contributing to that." According to a DEM notice, basinwide management is a new ap proach to water quality management being implemented by the agency "to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and consistency of its Water Quality Management Program." The Lumber Basinwide Water Quality Management Plan is the second of a series of basinwide plans that will he prepared for all 17 of the state's major river basins over the next five years. The plan is due for completion in May and will be updated in 1999. Theron Sandy Signs New Deal Entertainer Theron Sandy of company representatives. Carthage, formerly of Supply, an- In addition to "Poker Machine," nounced Monday that he is signing Knight will be promoting at least with Howard Knight Entertainment five other songs written by Sandy. "I Enterprises of Nashville, Tenn. Just Love You Baby." "Sept. *74," The contract moves Sandy one "Country Boys and Old Cowboys," step closer to his lifelong dream of "Milion Dollar Dream," and "Sun breaking into the Nashville country shine" are from his "Million Dollar music scene. Dream" audiotape produced by After one last gig this month, said Galaxy Publishing Co. in Aberdeen. Sandy, "I think I ve played my last _______ honky-tonk." AT SUNSCT HARBOR Knight will be co-managing Sandy's music career with John Davenport of Aberdeen. Sandy said the agreement includes release of a video of his tune "Poker Machine," and a showcase performance in On Sale At Nashville before major production SUNSET GROCERY BRING HOME THEfcBEACON Get to know your neighbor. He's a National Leader in his profession Larry R. Heustess, FIC Field Representative Shallotte, NC 754-8400 This specially trained Woodmen Field Representative has earned national recognition for excellence, provid ing outstanding service for his Woodmen members. "The FAMILY Fraternity"? I WOODMEN OF THE WORLD LIFE INSURANCE SOCIETY Home Office Woodmen Tower ? Omaha Legislators Set Meeting Regarding Low Water Levels In Waccamaw River BY SUSAN USHER Like other natives of the Ash community, Albert Hughes of Shal lotte can remember when boating and fishing were always good on the Waccamaw River, and he'd like to see the river restored to its glory days. "I'd like to see that river fixed, and fixed right, but I know it's prob ably not economically feasible," he said. "But it would be the best thing to do environmentally." "I can remember when it was as good a place to go as there is. That's another one of those things that we had all our lives that has changed," he reflected Monday. "It could have the best recreational fishing any where around if the water could just remain up." Hughes isn't the only area resi dent concerned about the loss of boating and recreational fishing in the Waccamaw River. "A lot of people in the Wac camaw area have asked me for a long time to do something about wa ter flow control on the Waccamaw River." said Rep. E. David Redwine. He ;ind fellow legislators Rep. Dewey Hill and Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. have set a meeting Monday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Waccamaw Com munity Building to give area resi dents like Hughes a chance to ask state and federal officials what can he done about the river. The meeting will follow a fact finding tour that begins at 4 p.m. for the group of state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials. "What local people have pro posed to ir.c is to build 3 daro sys tem," said Redwine. "Whether that is the right thing to do or whether it will work needs to be determined by the experts." If a dam system or some other op tion could fix the problem, Redwine anticipates the meeting Monday could be the first of many. Over the years there has been a lot of drainage occurring at points all along the river. That, figures Hughes and others, is a key reason SOUTH BRUNSWICK MEDICAL GROUP Gary D. Ross, M.D. (Internal Medicine) Samuel W. Kirtley, M.D. (Family Practice) For Complete Outpatient Medical Care Routine Health Maintenance Adult Medical Concerns/Pediatrics Women's Concerns (Pap Smears/Contraception) Laboratory & X-Ray Facilities For Complete Minor Emergency Care CARE Located off Hwv. 17 at Union School Road Open Mon.-Frl.. 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., Sat. 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. 579-9955 or 579-0800 C1992 TM? BRUNSWICK BEACON Families vaiue our cumiriiiineni iu quality health care Aand serving this community's families is our forte. At the ~ office of Mark A. Lizak M.D., we want to include the entire family in our diagnosis. If Debbie has a sinus, allergy or hearing problem, we want to be sure that little lohnny or Dad isn't living with the same condition. With our comprehensive ear, nose & throat (ENT) diagnostic proce dure, we can quickly detect, even the slightest indications. Dr. Mark A. Uzak and stalf, appreciates the opportunity to serve; this area with the very best in quality health care and professional service. Because Quality Care Is A Family Affair! Mark A. Lizak, M.D. Board Certified Specialist: EAR, NOSI. K THROAT Conveniently located in the Dot tor's Office Complex at the Brunswick Hospital, Supply, North Carolina. For Appointments Call: 754-2920 why water no longer enters the river the fish will be gone," said Hughes, slowly and steadily year-round from At Pireway landing, where the the once sponge-like hasin of the N.C. Wildlife Commission operates Green Swamp. Instead, when there a public boat landing, the water lev is water, it rushes in torrents into the el remains fairly high. Hughes said, river and on to the ocean. "But leave there and go a little ways "It's up in the winter and in the in either direction to the narrow wa spring when it turns dry. in two ter and you can just about walk from weeks the water will be gone and one hole to the next. It's that dry." /.\ /T^ _ _ ? ^ ^ ^ /""\ / /? / /" - ,\. 0*Desujn?i JMjl^ ;| ft February Special S Nail Tips...$35 -J 'Wendy 'Bennett Owner/Operator .5^ The Brunswick vj Square Village Xv ? 754-2939 ^ C1994 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON JS Qreat sefection of Cadies' shoes from? Amaifi ? 7(eds ? Atfure ? J/. %enee JerroCd and more... Calabash Location Only ictoria's RAGPATCH RAGPATCH ROW OCEAN ISLE CAUSEWAY 2701 N KINGS HWY. CALABASH. NC OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC MYRTLE BEACH, SC (910)579-2015 (910)579-3158 (803)626-4888
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 3, 1994, edition 1
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