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INSIDE Sports, page 14 Classifieds, p. 1C / f\ t April 28,1993/ 50 cents Volume 62/ Number 36 Southport, N.C. CP&L restart began Tuesday night By Jim Harper Staff Writer Start-up of Brunswick nuclear plant's Unit 2 — idle for over a year — began Tuesday night, shortly after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave the go ahead to Carolina Power and Light Co. officials at the site. The NRC green light came a day after a formal meeting in which Roy Anderson, vice-president in charge of the Brunswick plant, told NRC repre sentatives, "I do believe the plant and ourpeople are ready tooperate safely and reliably, with continued improvements." Though no objection to restart was raised Monday by NRC representatives, it was not until 5:50 p.m. Tuesday that they concurred with the restart plan. Tuesday evening the process of repowering the nuclear facility began. "Rod pull," which will lead to neutron activity and nuclear fission in the unit, is expected to commence today. Restart of the plant will be by unit, with Unit 2 going first in a "power ascension" designed to last from 20 to 40 days. At the end of that process electricity will again be flowing out of the Brunswick plant Powering up of Unit 1, which has also been shut down over a year, is expected in the fall after refueling is completed. The lengthy down-time at Brunswick led Anderson to plan a conservative powering up in order to observe mechanisms and equipment -- as well as plant personnel -- which have not been operating together since April, 1992. While many systems in the plant have been tested by CP&L workers for over a month, some of those associated with steam have not been hot, wet or under pressure for over 12 months. Carolina Power and Light Co. shut down the Brunswick plant on April 21, 1992, initially to repair walls in the emergency diesel generator building which were found to be not earthquake-proof, as designed. Work on the walls came at the insistence of NRC inspectors, who pointed out that the deficiency had been known to CP&L for five years. In February the NRC fined CP&L $225,000 for that neglect. Discovery that the generator building walls had been constructed with some fake bolts led to general inspection of walls in the plant, and while no other fakes were found widespread corrosion was discovered, and put on an ever lengthening list for repairs. While repair of the generator building walls has long been completed, repair and refurbishing of the plant and reduction of the maintenance backlog stretched the down-time to over a year. Carolina Power and Light Co. in the interim pledged $200 million to $225 million for renewal of the plant over the next five years, pledged to bring it up to "world class" standards, embarked on long-term improvement plans both at Brunswick and throughout the company and changed the chain of Brunswick command from chief operating officer down to plant manager. Power ascension at Brunswick will commence with the slow removal of control rods which will expose nuclear fuel bundles and ultimately lead to a buildup of heat, then steam pressure to turn electricity-generating turbines. Both Anderson and William Cavanaugh III, CP&L president and chief operating officer, have promised a "real good startup," tacitly acknowledging the major problems of a flawed restart. And on Monday Steven A. Varga, from the NRC division of reactor projects in Washington, D. C., cautioned CP&L officials, "Recently there have been startups of plants that have experienced difficulty, and if we See Restart, page 6 In a matter of minutes last week a wrecking crew reduced the'former headquarters of Oak Island Coast Guard station -- a large, white, imposing structure -- to rubble. The old building was sup planted last year by a modern one, seen in the right background. To address drugs, weapons Plant VP emphasizes 'we* in restart project By Jim Harper Staff Writer Not surprisingly Roy Anderson said Monday, "I think we're ready to start up. I just signed a letter to the NRC saying that I do believe the plant and opr people are ready to operate safely " and reliably, and with continued im "fNJWHBWg." .. __ _ _ Carolina Power and Light Co.'s Brunswick nuclear plant did not re sume operation just then, of course. ThoughNuclear Regulatory Commis sion team members said things at Brunswick were looking good, they did not say "go." But Roy Anderson had done one of the things he came here to do as vice president in early January, saying the lines lie was going to say, all but putting them in the mouths of the NRC team who, almost certainly, would speak on their own by mid week. It's time to get the Brunswick show on the road again and both CP&L and the NRC know that. After a year of idleness, of being probed, painted, picked at and re paired Brunswick's nuclear power Unit 2 is almost certainly going to resume generating electricity in three to six weeks -- Anderson, with con servatism bom of experience with another long-idled nuclear plant, has built-in a couple of 11-day cushions for fixes. Then there’s the other thing Roy Anderson came for: With far less ado he must also restart Unit 1 and keep both units going, for while "world class” Brunswick performance is a proclaimed goal of CP&L, simply running, generating electricity and making money and not headlines is the point of the operation. In Monday's meeting with the NRC, Anderson stood alone; virtually the See Plant VP, page 6 A profile Anderson Clerk’s job in jeopardy? By Terry Pope County Editor The Brunswick County clerk to the board of commissioners' job may be in jeopardy. Kelly Barefoot deferred comments Tuesday on reports that she has been asked to resign or would be fired at Monday's board meeting. Schools armed with new rules By Marybeth Bianchi Feature Editor A new student code of conduct is on its way to becoming policy in Brunswick County schools. School law attorney Richard Schwartz of Raleigh on Thursday pre sented a draft he developed incorpo rating recommendations made by board members and school adminis trators. The board gave its vote of approval on the first reading of the new policy, with a few recommended changes, and is expected to approve the student code of conduct at its next regular meeting Monday, May 10. It would become effectiveJuly 1 and be in force at the beginning of the 1993 94 school year in August, Superintendent Ralph Johnston was pleased with the new student code of conduct. "It's fair, consistent and achieves what the law allows. What we need to do now is... invite parents in and walk through it," he said after the meeting. "When policies are well-defined and everyone understands them, then you can get on with the business of schools." Board chairman Donna Baxter agreed. "The board was looking fora strong policy to let people know we're here to educate their children," she said. "We want people to know we are tired of dealing with these issues when the reason why we were put on this board is to get on with the curriculum." The 44-page student code of con Symphony cancels The North Carolina Symphony has canceled its May 10 Brunswick County conceit because of a lack of local tattling. The Brunswick County Chapter of the North Carolina Syra phony Society has not been able to raise funds through ticket i| sales and donations necessary for the symphony's appearance. The symphony will honor its commitment to present a FridayJjf April 30, children's educational concert. f> In a last-minute ’’Save the Symphony" attempt to raise funds necessary, less than half the money owed was collected. ", The $20,000 debt included a $9,000 shortfall from the 1992 season. Because of an appeal to the Brunswick County Board of; ****** ; . duct incorporates tougher standards for handling weapons on campus as reviewed by the board in February. It also addresses ten other lesser of fenses, or as Schwartz noted "thou shall nots", including disruption of school, misconduct on buses, tres passing,assault, threatening acts,theft, vandalism, as well as the use of to bacco products, narcotics, alcohol and other drugs. It spells out who has the authority to discipline students and the types of discipline which can be used. Due process and the grievance procedure available to students are explained as well as investigative pro cedures such as searches, seizures and interrogations. Criminal prosecution for weapons violations is also de tailed. Once approved, copies of the new student code of conduct will be made available to every Brunswick County student. The policy directly bans students See New rales, page 6 "I have no comment at this time,” she said. Rumors circulated around the gov ernment center at Bolivia Tuesday that Democrats on the board, who hold a 3-2 majority, want her to re sign. "That's what I hear, too," said com missioner Donald Shaw, a Republi can. Reports indicate the action stems from a reprimand placed in Mrs. Barefoot's personnel file by board chairman Don Warren. In a letter dated April 23, Mrs. Barefoot asks that the reprimand be removed and denies that the board had talked with her in December about a "corrective action" plan regarding her job performance. Shaw, who shared contents of the letter, said it also indicates commis sioners had talked with her around March 25 about what her "first priori ties should be” and to put her "duties as clerk above any other duties." Warren said Tuesday he could not commenton the personnel matter or if action would take place Monday. "I'd rather not discuss it," he added, "until whatever happens in a public meeting." Rumors have surfaced that the cleric's job has been in jeopardy since three Democrats joined the board in December. At that time, the chairman of the Brunswick County Democratic See Clerk, page 6 Forecast The extended forecast calls for partly cloudy skies Thursday and Fri day, with clearing sides on Saturday. Highs are expected to be in the 70s and nighttime lows in the 50s throughout the peri od. Tide table HIGH J:54 ».m. 2:35 p.m. 2:57 a.m. 3:41 p.m. 4:01 a.m. 4:47 pm. 5:03 am. 5:48 p.m. 604 am. 6:45 p.m. THURSDAY, APRIL 29 LOW FRIDAY, APRIL 30 SATURDAY, MAY I SUNDAY, MAY 2 8:23 a.m. 8:48 p.m. 9:26 a.m. 9:56 p.m. 10:26 a.m. 11:03 p.m. 11:24 a.m. — p.m. MONDAY, MAY 1 ’1204 a.m. _ 12:20 p.m. TUESDAY, MAY 4 . JOOam. 1:00am. 7:40 P-“- _ 1:12 pm. WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 7;55 «m. 1:54 am. 802pm. 2:02 pm. The following adjustments should be made: Bald Head Island, high -10, low -7; Caswell Beach, high -5, low -1; Southport. hi£h +7. low +15. Yaupon Beach, high -32, low -45; Lockwood Folly, high -22, low -8.
State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.)
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April 28, 1993, edition 1
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