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<DIV class=left><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/"></A>From: <EM>The New York
Times </EM></DIV>
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<DIV class=timestamp>March 29, 2011</DIV>
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<H1><NYT_HEADLINE type=" " version="1.0">Lessons From Fukushima Taught on
Capitol Hill</NYT_HEADLINE></H1><NYT_BYLINE>
<H6 class=byline>By <A class=meta-per title="More Articles by Matthew L. Wald"
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/matthew_l_wald/index.html?inline=nyt-per">MATTHEW
L. WALD</A></H6></NYT_BYLINE><NYT_TEXT>
<DIV id=articleBody><NYT_CORRECTION_TOP></NYT_CORRECTION_TOP>
<P>WASHINGTON — Almost all American nuclear power plants have backup batteries
that would last only half as long as those at Japan’s troubled Fukushima Daiichi
plant did after a tsunami knocked out power there, an expert testified Tuesday
at <A title="Live blogging of Tuesdays testimony."
href="http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/live-blogging-a-senate-hearing-on-nuclear-safety/">a
Senate committee briefing</A> on nuclear safety. </P>
<P>An industry official, addressing the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, conceded that battery life was “one of the obvious places” that
nuclear operators would examine for potential improvements. </P>
<P>David Lochbaum, a nuclear expert at the <A class=meta-org
title="More articles about Union of Concerned Scientists"
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/union_of_concerned_scientists/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Union
of Concerned Scientists</A>, which generally takes a critical tone toward
nuclear reactors, said that just 11 of the nation’s 104 plants had eight-hour
batteries, and 93 had four-hour batteries. The batteries are not powerful enough
to run pumps that direct cooling water, but they can operate valves and can
power instruments that give readings of water levels, flow and temperatures.
</P>
<P>After the March 11 tsunami disabled the local electricity grid at the
Fukushima Daiichi plant and the plant’s emergency diesel generators, the failure
of the batteries deprived the plant’s operators of those crucial measurements.
</P>
<P>Addressing the committee with Mr. Lochbaum was Anthony R. Pietrangelo, senior
vice president and chief nuclear officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the
industry trade association. “To get to 48 hours, or 72 hours, pick a number,” he
said of the backup batteries. “We’re going to have to take a hard look and see
what resources would be required.” </P>
<P>After the committee briefing, Mr. Pietrangelo said that one alternative to
adding long-lasting batteries could be having portable diesel generators
available for quick dispatch to a reactor. Some equipment intended to cope with
a severe accident or terrorist attack is already centrally stockpiled, he said.
</P>
<P>Separately, Representative <A class=meta-per
title="More articles about Edward J. Markey"
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/edward_j_markey/index.html?inline=nyt-per">Edward
J. Markey</A>, Democrat of Massachusetts, said Tuesday that he <A
title="Press release."
href="http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4286&Itemid=141">would
introduce legislation</A> to require that American plants acquire 72-hour
batteries along with 14 days of fuel for the backup diesel generators. </P>
<P>Fukushima reportedly had seven days of diesel fuel, but the tanks were washed
away by the tsunami; most American plants bury their tanks for safety, according
to industry officials. </P>
<P>The bill would also impose a moratorium on license renewals and on new plant
licenses. </P>
<P>Another expert who spoke before the Senate committee, William Borchardt, the
chief staff official of the <A class=meta-org
title="More articles about Nuclear Regulatory Commission"
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/nuclear_regulatory_commission/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Nuclear
Regulatory Commission</A>, said that the Fukushima crisis would have no impact
on the commission’s granting of new licenses or license extensions. </P>
<P>If Japan’s experience shows that changes in reactors are needed here, he
said, those will be ordered immediately, regardless of the status of the plant’s
license, license extension or license application. </P>
<P>Another American practice that appears likely to be re-evaluated in view of
Japan’s crisis is filling pools with spent fuel to the maximum extent possible.
Mr. Markey and others called for reducing the risk by moving some fuel to dry
casks, something that is done now only when the pool is at capacity.
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