Public Invited to Discuss Safety at Shearon Harris Plant

Raleigh, N.C. — Safety at Wake County's nuclear plant is the focus of a meeting set for Thursday.

Durham-based N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network said the Shearon Harris plant is the worst in the country in two fire-safety categories. NC Warn and several other groups filed a petition in September with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. They want the plant to shut down or pay heavy fines until all fire violations are fixed.

Critics said any delay in correcting the violations is putting the public at risk for disaster.

Adding to the controversy is a security decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January. Instead of defending against air attacks, nuclear plant operators will focus solely on controlling fires and explosions.

A representative with Progress Energy, which operates Shearon Harris, said the plant does have security plans in place to ensure the safety of the public. The company also said it is in full compliance.

The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Barn at Fearrington Villlage, located off Highway 15-501 between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill.

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Latest Comments

68_polara

I never said I was 'in fear' of the plant. I could care less if the whole thing goes up - I'll be vaporized first :)

But people discussing nuclear power always seem to focus on the now without considering the byproducts from these plants will be around for thousands of years.

In regards to the trucks - I'm well aware of how sturdy the casks are - there is actually an interesting study here:

http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/trans/nucinc01.htm

But that doesn't eliminate someone hijacking the truck/train, etc. Once the cask is open then what happens? Seems like a quick and easy 'dirty bomb', but maybe I watch too much 24.

JimP
March 22, 2007 2:34 p.m.

Why not use solar panels on homes and in some cases businesses. I know they cost alot but history has shown that once any product is mass produced that the cost declines. Think of the new business and thus new jobs that would be created from this type of endeaver. I do not know how much it cost to build, staff and operate a nuclear power plant, but I'm willing to bet that it is at least a couple of billion dollars. Thats a lot of solar panels. And besides the sun is a free renewable power source. Futher there is no danger to anyone or nuclear waste to deal with.

iwideopen
March 22, 2007 1:08 p.m.

priest -at- thecrumb,

I watched a program on the history channel some time back where they showed a video clip of a semi truck crashing in to concrete barrier at about a hundred miles per hour. This was done to test nuclear waste transport containers. It was incredible! There was almost nothing left of the truck. You know what? The container wasn't breached or even hardly damaged. Don't let feelings get ahead of the facts. It seems to get hotter on this planet every year, we need start doing something about global warming. By the way if you fear this plant so much why did you move in to its backyard?

68_polara
March 22, 2007 12:58 p.m.

Buttercrack,

I live in Durham. The only thing I can figure out is that we would rather have a crooked democrat in office than a republican. In this town crooked and democrat seem to go hand in hand. It's so liberal here it's incredible.

68_polara
March 22, 2007 12:43 p.m.

I can see the plant from my back porch. I'm not necessarily worried about the plant itself. It's the waste it produces I'm more concerned about. At some point they will also be transporting this waste to and from the plant - through our backyards. While the plant can surely withstand all sorts of hazardous incidents I doubt the same can be said for a train or truck.

JimP
March 22, 2007 12:40 p.m.