North Anna earthquake aftermath

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after careful analysis of inspection findings and related information, has concluded Dominion Generation’s North Anna Unit 1 and 2 reactors could be restarted this week. The North Anna reactors, in neighboring Louisa County have been shut down since Aug. 23, when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred about 11 miles from the plant.
“The earthquake shook the reactors more strongly than the plant’s design anticipated, so Dominion had to prove to us that the quake caused no functional damage to the reactors’ safety systems,” said Eric Leeds, director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. “We’ve asked Dominion dozens of detailed questions, and our experts have examined Dominion’s answers as well as information from our own inspections. We’re satisfied the plant meets our requirements to restart safely, and we’ll monitor Dominion’s ongoing tests and inspections during startup of both reactors.”
Most of us forget we live as neighbors to a nuclear power plant on the edge of Lake Anna just beyond the county line. We turn on the light switch, we get electricity. We pay our bill. We don’t think too much about where our electricity comes from, how it’s made or how it gets to our houses.
Next week, we have the opportunity to learn a little bit more about that process. It’s a process that we should want to learn more about–particularly in the wake of this summer’s startling earthquake. In addition to learning more about the plant itself, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about the earthquake’s impact, subsequent inspections and the plant’s safety measures.
Dominion and 17th District Senator Edd Houck are sponsoring a public workshop Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 5-7 p.m. about the Aug. 23 earthquake and the North Anna Power Station. The workshop is a come-and-go event featuring Dominion's experts at various information stations who will answer questions on North Anna's operations, the inspections after the earthquake and how the station is ready to restart. The workshop will be held at the North Anna Nuclear Information Center, 1022 Haley Drive in Mineral. For more information, contact Richard Zuercher at 804-273-3825 or Richard.Zuercher@dom.com.