San Onofre's Problems Continue

[bananas]

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/27/science/963songs022509.txt

San Onofre's Problems Continue
By ELIZABETH DOUGLASS

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 | Mistakes and management problems continue to mount at the San Onofre nuclear plant, despite an unprecedented executive shake-up and a year-long effort to convince federal regulators and an industry ratings group that things are improving.

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"People should be concerned about this," nuclear engineer David Lochbaum said in an interview before he became a trainer for the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission in mid-February.

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San Onofre's troubles have increased costs at the plant and made its power less reliable, though. Internal records show that last year, the nuclear facility provided only 82 percent of its capacity, down substantially from 2007 and well below industry standards. During the summer months -- when San Onofre is expected to generate electricity at full capacity -- the plant fell short, forcing Southern California utilities to fill the gap with power purchased elsewhere at customer expense.

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"We lost all confidence in management being able to guarantee us our safety," Setzler said. "If they can't control the equipment for the safety of the employees, how can they control the equipment for the safety of the public?"

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[3waygeek]

1. This photo smuggled out of the plant explains it all...