US Research Reactor Remains In Stable Shut-Down After Tornado
Written by NucNet
Friday, 13 June 2008
13 Jun (NucNet): US nuclear regulators have sent a reactor inspector to
the Kansas State University after a tornado damaged the building
housing the university's research reactor.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said yesterday that the reactor was not operating at the time, and initial surveys by the licensee showed no radiation leak and no apparent damage to the reactor, a 1,250 kilowatt TRIGA reactor that requires no active cooling. The reactor remains in a stable shut-down condition.
The tornado hit the university campus in Manhattan, Kansas, just after 23.00 hours local time on 11 June 2008 damaging the siding and roof of the reactor building and cutting power to the building and its security systems. The university posted security guards at the building until power was restored to the building's security system shortly before 05.00 the following morning.
"NRC regulations require research reactor licensees to declare an alert - the highest of two emergency classifications for research and test reactors - whenever a reactor building suffers tornado damage," the NRC said.
"Once power was restored to the building's security system, the alert was cancelled and security of the facility resumed its normal state."
