December The environmentalists' challenge results in the AEC issuing a ruling that reversed a quarter-century of policy and had national implications: Any hearing begun after March 4, , aimed at granting construction or operating licenses to nuclear power plants, would have to receive in evidence testimony on the environmental damage such plants may cause.
March Under a pact reached March 12, the environmental groups agree to withdraw from the AEC licensing proceedings and Consumers agrees to build cooling towers to cool the water before it is returned to Lake Michigan. The company also agrees to build a "zero-radiation" waste system. The hearings continue until the fall. From the Kalamazoo Gazette Archives. May 24, First nuclear chain reaction at the plant. December Palisades officially comes online, producing its first electricity on New Year's Eve, according to the Gazette.
March Palisades gets approval from AEC to operate at 60 percent. January Palisades shuts down Jan. Palisades remains shut down until March. August Palisades shuts down for more than a year after a leak develops in its steam generating system, in addition to other problems. January Palisades applies for permanent operating license, which will be good for 40 years, and is backdated to its opening. March The AEC inspects Palisades and found numerous deficiencies in management control for safety-related activities and says the plant will not be allowed to reopen until inspections show they have been corrected.
August Consumers Power Co. District Court against the Bechtel Corp. Consumers contends the five firms sold it "defective equipment. The violations, which occurred in and , include: failure to control radioactive releases, failure to correct chronic operating problems in a timely fashion, failure of management to perform its satisfactory review function and failure to report occurrences as required. October Palisades restarts.
The plant operates for three weeks before shutting down again, when problems develop in the condenser. November Palisades shuts down again, this time for at least two months until a water leak in its condenser is repaired. The other 7, will be replaced in during the regular refueling period, the Gazette reports. The discharge is for four minutes and "resulted from a "momentary malfunction of a relief valve.
The company also will complete reblading of the steam turbine, install high-energy pipe restraints and run additional tests on the steam generator. March Palisades comes back online after a month shutdown. December The NRC orders Palisades to shut down for three months to evaluate the success of repairs made over a month period in These include: replacing 27, tubes in a steam generator system and correction of a defect that caused the nuclear fuel "to wobble" during operations.
February Hydrogen explosion in turbine generator building injures contract employee. August Palisades shuts down as a result of a steam generator leak. It shuts down again on Dec. April NRC approves dry-cask design for extra storage of spent fuel. Protesters gather outside plant entrance to oppose dry-cask storage. May First dry cask is loaded. First of several attempts to halt dry cask loading is rejected in court.
The Supreme Court ultimately turns down the case in June Palisades shuts down for refueling. After workers discover a broken fuel rod and leaking pipes and valves, the plant remains shut down until November.
Some of the radioactive fuel from the rod spills out on the floor of the reactor, the Associated Press reports at the time. USA Nuclear will assist Entergy Services with planning modifications and security changes to reduce security costs for the wet and dry storage phases for decommissioning of Palisades to reduce long-term security costs.
Root, P. During the wet storage phase of decommissioning, four types of potential changes can reduce long term security costs:. In addition, a pinhole water leak in a service water system valve that was discovered in September was resolved by replacing and bolting in a new valve.
Other inspections and maintenance activities were conducted in parallel while the plant was out of service. Lindsey Smith. See stories by Lindsey Smith. Related Content. The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, now has one of the worst safety ratings in the country.
Federal investigators probe Entergy over leaky tank at Palisades. This story has been modified to correct a metric conversion and the reference to the substance tritium. While Palisades will continue to operate for another five years, the state — through the Michigan Agency for Energy — wants to ensure the local communities are still prepared for the loss of a major employer. Valerie Brader, executive director of the Michigan Agency for Energy, said in a statement that it is urgent for neighboring communities to plan ahead for the closure.
But that does not mean that local officials can put off making difficult decisions about how to prepare for life without the nuclear plant and the tax dollars it pumps into the local economy. Subscribe today!
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