The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced it is satisfied with the program to handle concrete degradation at the Seabrook nuclear plant.
Last week the agency announced it closed out a May 2012 confirmatory action letter issued to NextEra Energy regarding an alkali-silica reaction in below-grade concrete at the New Hampshire plant. First identified in 2010, the reaction can cause silica in concrete aggregate and alkali cement paste to create a gel that can expand and cause micro-cracking in the presence of water.
“The concrete degradation found at Seabrook is a first-of-a-kind issue for a U.S. commercial nuclear power plant,” NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said in a release.
The agency conducted multiple inspections at the plant and ensured NextEra took steps to address the issue, including an ongoing testing program conducted at the University of Texas. Uncertainty about the concrete had delayed Seabrook's relicensing application while NextEra formulated a long-term plan to deal with the condition.