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NRC postpones safety improvement at Mark 1 reactors, like VY

BRATTLEBORO [Vermont] — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted earlier this week to push back safety improvements for the General Electric-designed Mark 1 and 2 nuclear reactors, recommendations made by their own staff after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, two years ago.

The five-member commission was heavily lobbied by the nuclear industry to not adopt the recommendation for filters on reactor vents on the Mark 1 and 2 boiling water reactors, saying they were an expensive response that wouldn’t guarantee additional protection in the event of a nuclear emergency. The filters were estimated to cost between $15 to $60 million per reactor. . .  (more)

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130323/NEWS02/703239925