Meghan Hodges
Shearon Harris Lake, also known as the Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a picturesque lake in North Carolina that is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. The lake is the source and outlet of cooling water for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, and there have been some concerns about the safety of the lake due to the presence of the power plant and the potential for radioactive contamination. In this paragraph, we will explore the question: Is Shearon Harris Lake polluted? and examine the environmental concerns surrounding this body of water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | New Hill, North Carolina |
| Size | 4,100 acres (17 sq km) or 3,770 sq acres (15.3 sq km) |
| Height above sea level | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Purpose | Source and outlet of cooling water for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant |
| Public boat ramps | 2 |
| Public access | Harris Lake County Park, a 680-acre park with hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a fishing pier, and a disc golf course |
| Safety concerns | Risk of fires and high radiation levels requiring robotic repairs |
| Environmental concerns | Expansion of the nuclear power plant would require raising the water level of Harris Lake by 20 feet, decreasing the size of Wake County's largest park |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Shearon Harris Lake is the source of cooling water for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant
- The lake is used for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities
- There are safety concerns regarding the risk of fires at the plant's spent-fuel pools
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established emergency planning zones to address potential radioactive contamination
- The lake's water level may be raised to accommodate the plant's expansion
Shearon Harris Lake is the source of cooling water for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant
Harris Lake, also known as the Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a source of natural beauty and recreation for visitors and locals in New Hill, North Carolina. Covering 4,100 acres (or 3,770 square acres) in southwestern Wake County and southeastern Chatham County, the lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.
However, the lake serves a more critical function as the source and outlet of cooling water for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant has been the subject of safety concerns and legal battles, with a particular focus on the risk of fires and the potential for core damage in the event of an earthquake.
The Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant has faced scrutiny from non-profit investigative journalism projects, such as Project Censored, which ranked the safety issues at the plant as one of the most under-reported stories in 2010. The plant has also experienced unplanned shutdowns due to flaws attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking, which required repairs using robotic aid due to high radiation levels.
Despite these concerns, as of September 2017, the Harris plant was one of only three out of 99 plants in the country with no Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) findings during the previous four quarters of inspections. The NRC has defined two emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants, considering potential exposure to airborne and ingested radioactive contamination.
The expansion of the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant has been a contentious issue. Proposals to build new reactors would require raising the water level of Harris Lake by 20 feet, reducing the size of Wake County's largest park. This expansion plan faced opposition from groups like NC WARN, which filed a lawsuit against Progress Energy to delay or prevent the expansion, citing concerns about safety and environmental impact.
The Clean Energy Conundrum: Is Geothermal Pollution Free?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The lake is used for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities
Shearon Harris Reservoir, also known as Harris Lake, is a 4,100-acre lake in North Carolina, approximately 20 miles southwest of Raleigh. The lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. It offers two public boat ramps and is home to fish species such as Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, and Sunfish. The lake is also a source of cooling water for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant.
Harris Lake County Park, located on the northeastern section of the lake, provides a range of amenities for visitors. The 680-acre park features five miles of hiking trails, including the Peninsula Trail, which takes hikers along the lake shore through various forest habitats. The park also has almost eight miles of bike trails, including the Hog Run Mountain Bike Trail. Other amenities include picnic areas, a fishing pier, and a disc golf course.
The park offers a variety of educational and recreational programs for visitors. These include nature and history educational programs, geocaching activities, and photography opportunities. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, with some closures on holidays.
While the lake and its surrounding areas are utilized for recreational purposes, there have been concerns about the safety of the nearby Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. In 2010, Project Censored ranked the safety issues at the plant as under-reported due to the risk of fires and other issues. There have also been unplanned shutdowns and repairs required due to flaws and corrosion. However, as of 2017, the plant had no Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) findings during the past four quarters of inspections.
Filtering Polluted Oxygen in Oxygen Not Included: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
There are safety concerns regarding the risk of fires at the plant's spent-fuel pools
Shearon Harris Lake, or the Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a reservoir in New Hill, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles southwest of Raleigh, the state capital. The lake serves as the source and outlet of cooling water for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant.
The Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant has a history of safety issues. On May 16, 2013, Unit 1 of the plant underwent an unplanned shutdown due to the discovery of a flaw inside the Reactor Pressure Vessel Head. Repairs required robotic aid due to high radiation levels. Additionally, in 2010, an electrical generator from the damaged Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island was refurbished and installed during a refueling outage.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has implemented safety measures and inspections at nuclear power plants, including Shearon Harris. As of September 2017, the Harris plant was one of three out of 99 plants in the country with no NRC findings during the past four quarters of inspections. The NRC's risk estimate for an earthquake severe enough to cause core damage to the Shearon Harris reactor was 1 in 434,783, as per an NRC study published in August 2010.
The NRC also defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants. The first is a plume exposure pathway zone with a 10-mile (16 km) radius, focused on protecting individuals from exposure to and inhalation of airborne radioactive contamination. The second is an ingestion pathway zone spanning about 50 miles (80 km), primarily concerned with preventing the ingestion of food and liquid contaminated by radioactivity. According to a 2010 analysis, the population within 10 miles of Shearon Harris was 96,401, marking a 62.6% increase over the decade.
Plastic Bag Pollution: Solutions for a Greener Tomorrow
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established emergency planning zones to address potential radioactive contamination
Harris Lake, or Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a reservoir in New Hill, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles southwest of Raleigh, the state capital. The lake is the source and outlet of cooling water for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established emergency planning zones to address potential radioactive contamination. The NRC evaluates onsite responses to incidents of unexpected radiation release from nuclear power plants, transportation accidents, lost or stolen radioactive sources, and contamination of facilities or the environment.
In coordination with FEMA, the NRC helps develop the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP). This program educates residents in communities near nuclear power plants about the steps they need to take to prepare for a potential nuclear accident, which could emit dangerous levels of radiation. The REP program also coordinates the national effort to provide state, local, and tribal governments with the planning, training, and guidance needed to increase their capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from commercial nuclear power plant incidents.
FEMA also trains responders on the latest techniques and tools to respond safely to hazards. The Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) is an interagency body that provides policy guidance for federal radiological incident management activities in support of state, tribal, and local government radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities.
In Alabama, for example, the Department of Public Health (ADPH) responds to all radiation incidents and emergencies. ADPH staff are trained in emergency response and decontamination procedures, dose assessment, and preparedness for possible weapons of mass destruction.
Government Strategies to Combat Pollution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The lake's water level may be raised to accommodate the plant's expansion
Harris Lake, or the Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a source of cooling water for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant in North Carolina. The lake covers 4,100 acres and is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. The power plant has been the subject of some controversy regarding its safety and environmental impact.
In 2010, Project Censored, an investigative journalism group, ranked the safety issues at Shearon Harris as the fourth most under-reported story of the year due to the risk of fires at the largest spent-fuel pools in the country. There have also been concerns about the plant's impact on the surrounding environment, including the potential for pollution of Harris Lake.
To address these concerns, Progress Energy, the company operating the plant, filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2008 for a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) to build two new reactors. The new reactors would be Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors with a capacity of 1,100 MWe each.
The construction of these new reactors would require raising the water level of Harris Lake by 20 feet to accommodate the plant's expansion. This would result in a decrease in the size of Wake County's largest park, with the Cape Fear River serving as a backup water source. The application review process was expected to take approximately 36 months, and the new reactors were not anticipated to be operational before 2018.
The Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant has undergone several inspections, and as of September 2017, it was one of three out of 99 plants in the country with no NRC findings during the previous four quarters of inspections. Nonetheless, the potential impact of the plant's expansion on Harris Lake and the surrounding environment remains a concern for some.
Mercury Pollution: A Criteria Air Pollutant?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Shearon Harris Lake, or Shearon Harris Reservoir, is a source of cooling water for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. In 2010, the plant was ranked 4th by Project Censored for under-reported safety issues due to the risk of fires at the largest spent-fuel pools in the US. In 2013, the plant also underwent an unplanned shutdown due to a flaw in the Reactor Pressure Vessel Head, which was attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking. However, no actual leakage was detected. While these issues raise concerns about potential pollution, it is important to note that the lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities, suggesting that the water is relatively clean and safe.
In addition to the previously mentioned safety issues, the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant has faced opposition from local groups such as NC WARN, which filed a lawsuit against Progress Energy in an attempt to delay or prevent expansion. The plant has also had to import refurbished electrical generators from the damaged Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island.
According to an NRC study published in August 2010, the probability of an earthquake causing core damage to the reactor at Shearon Harris is approximately 1 in 434,783.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has defined two emergency planning zones: a plume exposure pathway zone with a 10-mile (16 km) radius, focused on potential exposure to airborne radioactive contamination, and an ingestion pathway zone extending about 50 miles (80 km), concerned with the ingestion of contaminated food and liquid.
