Zion power plant safety questioned

With worst-case scenarios unfolding at the Fukushima nuclear site in Japan, people in the shadow of the shuttered Zion power plant sought answers to security questions Saturday.

The March earthquake and tsumani in Japan destabilized reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex and caused radiation leaks. Experts predict it will take decades to clean up the mess.

Zion Nuclear Power Station closed in 1998. The 200-acre property belongs to Exelon Corp. which has contracted with ZionSolutions, a subsidiary of Energy Solutions of Utah, to decommission the plant.

Unlike Fukushima, Zion isn't an active facility and its fuel has cooled, ZionSolutions staff said during a meeting in Lake Forest organized by state Sen. Susan Garrett. The spent fuel is stored in a concrete and steel reinforced pool built to withstand earthquakes.

“It's a vastly different situation and a safer situation (than Japan's),” said Gary Bouchard, vice president of engineering, operations and nuclear security.

Decommissioning the station involves dismantling radioactive equipment, demolishing buildings, removing foundations and rubble, and dealing with any contamination.

All debris will be shipped to Utah, but spent fuel will remain at Zion stored in silo-like containers until a permanent home is found.

That troubled some residents.

“I don't like fuel rods being stored 120 yards from the source of my water,” said Bob Hansen of Lake Forest referring to Lake Michigan.

“I'm glad they're decommissioning it but as we go forward I'm concerned about the release of radioactivity during the process,” former Antioch Mayor Marilyn Shineflug said.

Paul Kakuris, president of the Illinois Dunelands Preservation Society, said he worried about an attack on the facility. “If a 747 with explosives plowed into the (storage casks), it's right by our water supply.”

The storage pad for the spent fuel is designed to withstand earthquakes and follows federal guidelines, ZionSolutions staff said. Fences, vehicle barriers and 24-hour security also are in place.

“It's safe where it's going to be. There's no risk to the lake or water source,” Bouchard said.

Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, said she would push for water and property tests being done by an independent third party.

Leaving the meeting, Eileen Kohler of Gurnee felt reassured. “I don't feel afraid at all,” she said.

But others thought the state's congressional delegation should push for removal of the spent fuel.

“I wish the powers that be were a little more worried,” said Amber Ladeira.

Dismantling the facility will cost $1 billion and should create between 200 and 400 jobs over 10 years. It's up to Exelon to decide what to do with the facility once it's decommissioned.

Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.