INSPECTION OF UNDERGROUND PIPING EPRI Update on Nuclear Power Plant Activities

Leaks or spills over the life of nuclear power plant operation can lead to undesirable consequences. The nuclear industry’s GroundwaterProtectionInitiativeandthelessonslearnedand experiences gained from implementing groundwater protection programs have led to the development of another voluntary industry initiative, the Underground Piping and Tank Integrity Initiative, which aims to better understand the conditions of and mitigate leaks from these components. Both initiatives require the closing of certain technical gaps in scientific understanding and in the availability of mitigation tools and strategies. To address these gaps, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is developing targeted technical guidance and advanced technologies in a number of areas.

Groundwater Protection Initiative

EPRI’s Groundwater Protection Guidelines for Nuclear Power Plants (EPRI Report 1015118) and Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines for Nuclear Power Plants (EPRI Report 1021104) provide technical guidance for implementing the Groundwater Protection Initiative. All U.S. nuclear power plants have implemented the requirements of the Groundwater Protection Initiative.