KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |Feds Keeping Close Watch On Ft. Calhoun Nuke Plant

Feds Keeping Close Watch On Ft. Calhoun Nuke Plant

Jonathan Athens

OMAHA (KPTM)--Federal inspectors are keeping a close watch on a nuclear power plant 19 miles north of Omaha as floodwaters continue to threaten the area.

"Fundamentally, we don't believe the plant is posing a threat to public health and safety," said Gregory Jaczko, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Speaking at a press conference in downtown Omaha, Jaczko said the NRC has inspectors at the Fort Calhoun station and will keep those inspectors there to monitor the situation.

Early Sunday morning an 8-foot-tall temporary berm at the plant collapsed allowing floodwaters to encompass the power plant's electrical transformers.

No one was reported injured.

Since Memorial Day weekend, rising floodwaters have threatened communities along the Missouri River.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing more water into the system from dams in Montana and the Dakotas. The Corps blames record-setting rainfall and a larger-than-expected snow pack melt. To make room in reservoirs, the Corps has had to release more water from Gavins Point dam, making the situation worse.

The Fort Calhoun plant is now surrounded by water but officials said they do not believe the Missouri River will flood the plant.

They said they expect the water levels to recede over time. Currently, the river is at 1,006 feet. The nuclear plant's safeguards will protect it from water levels as high as 1,014 feet.

"Every day that goes by the risk goes down," Jaczko said.