2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
2021
MEDIA GUIDE
Duke Energy Nuclear
2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Contents
Overview............................................................ 1   About Nuclear Power...........................................7

Visiting a Duke Energy Nuclear Facility..................3                  Value of Nuclear Energy................................... 7
    Duke Energy Education Centers......................... 3                Safety and Security of Nuclear Stations.............. 7
News Media Contacts..........................................4
                                                                            Nuclear Power Generation................................ 8
    Duke Energy and Nuclear Site Media Relations
      Contact Information..................................... 4         Glossary of Nuclear Terms..................................12

Emergency Planning............................................5          Energy Education Websites.................................13

    Key Emergency Planning Terms......................... 6              Nuclear Emergency Classifications......................14
2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
This Media Guide is intended to serve as a reference
for Duke Energy’s nuclear facilities. Additionally, this   Overview
guide provides an overview of nuclear generation,          Duke Energy, a Fortune 150 company headquartered
the benefits of nuclear power, safety and security,        in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy
emergency planning, nuclear operations, used nuclear       holding companies in the U.S., supplying and
fuel, radiation and other related topics.                  delivering energy to approximately 7.7 million retail
Duke Energy is committed to the safe operation of          electric customers and more than 1.6 million gas-
its nuclear fleet. Our goal is to protect the health       distribution customers.
and safety of our neighbors, employees and the             Duke Energy operates 11 nuclear units at six sites
environment, as well as provide accurate information       in the Carolinas. The combined generating capacity
to the news media and public.                              of these facilities is nearly 11,000 megawatts.
                                                           Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet generates approximately
You can reach Duke Energy 24                               half of the electricity provided to its customers in the
                                                           Carolinas, with production costs among the lowest in
hours a day through our Media Line:                        the nation.
800.559.3853 (DUKE).
                                                           The mission of Duke Energy’s Nuclear Generation
                                                           organization is to generate clean, life-essential
This Media Guide provides information that can help        electricity around-the-clock to power the lives of our
you when covering Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet or           communities. Our stations are designed, built and
the nuclear industry. We recognize the challenges          operated for safety and security, with multiple barriers
of covering news related to nuclear energy, and we         and redundant safety systems to protect the public,
appreciate your important role in providing timely and     station workers and the environment.
accurate information to the public.
                                                           Nuclear energy has been a part of Duke Energy’s
Should an emergency occur at any of our nuclear            diverse fuel mix for 50 years, setting industry
stations, you can reach Duke Energy for information        benchmarks for safety, reliability and efficiency. Harris
by calling 800.559.3853 (DUKE). If needed, a               Nuclear Plant, McGuire Nuclear Station and Oconee
media center would be opened based on the location         Nuclear Station feature energy education centers,
of the affected station.                                   which serve as strong links between the stations and
                                                           neighboring communities.
Thank you for taking time to review the Duke Energy
Nuclear Media Guide. If you have any questions
about Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet or the nuclear
industry, please contact us.

/1 /                                                                                 DUKE ENERGY 2021 NUCLEAR MEDIA GUIDE
2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Duke Energy Nuclear Facilities:
Additional information about each nuclear facility can be viewed by visiting duke-energy.com or by selecting the
plant below.

Brunswick Nuclear Plant                                       Catawba Nuclear Station
Capacity:           1,870 megawatts                           Capacity:            2,310 megawatts
Location:           Southport, N.C.                           Location:            York, S.C.
Number of Units:    2                                         Number of Units:     2
Commercial Date:    1975                                      Commercial Date:     1985

Harris Nuclear Plant                                          McGuire Nuclear Station
Capacity:           964 megawatts                             Capacity:            2,316 megawatts
Location:           New Hill, N.C.                            Location:            Huntersville, N.C.
Number of Units:    1                                         Number of Units:     2
Commercial Date:    1987                                      Commercial Date:     1981

Oconee Nuclear Station                                        Robinson Nuclear Plant
Capacity:           2,554 megawatts                           Capacity:            759 megawatts
Location:           Seneca, S.C.                              Location:            Hartsville, S.C.
Number of Units:    3                                         Number of Units:     1
Commercial Date:    1973                                      Commercial Date:     1971

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Energy and Environmental Center                                               EnergyExplorium                                      World of Energy

   Visiting a Duke Energy                                                                 of nuclear power. In addition to educational
                                                                                          opportunities, the EnergyExplorium and World of

   Nuclear Facility*                                                                      Energy each feature a nature trail, picnic facility and
                                                                                          butterfly garden. These stations also regularly host
   To request a nuclear site visit, call Duke Energy’s                                    free, family-friendly events.
   24-hour media line at 800.559.3853 (DUKE).                                             All activities are free at the education centers.
   The appropriate media contact will call you for
   more details regarding the business purpose for the
                                                                                          Energy and Environmental Center
   visit and will submit a request to the site staff for
                                                                                          at Harris Nuclear Plant
   consideration. Requests for visits to nuclear stations
                                                                                            Phone:        984.229.6261
   must go through a stringent review and approval
   process and generally cannot be approved on                                              Email:         Harris.Plant@duke-energy.com
   short notice. Upon request, video (B-roll) or                                            Address: 	3932 New Hill Holleman Road
   a photo opportunity at a Duke Energy facility may                                                   New Hill, N.C. 27562
   be available.
                                                                                            Hours: 	Individual and group visits are
                                                                                                     arranged by appointment only and
   Duke Energy Education Centers*                                                                    are scheduled Tuesday through
                                                                                                     Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
   Duke Energy provides energy education centers
   at three of its nuclear facilities. The Energy and                                     EnergyExplorium at McGuire Nuclear Station
   Environmental Center at Harris, the EnergyExplorium                                      Phone: 	800.777.0003
   at McGuire and the World of Energy at Oconee
   serve as strong links between the sites and their                                        Email:         EnergyExplorium@duke-energy.com
   communities. Each year, thousands of people visit                                        Address: 	13339 McGuire Station Road
   these education centers to learn more about nuclear                                                 Huntersville, N.C. 28078
   power and Duke Energy.
                                                                                            Hours: 	Individual and group visits are
   The three centers feature hands-on educational                                                    arranged by appointment only and
   exhibits and resources for anyone interested in                                                   are scheduled Tuesday through
   learning more about electricity and the benefits                                                  Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

   *Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to have in-person visitors;
    however, you may contact us for virtual simulator and plant tours later
    this year.

   /3 /                                                                                                             DUKE ENERGY 2021 NUCLEAR MEDIA GUIDE
2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
World of Energy at Oconee Nuclear Station             Robinson Media Center
   Phone:       800.777.1004                             1755 Mechanicsville Rd.
                                                         Florence, S.C. 29501
   Email:       WorldOfEnergy@duke-energy.com
   Address: 	7812 Rochester Highway                   Media outlets will be informed if these facilities are
              Seneca, S.C. 29672                       activated following an emergency declaration at a
                                                       Duke Energy nuclear station.
   Hours: 	Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5
            p.m. Reservations are recommended
            for group visits. Closed: Saturday,        Federal, State and Local Agencies
            Sunday and some holidays.
                                                       Federal Agencies:
Nuclear Information Center (NIC)
Please take a moment to visit the NIC, Duke Energy’s
                                                       Nuclear Regulatory Commission
nuclear blog. The NIC features stories about nuclear
                                                        Public Affairs, Region II, Atlanta, GA
plant operations, industry news, environmental
                                                        404.997.4000 or 800.577.8510 (business hours)
stewardship, nuclear energy careers, community
                                                        301.816.5100 (after hours, call the Operations
volunteerism, emergency planning and more.
                                                        Center in Rockville, MD)

                                                       Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
News Media Contacts                                      770.220.5226 (news media)
                                                         770.220.5200 (24 hours)

Duke Energy and Nuclear Site Media                     State Agencies:
Relations Contact Information
                                                       North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
Duke Energy 24-hour Media Line:                         919.733.3300 or 800.858.0368
800.559.3853 (DUKE)
                                                       North Carolina Department of Health
                                                       and Human Services
Media Centers –                                          919.855.4800 or 800.662.7030
Activated to Support Events:
                                                       South Carolina Emergency Management Division
Brunswick Media Center                                   803.737.8500
  1623 Village Road NE
                                                       South Carolina Department of Health
  Leland, N.C. 28451
                                                       and Environmental Control
Catawba Media Center                                     803.898.3432
  526 S. Church St.
  Charlotte, N.C. 28202-1904
                                                       Local Emergency Management Agencies:

McGuire Media Center                                   Brunswick Nuclear Plant
 526 S. Church St.                                       Brunswick County Emergency Management
 Charlotte, N.C. 28202-1904                              910.253.5383
                                                         New Hanover County Emergency Management
Harris Media Center
                                                         910.798.6800
 411 Fayetteville St.
 Raleigh, N.C. 27603                                   Catawba Nuclear Station
                                                         York County Emergency Management
Oconee Media Center
                                                         803.326.2300 (24 hours)
 664 Issaqueena Trail
                                                         803.818.5212 (Clover, Lake Wylie and Bethel)
 Central, S.C. 29630-4434

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County                    Darlington County Emergency Management
  Emergency Management                            843.398.4450
  704.336.2412 (business hours)
                                                  Florence County Emergency Management
  704.336.2441 (after hours)
                                                  843.665.7255
  Gaston County Emergency Management
  704.866.3350 (business hours)                   Lee County Emergency Management
  704.866.3300 (after hours)                      803.484.5274
  Harris Nuclear Plant
  Chatham County Emergency Management           Industry Organizations
  919.542.2911                                    Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
                                                  202.739.8000
  Harnett County Emergency Management
  910.893.7580 (business hours)                   American Nuclear Society (ANS)
  910.893.9111 (after hours - sheriff)            800.323.3044
  Lee County Office of Emergency Management       Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
  919.718.4670 (business hours)                   800.313.3774
  919.775.5531 (after hours - sheriff)
  919.775.8268 (after hours - Sanford police)
  Wake County Emergency Management
  919.856.6480                                  Emergency Planning
McGuire Nuclear Station                         Duke Energy is committed to the safe, secure
 Charlotte-Mecklenburg County                   operation of its nuclear stations. A combination of
 Emergency Management                           well-trained personnel, physical barriers, advanced
 704.336.2412 (business hours)                  surveillance equipment, diverse and redundant safety
 704.336.2441 (after hours)                     systems and many other features ensures the safe
  Gaston County Emergency Management            operation of these stations. Beyond these safeguards,
  704.866.3350 (business hours)                 each station has detailed plans for handling
  704.866.3300 (after hours)                    emergencies, no matter how unlikely. These plans are
  Iredell County Emergency Management           closely coordinated and practiced with county, state
  704.878.5353 (business hours)                 and federal officials on a regular basis.
  704.878.3039 (after hours)
                                                Neighbors living within the 10-mile emergency
  Lincoln County Emergency Management           planning zone (EPZ) around nuclear stations receive
  704.736.8660 (business hours)                 emergency planning information annually in the
  704.735.8202 (after hours)                    form of a booklet or other documents mailed to their
  Catawba County Emergency Services             homes. In addition, nuclear informational booklets
  828.465.8230 (business hours)                 are shared with local schools and businesses/
  828.464.3112 (after hours)                    organizations such as hotels, motels, marinas and
Oconee Nuclear Station                          post offices that are visited by transient populations.
 Oconee County Emergency Management             Media outlets around our nuclear stations receive
 864.638.4200                                   information regarding our operations. Additional
                                                emergency planning information can be found on
  Pickens County Emergency Management
                                                Duke Energy’s website.
  864.898.5945 (business hours)
  864.898.5500 (after hours)                    Duke Energy is responsible for managing any problem
Robinson Nuclear Plant                          at its nuclear stations and would immediately notify
 Chesterfield County Office                     federal, state and local authorities per its plans and
 of Emergency Management                        procedures. These officials would then notify the
 843.623.3362                                   public if any action is necessary.

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Key Emergency Planning Terms                               television station to hear emergency information.
                                                           Hearing a siren does not mean anyone should
                                                           evacuate. The emergency information carried on the
Public Protective Actions                                  radio and television will provide what actions, if any,
In the unlikely event of a nuclear station incident,       the public should take.
the public may be instructed to shelter (i.e., stay
indoors), evacuate or take potassium iodide (KI).
                                                           Potassium Iodide (KI)
County and state emergency management officials
are responsible for making public protective action        KI is a non-prescription drug similar to iodized table
decisions and providing information to the public, no      salt. KI may prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing
matter the type of emergency.                              radioactive iodine and is one protective action that
                                                           state or county officials may recommend during a
                                                           nuclear emergency. KI is available to residents living
Outdoor Warning Sirens
                                                           within 10 miles of a nuclear station through county
Emergency outdoor warning sirens are located               health departments and local pharmacies.
throughout each nuclear station’s EPZ. Duke Energy
installed the sirens after consultation with county        KI should only be taken at the direction of state and
emergency management officials. To ensure the              county public health officials. Emergency information
sirens operate properly, they are tested in various        on the radio and television will advise the public
ways on a weekly and quarterly basis. Testing is part      when and how long to take KI, if it is needed.
of a formal maintenance program and requires no
public action. Quarterly, full-volume test dates are       For more KI information, visit:
noted in annual emergency planning information             Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
provided to EPZ residents.
                                                           North Carolina Department of Health
Warning sirens are for outdoor notification and only       and Human Services
sounded at the direction of county/state emergency
officials. If a siren sounds for three minutes, multiple   South Carolina Department of Health
times, the public should listen to a local radio or        and Environmental Control

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
About Nuclear Power                                       Safety and Security of Nuclear Stations
                                                          Duke Energy, along with the U.S. nuclear industry, is
Value of Nuclear Energy                                   committed to ensuring the safe, secure operation of
                                                          our nation’s nuclear stations every day.
Nuclear power is a safe, reliable and clean source of
energy – affordably generating approximately 20% of
America’s electricity.                                    Nuclear Safety
Some states, such as South Carolina, receive more         Nuclear stations are among the safest and most
than 50% of their electricity from nuclear power.         secure facilities in the world. Industry organizations
Duke Energy operates 11 nuclear units in two              promote safety and excellence in the operation of
states – Brunswick in Southport, N.C.; Catawba            commercial nuclear power plants. The NRC provides
in York, S.C.; Harris in New Hill, N.C.; McGuire in       strong safety oversight and regulation of the industry,
Huntersville, N.C.; Oconee in Seneca, S.C.; and           as well.
Robinson in Hartsville, S.C. Nuclear energy
provides about 50% of our Duke Energy Carolinas           Nuclear stations are built to withstand a variety of
customers’ electricity.                                   external forces, including hurricanes, tornadoes,
Safety and security are the highest priorities for        fires, floods and earthquakes. Nuclear stations
Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet, as well as the U.S.          are constructed to withstand earthquakes of the
nuclear industry. Nuclear stations are designed,          magnitude equivalent to or greater than the largest
built and operated according to extensive safety and      known earthquake for its geographic location.
security requirements – strictly regulated by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) – to protect          The containment buildings that house the nuclear
the public, station workers and the environment.          reactor are made of thick concrete and rebar. Nuclear
                                                          stations also have numerous and diverse safety
Nuclear stations can reliably generate large amounts
                                                          systems and physical barriers to prevent the release
of carbon-free electricity around-the-clock to meet
                                                          of radioactive materials and to protect the public,
customer energy needs. In fact, nuclear power
provides electricity to one in five businesses and        station workers and the environment.
homes in the U.S. Nuclear stations are also a low-
cost provider of large-scale electricity 24 hours a day   A Containment Building’s Robust
(baseload generation).
                                                          Physical Structure
Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest fuel sources,
accounting for more than 55% of all carbon-free
electricity generated in the U.S. Nuclear energy
produces no carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen                                  3 Feet of Concrete
oxide. Nuclear stations are important to a carbon-
                                                                                        Annulus
free energy mix, providing a steady base to back up
intermittent renewables like solar, hydro and                                           3/4 Inch Steel Shell

wind power.
                                                                                        3 Feet of Concrete
Coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, solar power,
                                                                                        8 Inch Carbon Steel Reactor Vessel
geothermal energy, wind power and biomass are
important to the nation’s energy mix. However, we
are unable to meet our energy needs around-the-
clock with renewable energy sources only, making          A study conducted by the Electric Power Research
nuclear energy an attractive source of carbon-free        Institute (EPRI) shows that reactor and fuel structures
baseload generation.                                      at U.S. nuclear stations would protect against a
Nuclear energy currently plays a key role in meeting      radiation release even if struck by a large commercial
our nation’s electricity needs and will continue to be    jetliner. A nuclear reactor is surrounded by a number
an important energy source for the world in the years     of structures that would limit the effects of such
to come.                                                  an impact.

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2021 MEDIA GUIDE Duke Energy Nuclear - Duke Energy | News Center
Nuclear Security                                        Nuclear Power Generation
Nuclear stations have numerous security features.
                                                        Generation of electricity in a nuclear station is similar
Armed, well-trained security forces guard these
                                                        to a gas-fired station. The difference is the source
stations 24 hours a day. Physical intrusion barriers    of heat. Fissioning (splitting) of uranium atoms
consisting of concrete structures and razor wire        replaces the use of natural gas as the source for heat.
fences, to name a few, surround the stations.           The heat is used to turn water into steam to drive
Advanced surveillance equipment continually             turbine generators.
monitors areas surrounding the station.
                                                        Duke Energy’s McGuire, Oconee, Catawba, Robinson
Station access is tightly controlled by both security   and Harris nuclear plants are pressurized reactor
forces and sophisticated security systems, such as      designs. Brunswick is a boiling water reactor design.
palm and iris recognition screening, and weapons
and explosives detectors. Nuclear employees
must pass stringent background investigations,          Pressurized Water Reactor
psychological evaluations and drug and alcohol          Pressurized water reactors (also known as PWRs)
screenings. Employees and contractors are subject       keep water under pressure so that it heats but does
to continual monitoring and screening.                  not boil. This heated water is circulated through
                                                        tubes in steam generators. Water inside the steam
Our nuclear security programs are evaluated             generators circulates around these tubes and is
for effectiveness on a regular basis by both the        heated into steam, which then turns the turbine
company and the NRC. Duke Energy-operated               generator. Water from the reactor and water that is
nuclear stations meet all requirements set forth by     turned into steam are in separate systems and do
the NRC and perform well during security drills and     not mix.
tests. The company’s security training programs
and facilities are among the best in the industry.
We work closely with local, state and federal law
                                                        How a Nuclear Pressurized Water
enforcement agencies, federal security agencies and     Reactor Works
the intelligence community.
                                                        Reactor
                                                        The fuel used in nuclear generation is uranium-235.
                                                        It is manufactured as small pellets. A single pellet
                                                        is less than an inch long, but it produces the energy
                                                        equivalent to using 17,000 cubic feet of natural
                                                        gas. The pellets are placed end to end into fuel rods
                                                        12 feet long. Approximately 200 of these rods are
                                                        grouped together into what is called a fuel assembly.

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Nuclear Pressurized Water Reactor
Learn more about how a pressurized water reactor works.

Nuclear fission occurs when uranium atoms are                                 Steam Generator
split by particles known as neutrons. Uranium-235                             The hot, pressurized water from the reactor (primary
atoms have a unique quality that causes them to                               coolant) passes through thousands of tubes in
break apart after colliding with a free neutron. Once                         nearby steam generators. The outside of these
a uranium-235 atom splits, neutrons are released                              tubes is surrounded by water from the secondary
that collide with other uranium-235 atoms. A chain
                                                                              coolant system. The heat from the primary coolant is
reaction begins, and heat is released as a byproduct.
                                                                              transferred to the secondary coolant system, which
Control rods are inserted among the fuel assemblies                           then turns into steam. The primary and secondary
to regulate or stop the fission process. These control                        systems are closed systems. This means the water
rods absorb neutrons. When fully inserted among the                           flowing through the reactor remains separate and
fuel assemblies, nuclear fission stops. Withdrawing                           does not mix with water from the other system or
the control rods allows fission to occur.                                     the lake.

Pressurizer
                                                                              Turbine
In a pressurized water reactor, the heat produced in
                                                                              Steam produced in the secondary coolant system is
the reactor is transferred to the first of three separate
water systems: the primary (reactor) coolant,                                 piped from the containment building into the turbine
secondary coolant (steam supply) and condenser                                building to push the blades of a turbine. The turbine
systems. The primary coolant is heated to more than                           is connected to an electric generator by a long shaft.
600 degrees Fahrenheit. A pressurizer keeps the                               As the turbine blades spin, the shaft turns a magnet
primary coolant under pressure to prevent boiling.                            inside the generator to produce electricity.

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Nuclear Boiling Water Reactor
Learn more about how a boiling water reactor works.

Condenser Coolant                                                       How a Nuclear Boiling Water Reactor Works
After spinning the turbines, the steam flows across
condenser cooling system tubes. The steam is cooled,                    Boiling water reactors (also known as BWRs) operate
condensed back into water and returned to the steam                     in a fashion similar to a PWR. Water in the reactor
                                                                        vessel is allowed to boil into steam to spin a turbine
generator to be used again and again.
                                                                        generator. A closed condenser water system cools this
                                                                        steam back into water so it can be pumped back into
Lake Cooling or Cooling Towers                                          the reactor vessel. The nuclear fuel core is cooled in
At some nuclear stations, lake water flows through                      the process.
thousands of condenser tubes to cool steam back
to water. Water from the condenser system is then                       A BWR uses two separate water systems called
                                                                        “cycles.” To begin, water is pumped through the
discharged down a long canal (for cooling) and
                                                                        reactor core, where a controlled nuclear reactor
eventually enters the main part of a lake, river
                                                                        releases heat. The water inside the reactor vessel
or ocean.
                                                                        boils into superheated steam. This steam is then
At other plants, the condenser cooling water is                         directed against the turbine blades to make
circulated through cooling towers to remove the extra                   the turbine and electric generator spin at
heat it has absorbed. The water is pumped to the top                    approximately 1,800 revolutions per minute (rpm),
of the cooling towers and is allowed to pour down                       producing electricity.
through the structure. Natural-draft towers utilize                     After passing through the turbine, the steam passes
the upward flow of air through the towers to cool the                   through a condenser, where it is cooled by water
condenser water. In mechanical-draft towers, several                    drawn from a body of water, converting it back to a
fans pull air inside to cool the condenser water. After                 liquid state. The water is then returned to the reactor,
it is cooled, the condenser water is pumped back into                   where it is converted to steam again. The water
the turbine building to cool and condense the steam.                    from the reactor cycle never comes into direct

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contact with the plant’s other water systems and is         used fuel at nuclear stations in storage pools or dry
contained within the reactor building and the turbine/      storage containers.
generator building.

Learn more about nuclear power.                             Reprocessing (Recycling)
                                                            Used nuclear fuel recycling technology does
                                                            exist, although not commercially in the U.S. For
Used Nuclear Fuel                                           many years, a number of other countries (India,
                                                            Japan, France, United Kingdom and Russia) have
Storage
                                                            successfully used recycling to reduce the volume of
Used nuclear fuel is a solid byproduct of the fission
                                                            content of used fuel. The pursuit of these advanced
process used to generate electricity in nuclear
                                                            technologies in the U.S. does not relieve the federal
stations. If all the used fuel produced in nearly
                                                            government of its statutory responsibility to provide a
50 years of U.S. nuclear station operation were
                                                            disposal facility since recycling does not eliminate all
stacked end to end, it would cover a football field to
a depth of less than 10 yards. Of this fuel, 95%            used-fuel constituents.
could be recycled.
                                                            Radiation and Health
Duke Energy has 50 years of experience handling
                                                            Radiation is a natural part of our environment. It is
used nuclear fuel. Our employees are well-trained,
                                                            not new or mysterious. We receive radiation from
environmentally conscious professionals who take
                                                            the sun, minerals in the Earth, the food we eat and
pride in their work, including safely managing
                                                            building materials in our houses. Even our bodies
used fuel.
                                                            give off small amounts of radiation.
Duke Energy safely stores used nuclear fuel at its
facilities in two ways – in steel-lined, concrete storage   Exposure to extremely large amounts of radiation can
pools filled with water and in large, airtight steel        be harmful. However, the amount of radiation given
canisters (dry cask storage). As with every other vital     off in the normal operation of a nuclear station is very
system at a nuclear station, the used-fuel pools and        small – smaller, in fact, than the amount we would
dry storage canisters have numerous and redundant           receive on a coast-to-coast airplane flight.
safety and security systems that ensure the fuel
                                                            Although radiation is invisible, it can be accurately
remains safe and secure.
                                                            measured. Radiation is measured in units called rem
The federal government has responsibility for               and millirem. The rem is a unit of measure that takes
permanently disposing of used nuclear fuel.                 into account the effects different types of radiation
Until a national repository or recycling is available,      have on the body. A millirem is 1/1,000 of a rem.
utilities will continue to safely and securely store        Compute your dose.

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Nuclear Industry Operating Experience                     Radiation from Common Sources
The U.S. nuclear industry relies on a program of
continuous improvement based on ongoing lessons            Radiation Source                   Dose (millirem)
learned from worldwide operating experience to
further enhance safety. In addition to the NRC’s           Average annual radiation
                                                                                                    620
regulation, other industry organizations like the          exposure from all sources
Nuclear Energy Institute, the World Association of
                                                           Natural background
Nuclear Operators and the Institute of Nuclear Power
                                                           radiation (radon gas,                    310
Operations provide significant oversight to ensure the
                                                           cosmic, etc.)
operational safety of nuclear stations worldwide.
                                                           Man-made Source

Glossary of                                                Medical sources                          298

Nuclear Terms                                              Consumer products
                                                           (fertilizer, tobacco,                    12
Here are a few commonly used terms in the
                                                           smoke detectors, etc.)
nuclear industry. Visit the NRC website for
additional information.                                    Living next to a nuclear
                                                                                                Less than 1
Atom: The smallest particle of an element that             power station
cannot be divided or broken up by chemical means.
It consists of a central core called a nucleus, which    Capacity Factor: A measure of reliability reflecting
contains protons and neutrons. Electrons revolve         the amount of electricity a generating unit provides
around the nucleus.                                      versus how much it could provide if operating at
                                                         all times.
Atomic Energy: Energy produced in the form of heat
during the fission process in a nuclear reactor. When    Containment Building: The structure housing the
released in a sufficient and controlled quantity, this   nuclear reactor, pressurizer, reactor coolant pumps,
heat energy may be used to produce steam to run          steam generators and other associated piping and
a conventional turbine generator to produce electrical   equipment. It is an airtight, steel-lined structure with
power. Atomic energy is usually referred to as           heavily reinforced concrete walls several feet thick. It
nuclear energy.                                          is designed to withstand tremendous physical forces.

Background Radiation: Radiation from cosmic              Control Rods: Rods made of material that absorbs
rays and radioactive material that naturally exists      neutrons. When inserted into the nuclear fuel, the
in soil, water and air is part of our environment.       rods stop the fission process, thereby shutting down
The amount of radiation a person gets is measured        the reactor.
in millirems, and the average person in the U.S.
                                                         Cooling Tower: A large structure that serves as a heat
receives about 620 millirem of radiation each year
                                                         exchanger to aid in the cooling of water used to cool
– about 50% from natural sources and the rest from
                                                         exhaust steam leaving the turbines of a power plant.
man-made sources.
                                                         Cooling towers transfer this heat into the air, instead
Boiling Water Reactor (BWR): In this reactor design,     of into a body of water.
water flows upward through the core, where it is
                                                         Core: The central portion of a nuclear reactor, which
heated by fission and allowed to boil in the reactor
                                                         contains the fuel assemblies, moderator, neutron
vessel. The resulting steam drives turbine blades
                                                         poisons, control rods and support structures. The
and a shaft connected to a generator to produce
                                                         reactor core is where fission takes place.
electrical power.
                                                         Fission: The splitting of atoms, which releases
                                                         tremendous amounts of heat energy.

\ 12 \ DUKE ENERGY
Fuel Rod: A long, slender, zirconium metal tube                 Steam Generator: In a pressurized water reactor, it’s
containing pellets of fissionable material that provide         the large steel component where steam is produced.
fuel for nuclear reactors. Fuel rods are assembled              It is located inside the containment building.
into bundles called fuel assemblies, which are loaded
individually into the reactor core.                             Subsequent License Renewal: A license that is
                                                                issued by the NRC authorizing a licensee to operate
Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR): The reactor heats              a nuclear generating unit at a specific site in
water in a closed system that then transfers its heat           accordance with established laws and regulations.
to another closed system in the steam generators to             A subsequent license renewal allows for a plant to
produce steam to turn the turbine generator.                    operate for a total of 80 years.

Radiation: Particles and/or energy given off by                 Turbine Generator: A steam (or water) turbine directly
unstable atoms as they undergo radioactive decay to             coupled to an electrical generator. The two devices
a stable state.                                                 are often referred to as one unit.

Reactor: A cylindrical, steel vessel that contains the          Uranium: The fuel used in nuclear power reactors
core, control rods, coolant and structures that support         because of the ability of its atoms to undergo fission.
the core.

Energy Education Websites
ABC’s of Nuclear Science                 EnergyExplorium at                       National Science
www.lbl.gov/abc                          McGuire Nuclear Station                  Teachers Associations
                                         www.duke-energy.com/                     www.nsta.org
American Nuclear Society
                                         energyexplorium
www.ans.org                                                                       Nuclear Energy Institute
                                         Energy Information Administration        www.nei.org
Center for Energy
                                         www.eia.gov
Workforce Development                                                             Oak Ridge National Laboratory
www.cewd.org                             Federal Energy Regulatory                www.ornl.gov
                                         Commission
Clean Energy Education                                                            U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
                                         www.ferc.gov
www.cleanenergyedu.com                                                            Commission (NRC)
                                         Foundation for Water and                 www.nrc.gov
Contemporary Physics
                                         Energy Education
Education Project                                                                 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
                                         www.fwee.org
www.cpepweb.org                                                                   www.energy.gov
                                         Get Into Energy
Duke Energy Nuclear                                                               World of Energy at
                                         www.getintoenergy.com
Information Center                                                                Oconee Nuclear Station
Nuclear.Duke-Energy.com                  Energy & Environmental Center            www.duke-energy.com/
                                         at Harris Nuclear Plant                  worldofenergy
Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
                                         www.duke-energy.com/eecenter
www.eei.org                                                                       World Nuclear Association
                                         International Atomic                     www.world-nuclear.org
Electric Power Research
                                         Energy Agency
Institute (EPRI)
                                         www.iaea.org
www.epri.com
                                         Jefferson Lab
The Energy Collective
                                         www.jlab.org
TheEnergyCollective.com

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Nuclear Emergency Classifications
Four classifications are used to describe an emergency at a nuclear station. Appropriate federal, state and local
authorities are informed in each of the following classifications:

   Class         General Description                                   Examples

   Unusual       The least serious of the four classifications. It     1. A natural or other destructive event (i.e.,
   Event         means that a minor event – either operational or          tornado, earthquake, vehicle crash, etc.)
                 security – has occurred at the station. Unusual           occurs that affects the station.
                 events pose no threat to public safety but due        2. A fire lasting more than 15 minutes
                 to strict federal regulations warrant an increased        in an area where station safety equipment
                 awareness by the plant operator and off-site              is located.
                 emergency response agencies. No release of
                 radioactive material is expected.                     3. A loss of AC electrical power from all
                                                                           off-site electrical transmission lines for
                                                                           more than 15 minutes.

   Alert         In this classification, an event – either             1. Indications of possible damage to the used
                 operational or security-based – has occurred that         fuel stored at the station.
                 could reduce the plant’s level of safety. Although    2. A failure of the automatic system used
                 there would be no threat to public safety, county        to shut down the reactor.
                 and state officials and the plant operator would
                 prepare emergency operation centers in case           3. A fire or explosion causing significant
                 the situation worsens. Any radioactive release            damage to permanent plant equipment
                 associated with the event would be minimal.               and/or structures.

   Site Area     This classification means an event has occurred       1. Failure of the plant systems needed to cool
   Emergency     in which major safety equipment has failed or             the fuel or keep the reactor shut down.
                 is likely to fail, or a security event has occurred   2. A confirmed act of sabotage in an area
                 in an area where the reactor (and/or equipment            containing vital plant structures.
                 used to safely shut down the reactor) is located.
                 The sirens could be sounded. The public should        3. Radiation doses projected to exceed 0.1
                 listen to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for            rem total body (i.e., one-fourth the amount
                 information and instructions. Any release of              in a typical upper GI medical X-ray) at the
                 radioactive materials would be expected to stay           site boundary.
                 within strict federal guidelines.

   General       The most serious of the four classifications.         1. R
                                                                           adiation doses projected to exceed one
   Emergency     It means that an event has occurred in which             (1) rem total body (i.e., four times the
                 actual or imminent fuel damage is likely. State          amount in a typical upper GI medical
                 and local authorities would take action to protect       X-ray) at the site boundary.
                 the public. EAS would give information and            2. A
                                                                           ll AC electrical power sources (on-site
                 instructions for people in the affected areas. Any       and off-site) are lost and recovery is not
                 release of radioactive materials associated with         expected for a long period of time.
                 the event could exceed strict federal guidelines.

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©2021 Duke Energy Corporation 210286 2/21
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