Calvert - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

3 Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Calvert Gazette
By Sarah Miller
Staff Writer
After being powered down for testing,
Unit 1 at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power
Plant Cliffs was brought to a full shut
down Nov. 27.
The testing followed finding “electrical
noise” from Control Element Assembly
(CEA) 37, according to Calvert Cliffs
spokesperson Kory Raftery. He said such
noise could indicate an interruption of the
electric current to coils associated with
CEA 37. The reactor was powered down
to less than 50 percent production capacity
on Nov. 26 to make it safe to conduct
testing, Raftery said.
This outage follows a similar scenario
during the summer, when CEA 9 had
a shortage in its associated coils, causing
the rods to drop into the reactor. He
said the apparatus acted as it should have.
The rods defaulted to their safest location
within the reactor to stop the reaction.
The noise was an indicator of a potential
issue, and Raftery said workers
went in immediately to determine what
exactly was causing the electrical noise.
“At Calvert Cliffs, we always make
COUNTY
NEWS
Calvert Cliffs Takes Down Unit 1
conservative decisions for the safety of
the people,” he said.
After testing, he said Calvert Cliffs
found there was an issue with the coil and
shut the reactor down completely on Nov.
27. While the reactor was down, he said
they conducted “mores invasive” tests of
the other 56 CEAs, including the recently
repaired CEA 9. The testing revealed no
further issues, Raftery said, and the coil
associated with CEA 37 has been repaired.
For more information, visit www.
cengllc.com.
sarahmiller@countytimes.net
Commissioners Consider Tier Mapping
By Sarah Miller
Staff Writer
In anticipation for Dec. 31, Community Planning
and Building, the Planning Commission and the Board
of County Commissioners are working on tier mapping
associated with the septic bill.
At the Dec. 4 Board of County Commissioners
meeting, Maryland State Secretary of Planning Richard
E. Hall was on hand to answer questions and explain
parts of the septic bill.
According to Community Planning and Building
Director Chuck Johnston, the bill necessitated breaking
the county into four “tiers.” Tier I includes be areas currently
served by public sewer, Tier II is land planned to
be served by sewer in the county water and sewer plan,
Tier III is land that is not served by sewer and is not
planned to be in the future and Tier IV is land not served
by sewer, not planned for the future; farm and forest districts;
and, wetlands or land in permanently protected
zoning areas.
Johnston’s presentation to the commissioners
shows 47 percent of land in Calvert designated Tier IV.
Commissioner Susan Shaw said the law will effectively
“close off 47 percent of [county] acreage to growth,”
adding she is not pleased with the state imposing such
strict limitations on the county.
The state’s planning secretary had little to say other
than assuring the commissioners the state was listening
to their concerns and is working to find the best way for
Maryland citizens.
Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhaupt echoed
Shaw’s sentiment, saying in a prepared statement the
septic bill “diminishes the property rights of our citizens”
and showcases another movement in the “war on
rural Maryland.”
During the meeting, the board discussed raising the
maximum amount of homes allowed in a minor subdivision
from five to seven, though a firm ruling on that
matter is still coming. The board has until the end of the
month to make a decision, Johnston said. After that, they
will not be able to increase the number, though they will
always have the option to lower it.
Delegates Tony O’Donnell and Mark Fisher came
out to the meeting. O’Donnell addressed the commissioners
stating his worries about the septic bill’s impact
on the economy.
Be a “Who” for the Day,
Come Sing and Come Play,
But Try Not to Flinch
When You Meet the
Green Grinch!!
Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill
13200 Dowell Road, Dowell MD 20929
410-FYI-DUCK//410-394-3825
www.ruddyduckbrewery.com
“I’m concerned this doesn’t create a stable
economy.”
For more information, including public hearings
and meetings concerning the septic bill and its impact
on Calvert, visit www.co.cal.md.us.
sarahmiller@countytimes.net
Special Who-Feast
Who –Crafts: Cookie
Orament Decorating
Showing the animated
version of “The Grinch
who stole Christmas”
An appearance from the
Grinch Himself!!!!
Don’t forget your camera!