ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio — Residents of Ashtabula County experienced a scare earlier this week when warning sirens were unexpectedly activated at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 14 emergency sirens were inadvertently triggered during routine system maintenance. The Ashtabula County Emergency Management Agency was promptly notified by the plant regarding the error.
This incident in northern Ohio has raised concerns about emergency preparedness in southern Ohio, particularly regarding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) reserve.
The nation’s first HALEU (High-assay low-enriched uranium) production facility is currently operational in Piketon. The American Centrifuge Facility, owned and operated by Centrus, is in the process of demonstrating HALEU production. HALEU is a specialized nuclear fuel used in advanced reactors and naval vessels and can be enriched to nuclear weapons-grade material. Currently, most of the HALEU used by the United States is purchased and imported from Russia.
Adding to the unease, plans for the PORTS Reserve include the construction of two nuclear reactors by startup company OKLO. OKLO was co-founded by Sam Altman, who is known for his work with artificial intelligence and for creating OpenAI (ChatGPT).
The Guardian reached out to the Pike County Emergency Management Agency for comments and a copy of any emergency plans in place in case of a nuclear incident or terrorist attack at the Piketon facility.
Currently, demolition operations and the conversion of nearly 20,000 depleted uranium cylinders, which are rusting and exposed at the plant, continue. The highest radioactive readings at the PORTS reserve come from the cylinder yards. Documents obtained by The Guardian indicate that some of these cylinders are leaking, with issues ranging from cracks to valve malfunctions. Ohio EPA documents reveal that several leaking valves are scheduled for replacement, raising concerns about the potential for accidental releases of dangerous radioactive elements.
In 1978, one of these cylinders ruptured, releasing over 21,000 pounds of dangerous radioactive hexafluoride. News reports at the time confirmed that the community was not informed of the incident until months later. This remains the largest confirmed release of radioactive material in the plant’s history. Over the years, smaller releases of radioactive material into the water and air around the facility have occurred, with over 50 such accidental releases reported over the 70 years of active operations.
As of this report, the Pike County EMA has not responded to requests for information. This lack of transparency has led residents to question whether adequate plans are in place by local services in the event of a nuclear incident at PORTS.