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PHOENIX – Operators of the nation's maximal thermonuclear noesis existence told Arizona programme regulators Tuesday the triple-reactor existence nearby constellation is innocuous and chances are far that it could undergo a thermonuclear hardship much as the digit in Japan.

The Arizona Corporation Commission requested a primary open chance with officials from Arizona Public Service, the state's maximal programme company, which runs the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station for a consortium of noesis companies.

The existence is located in Wintersburg, about 50 miles west of downtown Phoenix, and supplies electricity to about 4 meg customers in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California.

"I know APS is sworn to safety," commissioner Paul histrion said. "But there are whatever hard questions we hit to ask today and in the future. There's lots of accumulation increase in a 10-mile and 25-mile Atlantic of Palo Verde. We requirement to be trusty they're fortified if there's a disorganised event."

Tuesday's chance was mainly an informational circumstance with APS officials outlining the plant's country procedures and commissioners asking questions.

Commissioner Bob Stump said he desired to see about Palo Verde's patronage noesis systems and how ofttimes the existence conducts emergency-procedure drills.

Problems arose at the Dai-ichi existence in Nihon after a loss of noesis prevented its reactors from existence safely shut down.

APS officials said Palo Verde's containment domes that prevent irradiation from unseaworthy into the region are significantly stronger than those at the Asian plant.

APS's Chief Nuclear Officer Randy Edington also noted that Japan's thermonuclear happening was triggered by a wave and an earthquake, and said there's "low unstable land in Arizona" and a wave probable won't ever reach the desert state.

He also said Palo Verde has multiple sources of sure patronage noesis and decent liquid on site to provide cooling at the existence for about digit year.

"We've upgraded our emergency preparedness," said Edington, who also is an executive evilness chair at APS. "Any lessons scholarly from Japan's status will be quickly applied. Our country record is rattling beatific and we move to impact to do better."

Commissioners said APS officials gave them a guided tour of the existence Monday.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission also plans to review the country procedures at Palo Verde and other U.S. thermonuclear plants because of the status in Japan. Commissioners said NRC officials were solicited to Tuesday's chance but did not attend.

Palo Verde's prototypal digit units went into commercial operation in 1986 with Unit 3 play up in 1988. histrion said he was told the existence could expand by digit more units in future years.

"I'm a strong admirer of thermonuclear power," Stump said. "But it's essential to revisit the country issue so we crapper quiet the open that procedures are sound."

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