NRC cites low-level safety concerns at Pilgrim

 

Apr 18 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Stephanie Vosk Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.

Workers at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station need better plans to deal with equipment problems such as the one that led to an unplanned reactor shutdown last month, according to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials.

Five low-level safety concerns involving equipment failure plans were identified as part of the plant's annual inspection for 2006.

"They've got all the processes and procedures. Sometimes, they don't follow them as rigorously as we'd like them to," said Barry Norris, a senior project engineer for the NRC.

Representatives from Entergy Nuclear Operations, which owns the plant, said at a public meeting last night that the plant has focused on equipment improvements in the past year and intends to continue to do so in the year ahead.

"If we can make our station more reliable, that is fundamental to making our station more of a safe operation," Pilgrim plant manager Bob Smith said during the meeting.

Entergy has invested in the physical aspects of the station in the past year and has replaced several important mechanical parts, he said.

Plant workers will also focus on human performance in the coming year, said Steve Bethay, director of nuclear safety assurance for the plant. Entergy will work on improving procedures and coaching individual workers, he said.

After undergoing inspections throughout 2006, the plant received a "green" grade, which indicated the facility had very low-level safety issues that required only Entergy to respond. A "green" finding represents the lowest level of risk. The next levels are white, yellow, and red, with red indicating a high safety issue.

In March, plant operators shut down the facility after detecting a water leak in the nuclear reactor casing, which is constructed with reinforced concrete walls.

Smith said the voluntary shutdown was an example of the plant operating cautiously. "We want to detect issues before they become a problem," he said.

In addition to safety improvements, the plant will continue to focus on its operating license renewal application in the coming year, Entergy representatives said last night.

Pilgrim's current operating license expires in 2012 and Entergy has applied for a 20-year extension. The NRC is reviewing the application.

The Plymouth plant produces enough electricity to power 670,000 homes in the region.