21 Apr (NucNet): The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has made a final determination on two inspection findings from last year related to fire protection at the three-unit Browns Ferry nuclear power plant in the state of Alabama.
The NRC said one finding is “yellow,” meaning the issue has substantial safety significance and the other is “white,” indicating an issue of low to moderate safety significance.
The findings will result in additional NRC inspections at the plant, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the possibility of further NRC action.
The NRC staff originally identified three apparent violations at the plant related to fire protection. During a meeting to discuss the findings TVA said two of the violations – involving failure to take adequate measures to protect equipment in the event of a fire – were similar and should be combined.
The NRC staff has now decided that the two violations should be combined into one “yellow” violation. The other finding, related to procedures for combatting a plant fire, was determined to be “white.”
The NRC said it will notify TVA of any additional inspections, meetings or other activities related to the findings. TVA has 30 days to respond to the NRC’s letter detailing the findings.
NRC staff also determined that an inspection finding at the St. Lucie nuclear power plant related to the failure to identify and correct quality and design issues which allowed air into a unit 1 cooling water system is “yellow.”
The determination will result in additional NRC inspections and potentially other NRC actions.
The two-unit St. Lucie plant, operated by Florida Power and Light, is in Florida.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US Regulators Report On Safety And Performance Goals (News in Brief No. 148, 18 November 2009)
