Entergy, owner of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, improperly withdrew $282,000 from the site’s $600 million decommissioning trust fund last year for spent fuel management purposes, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Wednesday.
However, Entergy will not be fined, as the regulator admitted there are “issues associated with the clarity of NRC regulatory guidance.” Entergy received a green inspection violation, which signifies “very low safety significance,” for withdrawing the money in February 2015. The company was in violation, NRC found, because the withdrawal was made prior to the regulator granting Entergy an exemption tied to the amount in June 2015. Entergy required the exemption because NRC does not consider spent fuel management directly related to decommissioning planning.
NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said in an interview Wednesday that the regulator is taking part of the blame “to the extent” that it could have been clearer on what trust fund expenditures are allowed.
Entergy spokesman Marty Cohn said in an interview Wednesday that the company was unaware the withdrawal would result in a violation. He also said Entergy believes the finding will result in NRC updating its guidance documents, while downplaying the amount withdrawn, which represents 1.5 percent of the amount allowed for decommissioning planning out of the trust fund.
“Actions have been taken to ensure other Entergy sites have controls in place to avoid similar circumstances going forward,” Cohn said in a statement. “(Vermont Yankee) continues to follow applicable regulations and appropriate guidance and industry practices related to the use of the decommissioning trust fund.”
