The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is operating safely, based on results from the first of three inspections the agency is performing as part of increased oversight at the Massachusetts plant.
NRC downgraded the plant’s safety rating in September following repeated unplanned shutdowns and issues with safety relief valves. The downgrading moved Pilgrim into Column 4 of the NRC Action Matrix, the lowest safety rating a plant can have and remain in operation. The first inspection was performed in January, and a second is scheduled for April 4-8.
“The inspection did not find any longstanding, risk-significant issues in the corrective action program that were not addressed or assigned appropriate corrective actions and due dates,” NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said by email. “No additional regulatory actions beyond those prescribed for a plant in Column 4 of the NRC’s Action Matrix are needed at this point, our inspection found. However, we would note that if at any time the NRC determines that Pilgrim’s performance has declined to an unacceptable level, we will not hesitate to take additional regulatory action, up to and including the issuance of a shutdown order.”
Sheehan wrote that inspectors identified one “green” violation, which represents “very low safety significance.” According to the report, plant owner Entergy failed to adequately correct water leakage from the core spray system, which is used to help cool the reactor after a sudden shutdown. Sheehan said the issue is receiving attention via the plant’s corrective action program.
