The Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week preliminarily cited NextEra Energy with violating federal regulations in mischaracterizing a shipment of radioactive waste from its Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Wisconsin.
The incident would constitute a “White” breach, representing low-to-moderate increased safety significance, according to an Aug. 3 letter to Michael Strope, site director for NextEra Energy Point Beach LLC, from Mohammed Shuaibi, director of the Division of Reactor Safety in NRC Region III.
The finding was the result of a June inspection by agency officials at the two-reactor facility near Lake Michigan in Manitowoc County. It was noted Wednesday on Twitter by Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the nongovernmental Union of Concerned Scientists.
Inspectors determined that a May 30, 2019, shipment of radioactive resin to a processing facility had been classified as low-specific activity waste, which broadly is nonfissile material. However, the radiation levels exceeded 1 rem per hour at a distance of 3 meters from the unshielded container, which required transporting the waste as a Type B shipment – involving material that would (per the Department of Energy) represent a radiation danger to the public or environment in the event of a significant release.
“Consequently, the shipment did not contain the appropriate emergency response information for a shipment containing primary resin,” as required under federal regulations on hazardous materials communications, he added.
There were no problems during the actual shipment, the NRC report says.
The apparent violation is being considered for escalated enforcement, which could lead to civil penalties against NextEra. A decision is expected within 90 days of the letter, according to Shuaibi. The company can request a regulatory conference to discuss its perspective on the matter, or otherwise submit its position in writing.
“The safety of our employees and the communities we serve is Point Beach’s top priority,” NextEra said in a statement Wednesday. “The matter cited in the NRC finding did not present a safety risk to the public or plant personnel and measures have already been taken to address the situation and prevent a similar occurrence.”
The Florida-based utility company is otherwise not discussing the matter publicly, a spokesman said.
