Failure to Monitor Radiation Increases Cited at Ohio Nuclear Plant

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), four workers were retracting a radioactive source range monitor from the reactor core while the plant was shut down for a refueling outage. They detected a rapid increase in radiation levels, stopped the procedure, and left the area immediately.

 

 

"Even though there was no overexposure to the workers, no impact on the safety of the plant or the public, plant staff failed to conduct an adequate radiological evaluation of the activity and to implement necessary controls to eliminate a potential for overexposure," said Region III Administrator Mark Satorius. "We have inspected the plant's actions to make sure plant staff are prepared to conduct activities in accordance with safety requirements, and we will conduct additional inspections to ensure plant activities continue to be performed safely."

 

 

NCR issued violations of low to moderate safety significance to the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, located in Ohio, and said oversight will be "significantly increased." The plant is operated by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. in NRC's Region III. (WCxKit)

 

 

The power plant operates under a license issued in 1986 and is a boiling water reactor, according to NRC's online data. NRC issued details regarding the violations saying the alleged occurrences happened last April.