Inspectors Prepare to Brief Pilgrim Plant Owner

COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

PLYMOUTH – A comprehensive three-week inspection of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station wrapped up last week and inspectors will now prepare to brief plant owner Entergy and issue a report.

The facility was placed under increased NRC oversight in 2015 following several safety issues and unplanned shutdowns.

The plant is one of the three worst performing stations in the country, according to the NRC.

A team of 20 Inspectors delved into the facility’s equipment performance and reliability and safety culture, along with the plant’s quality of procedures and its corrective action program.

The inspection began at the end of November as inspectors spent two weeks at the facility before returning last week.

After Entergy is notified of the inspection findings, inspectors will have 45 days to release a formal report, according to NRC Spokesman Neil Sheehan.

“They’ll come out with inspection findings and then depending on how these findings are classified, whether they are green, white, yellow or red, that will determine what our next steps are,” Sheehan said.

In the meantime, Sheehan said the NRC will look to brief the public on some of the issues identified during the inspection.

NRC officials made the decision after receiving a letter that was signed by Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey and the Cape and Islands legislative delegation.

The letter on January 4 pointed to a leaked email last month from the head of the inspection team that raised questions about Entergy’s ability to operate the plant safely.

It asked that a meeting be held to answer the public’s questions about the safety of the plant.

Sheehan said the NRC is looking at a January 30 public meeting in Plymouth, but that date has not been finalized.

“We’re still firming up the details and once we have something more concrete on that we will be certain to let the public know,” Sheehan said.

Entergy was forced to shut down the plant last month after leaks were found in several steam valves.

Nine new security violations at the station were identified last month at the plant. The violations were classified as low-risk but six of them were found by NRC inspectors and three by plant operators.

The plant is expected to close by the end of May 2019.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter