NRC Approves Pilgrim’s Certified Fuel Handler Training Program

COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

PLYMOUTH – The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station’s certified fuel handler program, which is the next step in decommissioning and closing the Plymouth plant, has been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

NRC officials said that they determined that the program “adequately addresses the safe conduct of decommissioning activities, the safe handling and storage of spent fuel, appropriate response to plant emergencies and is consistent with the applicable requirements”.

Once the reactor stops producing power, certified fuel handlers will take over from plant operators.

The focus would then be on moving the 3,000 radioactive fuel assemblies out of the spent fuel pool in the reactor building and into dry cask storage.

The plant is scheduled for closure by June of 2019.