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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed an $87,500 civil penalty to BWXT Nuclear Operations Group Inc. for two violations of regulatory requirements related to safety controls at its fuel fabrication facility in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The violations were discovered after a January 19 event when a storage tank at BWXT’s Uranium Recovery Facility overflowed, spilling uranium solution onto the floor and into a ventilation system. Two safety controls designed to prevent such a spill failed, increasing the risk of an accidental criticality. The event did not endanger the plant workers, the public, or the environment.
The NRC identified the proposed violations in March during an inspection that revealed an apparent breakdown of safety controls designed to prevent an accidental criticality at BWXT’s facility.
The NRC held a predecisional enforcement conference with BWXT on June 21, and the company provided its perspective, including the results from its root cause evaluation and corrective actions. The company’s investigation into the spill tracked the underlying reasons for the violations back to 2012.
The NRC reviewed BWXT’s response and determined that while previous incidents did not result in an accidental criticality, BWXT missed opportunities to identify the issues for more than 10 years. However, the NRC did credit actions BWXT has taken to strengthen safety controls in imposing the proposed fine.
The company has 30 days to pay the proposed penalty or contest the penalty in writing.
Title: Peach Bottom and Dresden Decommissioning Presubmittal Public Meeting
Date(s) and Time(s): September 14, 2023, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM ET
Location: Webinar
Category: This is an Observation Meeting. This is a meeting in which attendees will have an opportunity to observe the NRC performing its regulatory function or discussing regulatory issues. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the NRC staff or make comments about the issues discussed following the business portion of the meeting; however, the NRC is not actively soliciting comments towards regulatory decisions at this meeting.
Purpose: Meeting between Constellation Energy Generation, LLC and NRC to discuss an alternative approach from the decommissioning schedule requirements in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) to allow the completion of decommissioning for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit 1 and Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 beyond 60 years of permanent cessation of operations.
Title: Peach Bottom and Dresden Decommissioning Presubmittal Public Meeting
Date(s) and Time(s): September 14, 2023, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM ET
Location: Webinar
Category: This is an Observation Meeting. This is a meeting in which attendees will have an opportunity to observe the NRC performing its regulatory function or discussing regulatory issues. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the NRC staff or make comments about the issues discussed following the business portion of the meeting; however, the NRC is not actively soliciting comments towards regulatory decisions at this meeting.
Purpose: Meeting between Constellation Energy Generation, LLC and NRC to discuss an alternative approach from the decommissioning schedule requirements in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) to allow the completion of decommissioning for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit 1 and Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 beyond 60 years of permanent cessation of operations.
NY: Governor Hochul Signs Bill to Protect the Hudson River From Indian Point Decommissioning Wastewater, New York governor press release, Aug 18, 2023.
NRC Proposes $8,750 Civil Penalty to VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed an $8,750 fine to VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, for two violations of NRC safety requirements during the administrations of radioisotopes for treatment of liver tumors.
The hospital holds an NRC license for the use of nuclear material for diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and for yttrium-90 (Y-90) microsphere administrations.
The first violation involved the failure to develop, implement, and maintain written procedures to provide high confidence that each administration of Y-90 microspheres was performed according to the prepared written directive. The NRC determined that while the violation involved inadequate procedures, there was no negative impact to patients who received the treatment.
The second violation involved the licensee’s failure to monitor the hospital staff’s exposure to radiation during administrations of Y-90 microspheres.
In addition, the NRC identified three violations of security requirements. Details of the security- related violations are considered sensitive and not released to the public.
The Harper-Hutzel Hospital documented corrective actions it has taken to prevent recurrence of the violations in a response letter.
The company has 30 days to either pay or contest in writing the proposed penalty.
Main power line fails at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
The Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom reported on Aug. 10 that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost power from the main 750 kilovolt (kV) power line overnight.
The plant was then connected to the 330 kV backup line instead. The risk of this backup power line failing puts the largest nuclear plant in Europe on the verge of a blackout.
The main danger of losing external power is that the 4th reactor would go into "hot shutdown" as a result of the cooling pumps being switched off, Energoatom explained.
Without sufficient cooling, the equipment within the reactor can fail, heightening the risk of a nuclear accident.
Energoatom emphasized that the continued occupation of the plant by "illegitimate and untrained" management is bringing it "closer to disaster."
Russian forces have occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant since March 2022. Throughout the all-out war, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.
For four months between March and July 2023, the plant was disconnected from the 330 kV backup power line due to damage on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River.
In October 2022, the plant was forced to rely on diesel generators to provide power to the cooling systems due to Russian shelling.
Before Russia's full-scale war, the nuclear plant had six backup lines and four main lines of 750 kV.
After nearly a year and a half of Russian occupation, uncertainty about what Russia could do next at the plant remains.
Ukraine raised fresh concerns of a potential accident at the plant in June, with top officials warning that Russia had rigged the plant with explosives and could launch a terrorist attack.
Since occupying the plant, Russia has used the nuclear plant as a military base, placing troops and equipment there.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has staff based at the plant on rotation since September 2022 to monitor the situation.
