NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: I-25-001 February 25, 2025
CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330
NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has launched a special inspection at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station to review the circumstances of the repeated inoperability of one of the plant’s emergency diesel generators. The plant is operated by PSEG Nuclear, LLC.
Plant operators declared one of four emergency diesel generators inoperable on February 20 when water was detected in the lube oil system after the diesel was run following planned maintenance. A similar event occurred on January 31 and PSEG took steps to address the issue at that time.
The NRC determined a special inspection was warranted because this is a repeat issue. Emergency diesel generators are important because they provide backup power to safety equipment when power from the electrical grid is not available.
“While this did not affect safe plant operation, an independent review of the issue by the regulator is warranted given the repetitive inoperability of a safety-related system,” said Region I Administrator Andrea Kock. “Our inspectors will evaluate PSEG’s response, its work to find the cause, and actions the company is taking to ensure the equipment issues are corrected.”
Once the inspection is completed, NRC inspectors will document their findings in a publicly available inspection report, which will be distributed electronically to listserv subscribers and available on the NRC website.
The plant is in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey.
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