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Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s lack of commitment to worker safety

In addition to NRC approval, Entergy must also receive an OK from the Vermont State Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to continue operation past 2012.In February, the state Senate voted 26-4 against the continued operation of the plant beyond its current operating license…

Report raps VY on worker safety – Brattleboro Reformer, By JOSH STILTS  September 15, 2010 BRATTLEBORO — The results from an audit by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission state that although Vermont Yankee met all safety regulations, there were problems with the nuclear plant’s implementation of regulatory commitments…………..

Arnie Gundersen, a technical advisor for the New England Coalition, a nuclear watchdog group, said this isn’t the first time Entergy has failed to live up to its commitments.

“VY also missed commitments to the Department of Public Service in monitoring its highly radioactive nuclear fuel,” Gundersen said. “For the past three years, there have been gaps in Vermont Yankee’s commitment tracking program that indicate quality assurance problems, or worse. Taken together, these point to another troubling trend at VY.”

Entergy, which owns and operates the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, has applied to the NRC to extend the plant’s operating license from 2012 to 2032. In addition to NRC approval, Entergy must also receive an OK from the Vermont State Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to continue operation past 2012.

In February, the state Senate voted 26-4 against the continued operation of the plant beyond its current operating license………..Gundersen said it’s not just a minor process weakness and that the lack of commitment tracking is “disturbing.”

Report raps VY on worker safety – Brattleboro Reformer

September 16, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactor