NRC to continue monitoring Oconee facility

Federal regulators say there was no immediate danger related to to a monitoring problem that occurred at a unit of the Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca last Wednesday.

Roger Hannah, Senior Public Affairs Officers for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II office in Atlanta, says Duke Energy quickly notified the NRC that they had lost over 50 percent of its indicators, called annunciators, around noon Wednesday. Hannah says NRC on-site inspectors were able to pinpoint he problem in a timely fashion.

The incident was the second in a week for the facility. A problem with Unit 1 occurred August 7 when a faulty power supply triggered an indicator light on the pump. Operators had to shut off power completely to the unit to find the exact cause. It was back to 98 percent capacity August 12.

Hannah says the NRC on-site inspectors swiftly moved into action to first pinpoint the problem and take corrective action. Hannah says when a problem is reported at a nuclear facility, on-site inspectors have the use of not only backup systems to monitor the situation, but also the on-going help of resources from the NRC regional office.

Hannah says the NRC is continuing to monitor the situation and will be making an extensive report later. The Oconee Nuclear Station on Lake Keowee has 1,400 employees.

AUDIO: NRC Region II office spokesman Roger Hannah rehashes Oconee Nulclear Station Unit 3 problem 1:20

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