NRC to discuss fire protection violation at Oconee nuclear plant with Duke Energy

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced that its staff will meet with officials from US-based Duke Energy Carolinas to discuss its ‘apparent violation’ of a license condition on fire protection.

The regulators will discuss the fire protection issue of Duke Energy’s Oconee nuclear power plant in South Carolina with its officials on 5 March 2013.

NRC said it notified the company on 31 January that it plans to take action after Duke Energy failed to complete the installation and implementation of the protected service water system at the Oconee station by 31 December 2012.

Failure to install the protected service water system is a regulatory concern to NRC. Duke Energy had requested an additional two-year extension for installation, but the agency rejected that request on 15 January.

Located about 30 miles west of Greenville, the Oconee nuclear power plant has three pressurized water reactors.