Nuclear Regulatory Commission October 28, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF- 86, issued to NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC, et al. (NextEra), for operation of the Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1 (Seabrook). The amendment would extend the allowed outage time for one alternating current (AC) vital panel not energized from its associated inverter from 24 hours to 7 days on a one-time basis. The change would allow NextEra to perform corrective maintenance and testing on vital inverter 1-E, which could challenge the current allowed outage time of 24 hours.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Confirmatory Order to Mr. Thomas B. Saunders, a former executive of Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC). This action is based on an investigation conducted by the NRC Office of Investigations (OI), that concluded Mr. Saunders had a mechanical planner removed from the Vogtle Units 3 and 4 construction site and that Mr. Saunders was aware at that time that the mechanical planner had engaged in protected activity by raising numerous safety-related welding and module fit-up concerns, constituting an apparent violation of NRC regulations. An Alternative Dispute Resolution mediation session was held on August 15, 2019, during which Mr. Saunders and the NRC reached a preliminary agreement. Subsequently, Mr. Saunders consented to the specific actions listed in Section V of the Confirmatory Order and the NRC agrees to not pursue any further enforcement action in connection with this apparent violation. The Confirmatory Order became effective upon issuance.