TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant removed from federal 'watch list'

photo Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry Nuclear Station near Athens, Ala.
Arkansas-St. John's Live Blog

TVA's oldest nuclear plant, rated by regulators as one of the most troubled for operations four years ago, has been removed from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission watch list.

The NRC staff said today that it has returned all three units at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama to the agency's normal levels of inspection and oversight for the first time in more than four years.

The increased oversight ended when NRC officials completed an inspection of the most recent issue at Browns Ferry. It involved staffing needed in the event of an emergency in the plant's control room. The NRC issued an order confirming actions TVA is taking to address the issue. The NRC inspection verified that the steps are appropriate to maintain the needed staffing levels and the agency considers the issue closed.

"The Browns Ferry plant has made significant improvements in safety performance," said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. "Even though the plant's three units are returning to normal oversight, we will continue to monitor and inspect the implementation of their improvement plan and the overall safety culture."

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