Federal regulators said today they will put TVA’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant under extra scrutiny after finding that the utility violated fire safety standards at the Alabama plant.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited two violations at Brown Ferry, including one identified as having substantial safety significance. Browns Ferry was the site of a 1975 fire that was one of the industry’s worst accidents and TVA has failed to bring all of the equipment at the three-reactor site into compliance with federal rules.
“Protecting vital plant systems and components from fire and having workable procedures for fire response is critical to nuclear safety,” NRC Regional Administrator Luis Reyes said in a statement released today. “We expect all nuclear plants to meet NRC fire protection regulations and will take the necessary steps to ensure they do so.”
The NRC staff will determine the most appropriate response and notify TVA later of any additional inspections, meetings or other activities the agency may plan. TVA has 30 days to respond to the NRC’s letter detailing the findings.