NRC: News Release - Region III - 2001-048 - NRC Cites Nuclear Management Company for Safety Violation at Palisades Nuclear Plant

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NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region III
801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532
www.nrc.gov

No. III-01-048		October 29, 2001
CONTACT:	Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663 Pam Alloway-Mueller (630) 829-9662	E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov
NRC CITES NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR SAFETY VIOLATION AT PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has determined that a violation of NRC regulations at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant should be characterized as "white," meaning that it is an issue with low to moderate safety significance, but one which may require additional NRC inspections. The plant, located near Covert, Michigan, is operated by the Nuclear Management Company. The violation concerned the inadequate number and spacing of smoke detectors in the plant's cable spreading room. Under the safety significance determination process, NRC officials classify certain conditions at nuclear power plants as being one of four colors which delineate increasing levels of safety significance, beginning with green and progressing to white, yellow or red. The violation was identified during an NRC inspection that was completed on August 17, 2001. The Nuclear Management Company did not contest the "white" characterization of the safety significance of this finding and officials chose not to meet with the NRC staff. The Nuclear Management Company has taken compensatory measures to address the problem until permanent corrective actions are completed. The NRC plans to conduct a follow-up inspection on this issue early next year. The company has until November 9 to appeal the NRC's finding.