Tagged: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

An annual public meeting about the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant will likely raise questions about the recent decision to shut down the reactor. 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will check the Harris nuclear plant near Raleigh to ensure Duke Energy has fixed an unreported problem.

Progress Energy ran the plant before this year's merger with Duke Energy. An air conditioning system at an emergency operations facility was not in top working order starting in 2009. The utility fixed the problem two years later. Duke Energy spokeswoman Julie Milstead says the utility thought the issue was over. She says, "We did not report that to the NRC because we did not think it met the criteria for reportability."

Environmental groups are urging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reconsider approval of a new design for nuclear power plants in North and South Carolina. The AP-1000 Oversight Group filed a petition with the NRC. The group argues that the AP-1000 reactor design is flawed and should not be used at Shearon-Harris and other sites. John Runkle is the attorney for the group.