The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said Wednesday that it had determined that an inspection finding at Duke Energy’s Catawba nuclear power plant has low to moderate safety significance, which will place the plant under increased NRC oversight until the regulator is satisfied that the issue has been rectified.
The two-unit Catawba plant is near York, S.C., southwest of Charlotte, N.C.
In April, an electrical component on one of the Catawba Unit 2 emergency diesel generators failed during a scheduled test. NRC inspectors reviewed the event and determined that the plant staff had failed to adequately develop and adjust preventive maintenance activities using operating experience, maintenance history and performance records.
In a preliminary finding, the NRC characterized the finding as white, signifying low to moderate safety significance, and after reviewing Duke Energy’s response to the issue, the agency finalized the white status for the plant.
The increased oversight resulting from this finding will include a supplemental inspection to ensure Duke Energy fully understands the issue and has taken appropriate corrective actions.
On Oct. 16, the NRC sent a letter to Duke with the final significance determination and the earlier NRC inspection report addressed the finding in more detail.