NRC contacts Duke Energy on Oconee Station issues

SENECA, S.C. (AP) — Federal inspectors have identified several problems at the Oconee Nuclear Station near Seneca related to a facility designed to shut the plant down in emergencies.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Roger Hannah says a letter about the federal inspection in July was sent Wednesday to Duke Energy. He says Duke will be offered a chance to talk with NRC about the matter. A call to the utility wasn’t immediately returned.

Hannah says the issues involved pressurized heater breakers, which are in a standby shutdown facility used in case something like a tornado or flood means normal shutdown modes can’t be used.

The spokesman says the NRC still has to make a determination about the safety significance of the problems and what, if any, regulatory actions may be required.