NRC members discussing problems at Oconee

SENECA, S.C. (AP) — Federal regulators are meeting with Duke Energy officials to discuss problems at the Oconee Nuclear Station near Seneca.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission members are meeting with Duke officials in Atlanta Wednesday to talk about apparent violations of NRC requirements involving the condition of a facility designed to shut the plant down in emergencies.

Authorities say issues included 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.

Duke officials have said the utility corrected the problem in the short term and also searched for a longer-term solution.

The public is invited to attend Wednesday’s meeting. The NRC has not made a final decision on possible enforcement action related to the Oconee issues.