Duke Energy makes Safety Pledge to NRC

At a crowded meeting yesterday at the World of Energy, Duke Energy pledged to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it would diligently pursue the completion of projects to enhance the safety of the Oconee Nuclear Station.  Eric Leeds, director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, commended Duke Energy for making progress, but said his agency would like those safety enhancements to be closed out.  Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station manager Preston Gillespie said that’s exactly what his company intends to do. In a slide presentation, officials outlined to the NRC what they are doing to complete its protected service water project, as well as transition to National Fire Protection standards. Duke Energy has been criticized for failing to meet a January 1 deadline to implement National Fire Protection standards. However, NRC officials say the matter is in the enforcement process and they hinted penalties against Duke Energy could be forthcoming.