ATHENS-The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cited the Tennessee Valley Authority over fire-safety violations at its Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant, according to NRC and TVA officials. This would be the second time in a month the plant has been cited.
Federal regulators levied a $140,000 fine on the Tennessee Valley Authority for failing to maintain adequate fire watches last year at the Browns Ferry nuclear power plant.
An NRC investigation in May 2015 found that five contract workers deliberately failed to conduct roving fire watch patrols as required under federal regulations for the nuclear plant. The fire watch patrols were required as a compensatory measure for fire protection equipment that was out of service at the time.
“Missed fire watches greatly concern us,” NRC Region II Administrator Cathy Haney said in a statement. “Even though plants have other fire protection features, fire watches are an integral part of the plant’s overall fire protection strategy, especially when other equipment is temporarily unavailable.”
According to Steve Bono, site director for Browns Ferry, TVA “accepts full responsibility” for the violations and will pay the $140,000 civil penalty to the NRC. Bono said the workers involved in the incident were dismissed, TVA has upgraded its fire safety training and record keeping and the utility has made major upgrades in its fire systems at Browns Ferry through the years.
