Faulty pressure valve at Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant leads to NRC conference

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding a conference with Exelon on Thursday to discuss faulty pressure relief valve at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Lacey Township.

The public meeting is being held at the request of Exelon to explain what led to the violation being classified as 'white' which translates to a low to moderate safety risk at the plant.

The NRC finished their inspection of the plant towards the ladder part of 2016, and found the violation in one of the five electromatic relief valves inside the plant.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan says the commission is ready to work with Exelon to find a solution.

"Exelon has decided to avail itself to this opportunity and we will certainly grant them that," said Sheehan. "They will come in on Thursday March 9 to the NRC offices in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania."

"They (Exelon) have an opportunity to come in and discuss with us something they believe we may have missed ask for additional context," said Sheehan. "We will of course listen to all of this information and take it under careful consideration."

A final decision on the violation will be made at some-point following the meeting in what could result in additional oversight at the nuclear power plant.

If the white classification violation sticks as a final verdict then Sheehan explains what will happen to the OCNPP.

"If it is finalized as white that means it would usually stay open for at least four quarters," said Sheehan.

He adds it can stay open longer if they decide to run a team inspection and the issue hasn't been resolved by Exelon.

"The objective here is to alter the performance and make sure this issue does not occur again," said Sheehan.

Here is a statement released by Exelon ahead of Thursday's conference:

"Exelon Generation has requested a regulatory conference with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to discuss the review process for a preliminary white finding at the Oyster Creek plant related to the September 2016 declaration of an electromatic relief valve as inoperable.

We believe the review process may not have allowed sufficient flexibility for an evaluation of all circumstances surrounding this event. We look forward to a dialogue with the Commission around potential improvements to the regulatory process."

The street address if you wish to attend the conference on Thursday is 2100 Renaissance Blvd, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and the meeting begins at 10 am.

You're invited to attend but if you can't make it out, here is the number to dial in and ask questions following the discussion between the NRC and Exelon: 1-888-391-9420, pass code 5712746 #.

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Contact Reporter Vin Ebenau at 848-221-8100 or at vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com