NRC to hold open house on Columbia Generating Station safety review

Columbia Generating Station
Columbia Generating Station | Courtesy of Energy Northwest
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said late last week that it will hold an open house on the agency's

 annual safety review of the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant near Richland, Washington.

The event will run

5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at Richland Public Library, Conference Room B, 955 Northgate Drive.

The NRC uses these open houses to inform communities about the operation and safety practices at U.S. nuclear power plants.

“By assessing each plant’s performance in a comprehensive manner, we are able to focus our inspection resources on those areas most in need of attention,” NRC Region IV Administrator Marc Dapas said. “Because Columbia Generating Station did not have any safety or security issues above very low significance in 2015, we are not currently planning any inspections above and beyond our normal reviews.”

The NRC said no formal presentations are planned at the open house, so attendees are welcome to show up at any time during this two-hour event and ask questions regarding the assessment of the plant and plans for future oversight activity.