Operated by SCANA, the Summer plant has one reactor in operation and two others under construction.
Workers from Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) damaged the containment vessel bottom head while drilling into concrete for safety-related rebar during the week of February 9. CB&I reported the damage to SCANA on Feb. 16, and the company reported the event to the NRC.
“While the actual damage appears to have been minor, we want to make sure we completely understand its potential impact and the apparent breakdown in controls that might have prevented it,” NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree said. “We are also concerned about the delay in CB&I reporting the issue.”
A NRC inspection team consisting of three members will spend a week on site reviewing the events and evaluating any potential effects the damage may hold on the containment vessel’s integrity.
The NRC inspection report will be made available to the public within 45 days of the end of the inspection.
Alerts Sign-up