NRC to discuss Vogtle nuclear power plant assessment

The Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia is the topic of an upcoming open house and meeting.
The Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia is the topic of an upcoming open house and meeting. | Courtesy of wikipedia.org

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold an open house and meeting to discuss its assessment of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia on April 23. 

The main topic of the open house, which starts at 6 p.m., will be the 2014 safety performance of the plant's units 1 and 2, which are Vogtle two existing nuclear reactors. 

The two units met the safety objectives set by the NRC for 2014. As a result, the plant will continue its operations while receiving regular NRC inspections in 2015.

The NRC did report a violation concerning a radioactive waste shipment, but details have not been released. The violation may impact the amount of NRC oversight the plant receives in the future.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and focus on the construction of  units 3 and 4, which are currently under construction. 

“NRC inspectors continually evaluate each nuclear plant’s safety, and each year we take a detailed look at that information to identify any trends and help plan future inspections,” Victor McCree, NRC Region II administrator, said. “Inspection results are available throughout the year, but these annual meetings allow us to talk to local residents and answer any questions they may have.”

The open house and meeting will be held at the Augusta Technical Campus Auditorium, 216 Highway 24 South in Waynesboro.