LACEY – Holtec Decommissioning International LLC, (HDI) will pay the Nuclear Regulatory Commission a $150,000 fine for security violations found at the Oyster Creek Generating Station.
NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan told Jersey Shore Online that: “Holtec has accepted the violation. The company has notified us that it intends to pay the fine and will send in a written response documenting its completed and planned corrective actions.
“NRC inspectors will follow up on those corrective actions during upcoming reviews to ensure they are being appropriately implemented and are effective,” Sheehan added.
Last month the NRC announced that Holtec, based in Camden, was facing a civil penalty for the security violation. The NRC statement would not go into specifics “because of the sensitive nature of the violations.”
The NRC added that it had determined the overall security program at the non-operational plant “remains effective. Holtec has taken steps to address the concerns and overall security performances at the site.” Holtec was notified of the violations on July 28, 2021 following discretionary inspections conducted between May 17 and July 15, 2021.
Holtec responded by requesting and taking part in a closed pre-decisional enforcement conference held on October 6 at the NRC Region 1 office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The firm provided information to the NRC during that meeting.
Oyster Creek operated for about a half century before ending its operations in September 2018. It is currently in the process of being decommissioned. The NRC-issued license to the plant was transferred on July 1, 2019 to HDI.
Holtec had 30 days to respond to the notice of violation with the option of to pay the $150,000 fine, challenge the violation or request an alternative dispute resolution (ADR). An ADR is a general term encompassing various ways for resolving conflicts using a neutral third party.
The firm opted to pay the fine to the federal agency.
