ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — Two Virginia nuclear reactors shut down since an earthquake hit the state in August did not suffer damage that would prevent them from running and are ready to restart, the plant’s operator told the government Friday.
But the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s review is continuing and the agency has not decided whether the reactors at the North Anna Power Station in Mineral, Va., should return to service.
“To date the staff has not identified any significant issues,” said Eric Leeds, director of the office of nuclear reactor regulation. If the agency’s staff determines the plant can be restarted safely, then regulators would conduct an enhanced inspection during and after the startup, he said.
David Heacock, president and chief nuclear officer of Dominion Nuclear, said company officials “have gone over North Anna very systematically — every safety system, structure and component — and found only cosmetic damage.” He said safety designs “made it more than able to withstand this earthquake.”
The reactors are about 11 miles from the quake’s epicenter. Dominion says seismic vibrations from the 5.8-magnitude earthquake caused the reactors to shut down.
Continue reading at Dominion Says Nuclear Reactors Ready To Restart
