NRC: News Release - Region II - 2008-040 - NRC Conducting Special Inspection at Hatch Nuclear Plant


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NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II
61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
www.nrc.gov

No. II-08-040		July 21, 2008
CONTACT:	Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417	E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov
NRC CONDUCTING SPECIAL INSPECTION AT HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT Printable Version
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at the Hatch nuclear plant to assess the failure of one of the emergency diesel generators associated with Hatch Unit 1. The Hatch plant is located near the town of Baxley in south Georgia and is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company. On July 17, Southern Nuclear was conducting a 24-hour test of the diesel generator and noticed high vibration. After the diesel generator was stopped, workers discovered that the coupling between the diesel engine and generator had failed. Diesel generators at a nuclear plant provide emergency power should the plant lose power from offsite power lines. “We’re doing this inspection to ensure we completely understand the circumstances of the failure and Southern Nuclear’s action after it was discovered,” said NRC Region II Administrator Luis Reyes. Reyes also said the NRC inspectors will evaluate the operability of the other diesel generator for Unit 1 and the two generators for Unit 2. The inspection begins this week and a report will be issued about 45 days after it is completed. The inspection report will be publicly available at that time on the agency’s website at: www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html.
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