NRC Issues Inspection Report on Spent Fuel Loading at Arkansas Nuclear One

	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlington TX 76011
	CONTACT:	Breck Henderson (817) 860-8128/e-mail: bwh@nrc.gov

RIV: 98-42

November 18, 1998

NRC ISSUES INSPECTION REPORT ON SPENT FUEL LOADING AT ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has issued a report on its inspection of the loading of spent fuel into storage casks at Arkansas Nuclear One. The report is available via the internet. (Inspection Report 50-368/98-17; 72-13/98-01, issued October 28.)

The NRC suspended ANO's authority to load spent fuel into the storage casks on May 16, 1997, after the company had loaded four casks, until problems with welding on the cask lids could be resolved. After development of corrective measures, the NRC gave ANO authority to resume loading the casks on September 4.

On September 13 ANO resumed loading spent fuel casks. The NRC observed the loading operation, welding of the lids and implementation of new ultrasonic testing techniques to examine the completed welds. The tests showed that the welds are of excellent quality. Examination of the welds on the four previously loaded casks will also be required.