Pilgrim Nuclear Plant Lacks Safety Standards, Feds Say

Federal authorities this week said they will step up oversight of Plymouth’s Pilgrim nuclear plant after citing safety concerns.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the plant should have prevented a shutdown on Jan. 27 during a snowstorm. The NRC said plant managers should have identified a valve problem that has since been rectified.

Pilgrim is operated by Louisiana-based Entergy.

“The most recent finding highlights the continuing weaknesses in the implementation of Entergy’s program for identifying, evaluating and resolving problems at Pilgrim,” NRC administrator Dan Dorman said in a statement. “Our increased oversight will focus on understanding the reasons for those weaknesses and the actions needed to achieve sustained improvements.”

In a separate statement, Entergy president Bill Mohl said the plant is safe.

“We will review all the information and feedback provided by (the NRC) to continue to enhance our performance at Pilgrim,” Mohl said.