Holtec Faced With NRC Warning
Regulators cited a fearful workplace and high exam failure rates at the Michigan plant.
By Luana Foster ·
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a formal warning to Holtec International. The agency directed the company to address a "chilled work environment" at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. This action follows a review of safety culture at the site.
The NRC found that employees were reluctant to raise safety concerns. Workers feared retaliation from management. The regulator based this finding on an inspection conducted in July. That review followed questions about safety awareness at the facility.
Two specific incidents triggered the regulatory scrutiny. Last year, a contractor fell into the reactor cavity. The worker swallowed water and left the site for medical care. Decontamination staff treated the individual, but tests still showed 300 counts per minute in their hair. In August, a bundle of nuclear fuel rods tilted during refueling. That error delayed the expected restart of the plant.
The licensing exam results further complicated the restart timeline. Nine of 15 reactor operators failed their initial tests in July and August. Only six individuals received their operator licenses. The NRC identified this high failure rate as part of the broader safety concerns.
Holtec International has not previously operated a nuclear power plant. The company secured approximately $2.2 billion in government support for the Palisades project. President Donald Trump has promoted this effort as a key part of reviving the domestic nuclear industry. The plant serves as a symbolic centerpiece for that push.
Critics of the restart argue that political and financial pressure increases accident risk. They point to surging energy demand from artificial intelligence as a driving force. These pressures, they say, may compromise safety standards at shuttered plants.
Palisades is not the only closed site seeking a return to service. Owners of Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa announced restart plans. Both projects began planning shortly after work started at Palisades.
Source: Ars Technica
