Nuclear Inspections Allegedly Faked at Southern's Power Plant

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday it’s fining Southern Co. for faking inspections at the same nuclear power plant in Georgia where it’s been trying for years to build new reactors.

The commission said in a statement it is proposing a $145,000 civil penalty against the Southern Nuclear Operating Co. subsidiary after workers at the Vogtle plant "did not complete required rounds to check equipment and plant conditions, but provided inaccurate documentation indicating that they had done so."

At least 13 workers at the Waynesboro, Ga. plant failed to complete required rounds from August to October 2016, but entered data into an electronic log indicating they had done so, the NRC said.

“We are committed to safety at all of our plants and take steps to ensure our employees are properly trained to safely operate and maintain them,” said Brian Green, a spokesman for Southern Nuclear. He added that the company “does not tolerate acts of willful misconduct. We have a personal accountability training program in place that fully outlines expectations of trust and integrity at our company.”

The NRC said the company has "taken a number of corrective actions" and that there were "no actual safety consequences" as a result of the missed rounds. 

Southern is building two reactors in eastern Georgia, the first new American nuclear project to be approved in three decades, but has seen cost estimates double to more than $25 billion.

The company has 30 days to either pay the fine or protest the violation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ari Natter in Washington at anatter5@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman

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