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Regulation of nuclear plants is tough. Nuclear power plants are the most regulated industry.
The announcement by the NRC on May 14 in Bay City revealed that the South Texas Project near Bay City had the best rating pertaining to STP’s safety record for 2007.
Matagorda Advocate reporter John Braden reported the following: “(STP) had nothing but green inspection findings and green performance indicators,” said John Dixon, senior resident inspector at STP. “Last year’s inspection activities, including the scheduled refueling outage, went off essentially flawless.”
A green rating is the highest level followed by the downward ratings of white, yellow and red. Red would indicate a severe safety concern.
And the president and chief nuclear officer at STP, James Sheppard, added, “We are always striving to maintain nuclear safety and the public health safety. We take all precautions very seriously.”
Apparently, this concern is nationwide at nuclear plants. Of the 104 NRC inspected plants, 87 received green ratings. Eight received white ratings, and one received a yellow rating. None were tagged with a red rating.
With an Exelon nuclear power plant planning to make Victoria County its home, it’s comforting to know that it will be an NRC-inspected plant and that safety will be its No. 1 concern.