Valve failure leads to increased oversight

A low-pressure coolant injection valve failed in the fall of 2010 at the Browns Ferry Nuclear plant.  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concluded that the failure was “red”, meaning of high safety significance, which will lead to increased inspection and oversight of the power plant.  Although the Tennessee Valley Authority, which operates the plant, argued that the failed valve was a result of defective manufacturing and would have opened momentarily to supply necessary cooling water during the refueling of the Unit 1 reactor, they did use an alternative shutdown method.  The NRC determined that the public was in no way endangered.

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