Peach Bottom Nuclear Generating Station - Safety Concerns

Safety Concerns

In 1987, PECO was ordered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)to shutdown Peach Bottom-2 and -3 on March 31, 1987 due to operator misconduct, corporate malfeasance and blatant disregard for the health and safety of area.

Among the incidents cited by the NRC: security guards were overworked, and one guard was found asleep on the job; 36,000 gallons of "mildly radioactive water" leaked into the Susquehanna River; PECO mislaid data on radioactive waste classification causing misclassification of a waste shipment; at the turbine building on March 4, 1987, Unit 3 a major fire occurred at the maintenance cage.

In September 2007, former employee Kerry Beal videotaped Peach Bottom security guards sleeping on the job. Beal had previously tried to notify supervisors at Wackenhut Corp. and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He was eventually fired during the Exelon security transition, a decision which made a list of the 101 "dumbest moments in business" in the Jan 16, 2008 issue of Fortune.

Read more about this topic:  Peach Bottom Nuclear Generating Station

Famous quotes containing the words safety and/or concerns:

    The Declaration [of Independence] was not a protest against government, but against the excess of government. It prescribed the proper role of government, to secure the rights of individuals and to effect their safety and happiness. In modern society, no individual can do this alone. So government is not a necessary evil but a necessary good.
    Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)

    Mr. Christian, it is about time for many people to begin to come to the White House to discuss different phases of the coal strike. When anybody comes, if his special problem concerns the state, refer him to the governor of Pennsylvania. If his problem has a national phase, refer him to the United States Coal Commission. In no event bring him to me.
    Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)