Palisades Fuel Loading Paused After Assembly Tilt
Holtec International paused refueling at Palisades after a fuel assembly tilted during loading on August 30.
Key points
- Refueling at Palisades paused after a fuel assembly tilted during loading on August 30.
- Holtec initiated a root cause evaluation to determine the event's cause.
- The NRC stated the incident did not meet the threshold for a reportable event.
Refueling work at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Van Buren County has stopped. Crews are correcting an issue that occurred in the reactor this month.
Holtec International reported that one fuel assembly tilted from its upright position after placement. This happened after the fuel-handling machine grapple was disengaged. Plant personnel responded immediately and notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Fuel assembly tilt halted loading
The plant began loading fuel into the reactor vessel on August 30. The tilt forced a pause in these operations. Holtec is now addressing the affected fuel assembly.
A root cause evaluation has been initiated to determine why the event occurred. This process aims to identify corrective actions. Activities will resume only after appropriate verification is complete.
Regulatory oversight and local criticism
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated the event did not rise to the level of a reportable incident. Kevin Kamps of Don’t Waste Michigan criticized this regulatory stance. He warned that the community may become numb to such performance at the plant.
Don’t Waste Michigan has opposed the restart of Palisades since the effort began. Kamps described the behavior as Homer Simpson-like. He emphasized the need for rigorous standards and independent federal oversight.
Company emphasizes safety priorities
A Holtec spokesperson stated that safety is the highest priority. The company said issues are evaluated, understood, and addressed. It highlighted that the nuclear industry operates under rigorous standards.
The company committed to verifying all issues before affected activities proceed. This approach ensures compliance with federal requirements. Details are available in Holtec’s latest Palisades progress report.
