The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalized an inspection finding as “white” related
to an inoperable emergency diesel generator at the V.C. Summer nuclear power plant in
Jenkinsville, South Carolina. Under the NRC’s reactor oversight process, a white inspection finding
reflects low-to-moderate safety significance.
The finding stems from the discovery of a malfunctioning fuel oil piping for one of the
emergency diesel generators during routine testing in November 2022. The NRC conducted a
detailed review and found plant operator Dominion Energy had failed to make necessary
maintenance or design changes, raising concerns about the plant’s preparedness for emergencies
involving the loss of offsite power. The agency detailed its findings in an October 2023 inspection
report.
During a regulatory conference, Dominion Energy provided new information, including an
analysis demonstrating the emergency diesel generator could operate for six hours in an emergency.
As a result of this additional information about the generator’s capacity, the NRC concluded that the
issue’s safety significance was lower than initially assessed.
“Maintaining the operational readiness of all safety-related equipment is crucial for the
plant's ability to respond effectively in emergencies,” said NRC Region II Administrator Laura
Dudes. “While not indicative of immediate risk, this finding underscores the need for continuous
vigilance and improvement in the plant’s corrective action process.”
The agency will conduct a supplemental inspection at the plant to ensure that Dominion
Energy has thoroughly analyzed the root cause of the issue and has implemented effective
corrective action to prevent recurrence. The results of this inspection will be made available in a
publicly accessible report.
