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South Carolina Plant Not Ready for MOX, NRC Says
The Catawba Nuclear Station in South Carolina must improve security before it can accept a shipment of mixed-oxide fuel heading to the United States, the Associated Press reported Saturday (see GSN, March 23). Weapon-grade plutonium was converted in France to the MOX fuel, which will be tested at Catawba to determine if it can be used at U.S. commercial reactors. However, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s atomic licensing board declared on March 10 that the South Carolina plant had not met four security requirements, AP reported. “All licensing requirements will be met before the fuel assemblies are sent to Catawba,” said Energy Department spokesman Bryan Wilkes. The requirements involve “safeguards” to reduce the chances of a mishap involving the MOX, said Rita Sipe, spokeswoman for Duke Power, which operates Catawba. There was no word Friday on the amount of time Duke Power would need to make the improvements, or where the fuel will be located when it arrives in the United States in the coming days, AP reported (Associated Press, April 9). Meanwhile, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has asked that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford bar the MOX fuel from being shipped to the nuclear station, The State reported Friday. “We are appealing to Governor Mark Sanford to use his power,” said Lou Zeller, a nuclear campaign official with the organization. “The governors in this state have a tradition of standing up for their people and doing whatever it takes. We hope Sanford is part of that” (Sammy Fretwell, The State, April 8). Spokesman Will Folks said the governor was told that mandated safety measures would be in place for the MOX, AP reported. “Everything would have to be in compliance prior to that material being shipped,” Folks said (Associated Press/MyrtleBeachOnline.com, April 8).
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