The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has launched a special inspection at the Cook nuclear power plant in Bridgman following multiple diesel generator failures at the facility over the last two years.
NRC spokesperson Prema Chandrathil tells us the Cook plant has had multiple generator failures during routine testing.
“Diesel generators are used to provide power if the normal offset power is lost, and at DC Cook, there are four emergency diesel generators, and this occurred during routine testing,” Chandrathil said. “All of these emergency diesel generators are required to be tested frequently.”
Chandrathil says the plant’s diesel generators need to be in good, working order. The NRC will issue a report on the situation once its special inspection is complete.
“We’ve got three experts that are out there actually on site and it’ll take as long as necessary. There’ll be on-site inspection as well as off-site where they’ll review documents and papers as well as part of it.”
The three-person special inspection team will identify the failure timelines, review the plant’s troubleshooting and corrective measures, assess maintenance practices, and evaluate the plant’s ability to resolve the issue.
Chandrathil says the team’s report will be available to the public once it’s finished.
