Regulators Demand Holtec Repair Safety Culture at Michigan Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered Holtec International to address safety concerns at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan.

The regulator identified a 'chilled work environment' at the site, stating that employees are reluctant to raise safety issues due to a fear of retaliation. This finding emerged from an NRC inspection conducted in July, which was prompted by ongoing questions about safety awareness at the facility.

The review followed two distinct safety incidents at the plant. In a previous year, a contractor fell into the reactor cavity, swallowed water, and required off-site medical care. Although radiation protection staff decontaminated the worker, an incident report noted that 300 counts per minute of radiation were still detected in their hair. A second incident occurred in August when a bundle of nuclear fuel rods tilted during a refueling operation, delaying the restart of the reactor.

Performance metrics also contributed to the warning. Nine of the 15 trainee reactor operators failed the initial license examination administered in July and August. Only six individuals ultimately received their operator licenses. Holtec International, which has no prior history of operating a nuclear power plant, is currently managing the restart project.

The Palisades restart is a central component of the administration's push to revive the domestic nuclear industry. The company has secured approximately $2.2 billion in government support for the effort, which has been promoted as an emblem of a US nuclear resurgence. Critics argue that financial and political pressures to revitalize the sector, driven by surging energy demand from artificial intelligence, may increase the likelihood of accidents.

Other shuttered facilities are also preparing for potential returns. The owners of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania and the Duane Arnold plant in Iowa announced restart plans shortly after work began at Palisades. These projects aim to decommissioning status for facilities previously slated for closure.