Feds Find Safety Violations, Want Stricter Review On Plymouth Nuclear Plant

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Federal nuclear regulators say the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth is subject to additional oversight related to an emergency shutdown in May.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Monday that the findings of a previous inspection found that the violations in the May shutdown were of low to moderate significance.

The commission criticized Pilgrim's owners for inadequate training and enforcement of its standards following the automatic shutdown, which occurred as the reactor was being returned to service after a refueling and maintenance outage.

The shutdown was blamed on human error. There was never a danger to the public.

A spokeswoman for plant owner Entergy Corp. says the company has retrained control room operators and made other changes in light of the shutdown.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.