NRC Issues Chilling Effect Letter to Holtec

The NRC found during a recent inspection that a Chilled Work Environment exists in Holtec's Supply Chain and Quality Assurance departments at the Palisades plant . The October 13 finding is limited to those two departments and does not involve any violations or significant plant safety issues. The NRC expects Holtec to share the findings with employees, take immediate steps to reassure staff, conduct an independent evaluation, submit a corrective action plan within 30 days, and implement corrective actions. The NRC will review the plan and oversee Holtec's response. The agency has determined that existing measures adequately protect plant safety, and based on current information, the findings are not expected to affect the planned restart of the Palisades facility. The agency will continue to verify through inspection and oversight that safety requirements are met and these issues are effectively addressed.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.