The federal agency that regulates the Seabrook Nuclear power plant is hosting a public meeting to discuss the plant’s 2016 record in safety.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host the public meeting Wednesday night in Hampton.
While there were no safety incidents at the plant last year, one area of ongoing concern is concrete degradation in the plant’s structures. The degradation is a result of a chemical reaction that occurs when the concrete is exposed to water. The vulnerability is linked to the specific quarry in Maine where the concrete was sourced.
Neil Sheehan is a spokesperson for the NRC.
“This is a unique issue, Seabrook is the only nuclear power plant in the country to encounter this," says Sheehan. "And we expect them to fully have their hands around it and develop a plan to deal with it before we would render a decision on the plant’s operating license.”
The NRC is currently reviewing a plan submitted by the plant’s owner, NextEra Energy, to address the issue. A ruling is expected next summer.
