NRC faults Virginia plant

Dominion, owner of the Millstone Power Station in Waterford, is facing increased oversight from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its North Ana nuclear power plant near Richmond, Va.

The NRC announced Monday that the plant had a violation of low to moderate safety significance, resulting in the decision to increase oversight. The violation was linked to maintenance of the plant's emergency diesel generators, the NRC said.

NRC staff determined a violation occurred involving the failure of North Anna personnel to establish and maintain appropriate maintenance procedures for emergency diesel generators. The violation stems from the failure of one of the four emergency diesel generators following the Aug. 23 earthquake that affected the area. The failure was not caused by the earthquake and repairs were completed a short time later. Inspections determined maintenance procedures were not adequate. Dominion has since revised maintenance procedures.