Wppss Again Faces $50,000 Safety Fine

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday recommended a $50,000 fine against the Washington Public Power Supply System for a worker safety violation.

WPPSS operates the state’s only commercial nuclear power reactor.

It is the third time this year the Supply System has been fined $50,000 for safety violations at its No. 2 reactor on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

The latest violation occurred May 14, when two workers were contaminated while moving radiation filters from a reactor water cleanup system in the reactor building, the NRC said.

The violations were noted during an NRC inspection May 22-25.

Supply System spokeswoman Mary Ace said the proposed fine is being reviewed.

L. Joe Callan, NRC Region IV administrator in Arlington, Texas, said the workers’ exposure was well below federal limits.