Associated Press: Fed regulators fine nuclear power plant in Florida

The Associated Press June 22, 2010, 4:59PM ET text size: TT
Fed regulators fine nuclear power plant in Florida


MIAMI

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has fined Florida Power & Light Co. $70,000 for three violations at the Turkey Point plant near Homestead.

The commission announced the fine Tuesday. The NRC learned in December that a neutron-absorbing material in a spent fuel pool had degraded below acceptable levels. The NRC acknowledged that FPL, whose parent company is NextEra Energy Inc., had taken measures to prevent any immediate safety concern, but the utility did not meet the exact regulatory requirements.

FPL spokesman Michael Waldron says every engineering analysis of the spent fuel pool shows that the company took appropriate action. Two independent experts validated FPL's actions and the safety of the fuel pools.

Waldron says FPL has always been extremely conservative in maintaining the spent fuel pools.