Nuclear Safety Section
Aerial view of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
Aerial view of Beaver Valley Power Station
Aerial view of Three Mile Island Generating Station
Aerial view of Limerick Generating Station
Aerial view of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station

The Nuclear Safety Section conducts a comprehensive nuclear power plant oversight review program at the five nuclear power sites in Pennsylvania. This oversight responsibility includes routine site visits and safety review activities, off-hour surveillances, review of all license amendments, evaluation of generic and specific nuclear safety issues, participation in nuclear power plant emergency exercises, and the inspection of radioactive waste shipments.

The Radiation Protection Act established a fee system which requires the nuclear utilities in Pennsylvania to pay for the costs associated with the implementation of this program. Each nuclear utility pays to the Department an annual amount of $550,000 per reactor site. There are currently nine operating nuclear power plants on five different sites in the Commonwealth.

Off-hour or Surprise Surveillances

In early 2006, the department's Nuclear Safety Program launched its unannounced and off-hour surveillances at the Pennsylvania nuclear power plants. These surprise surveillances are above and beyond all other routine oversight activities at these facilities. The goal is to reinforce the need for security and operations staff to remain alert and to perform their duties in a manner to keep the facilities operating safely. These surveillances concentrate on observing plant staff at various locations within the Protected and Vital Areas of the plant such as the security checkpoints, precessing centers, and the control room.

In May of 2006, the department's nuclear safety specialist assigned to Three Mile Island observed a security guard stationed at one of the staging posts, playing a hand-held video game during an unannounced surveillance at this facility. The department immediately notified the plant operator. The operator in turn notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has final authority over the health and safety regulations at all commercial nuclear power plants in the country. As a result of this finding, the utility modified its security procedures to prohibit the use of a hand-held electronic device by the security staff. Although there have been no other significant observations by the department staff since the TMI incident however, these surveillances will continue through 2009. Presently, the department is conducting at least one unannounced off-hour surveillance per month at each of the five Pennsylvania nuclear power plant sites.


Contacting the Nuclear Safety Division:

Phone: (717) 787-2163 | Fax: (717) 783-8965

Nuclear Safety Division Hotline: (800) 232-2786 (Pennsylvania only)

Click here to email the Nuclear Safety Division