Oyster Creek power plant owners face fine after too much radiation detected in equipment shipment

LACEY - The Nuclear Regulatory Agency has proposed fining Holtec International, which is decommissioning the defunct Oyster Creek power plant, $43,750 for shipping radioactive material improperly, the agency announced Thursday.

A package of radiation-contaminated equipment shipped from the shuttered Lacey power plant in May to the former Indian Point nuclear plant in Buchanan, New York, was discovered to be emitting radiation more than double the limits set by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The radiation was limited to the top of the package and no one in the public was impacted, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The NRC also issued a violation at the Indian Point site because Holtec personnel waited a day to report the incident. They are required to report such a situation immediately.

"This enforcement action reinforces that the NRC will hold licensees accountable if they don’t meet the requirements," NRC Region I Administrator Raymond Lorson said in a news release. "We expect nuclear plant personnel to be diligent and ensure that no shipments are leaving their facilities that could in any way adversely affect the public."

Previously: Material transported from Oyster Creek exceeded federal radiation levels: officials

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: After too much radiation was detected in shipment, Oyster Creek owner face fine