Nuclear regulators seek fine for Festus facility

FESTUS (AP) -- Staff with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have proposed a roughly $16,000 fine for three violations during the decommissioning of a nuclear facility in eastern Missouri.

The commission said Thursday that a previous, routine inspection found three violations at the Hematite Decommissioning Project in Festus.

They said an alarm was deactivated before the commission approved such a move, inaccurate information was submitted about the amount of uranium-235 in a building, and a technician was not given adequate training.

The Hematite facility processed uranium and made nuclear fuel for use in power plants from 1974 to 2001. Work to decommission it began in 2002.

A phone message was left with Westinghouse Electric Co., the business the fine will be against, seeking comment.

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