By Jim Shilander
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has asked Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which constructed the replacement steam generators at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, for a redacted copy of its study on the root causes of the failure at Unit 3. The report will eventually be made public.
The document became a source of controversy two weeks ago as Senator Barbara Boxer and Rep. Ed Markey asked the NRC to investigate claims that Southern California Edison and Mitsubishi knew the design of the steam generators was faulty. Edison has denied any such knowledge. NRC chairwoman Allison Macfarlane wrote to Boxer last week indicating that an investigation into the documents was underway.
NRC Region IV spokesperson Victor Dricks indicated the redacted version of the Mitsubishi report would first be reviewed by NRC staff and then released to the public. Dricks said an announcement would be made at that time.
