Inspections Allegedly Faked at Southern’s Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Feb. 21 it’s fining Southern Co. for faking inspections at the same nuclear power plant in Georgia where it’s been trying for years to build new reactors.

The commission said in a statement it is proposing a $145,000 civil penalty against the Southern Nuclear Operating Co. subsidiary after workers at the Vogtle plant “did not complete required rounds to check equipment and plant conditions, but provided inaccurate documentation indicating that they had done so.“

At least 13 workers at the Waynesboro, Ga. plant failed to complete required rounds from August to October 2016, but entered ...