Safety
Safety Redundancy
Palisades Power Plant was designed with multiple safety systems and components-first to prevent accidents, and second, to minimize the effect of any accidents that do occur.
Several different systems, each with multiple, redundant components, provide important cooling water to the reactor core.
The reactor and most radioactive materials in the Palisades Power Plant are within a 3½ foot thick, leak-tight, steel-reinforced concrete containment structure. The design of U.S. nuclear power plants makes a nuclear accident like the one at Chernobyl impossible.
Multiple instruments continually monitor plant functions to alert operators and even automatically shut down the plant if readings vary from their normal ranges.
In addition to strong containment and redundant safety systems, the backup safety layers include plant staffs highly trained and skilled in accident and event response, and comprehensive emergency plans with frequent drills involving all plant staff.
Regulatory Oversight
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for assuring that nuclear power plants operate safely and meet federal regulations.
NRC inspectors work full-time at Palisades, reviewing day-to-day activities and programs. Additional inspectors conduct several special inspections of specific areas and programs each year.
All changes in plant design and operation are reviewed to assure they meet safety standards and comply with NRC regulations.
All NRC inspection reports and other regulatory records are available to the public.
A Business Imperative
Our first priority at Palisades Power Plant is to operate our nuclear facility safely. That also is the best way to operate profitably.
Operation of the Palisades nuclear facility is marked by a cautious approach, questioning attitude and conservative decisions.
Operators follow explicit, detailed procedures that have been extensively reviewed to assure safe operation.
Our personnel receive more job-related training than those of any other industry. Even after undergoing extensive training prior to assuming their plant responsibilities, reactor operators receive re-training every fifth week on the job to assure their skills are finely tuned.