The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released a final decision on June 13 rejecting the 2.206 petition filed by a local anti-nuclear group. A 2.206 petition is a mechanism the NRC established to allow the public to be involved and engaged in its oversight process.

The petition, filed by NC WARN and others in Sept. 2006, sought to shut down the Harris Nuclear Plant due to claims of inadequate fire protection measures. In the final "Director's Decision," the NRC rejects all three portions of the petition, noting that the agency has granted the Harris Plant "enforcement discretion" as it makes changes to its fire protection program, and that on-site NRC inspectors continue to oversee these changes to "verify the licensee is properly implementing its fire protection program in accordance with the regulations."

This decision validates the work of the Harris Plant fire protection team as it transitions from Appendix R (the existing NRC fire protection standard) to the new fire safety standard, NFPA-805. Under NFPA-805 (National Fire Protection Association, section 805), the plant is required to use a risk-informed approach, meaning that the highest level of fire protection necessary will be implemented based on a detailed analysis of fire risk in different areas of the plant.

The fire protection team continues to conduct testing to ensure that the most effective fire protection for all safety systems in the plant is in place, and that the necessary modifications are made to comply with NRC regulations without the need for supplemental measures. Currently, the plant is on schedule to complete the transition to NFPA-805 by the end of 2010.

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