Vermont Yankee Oversight Panel report to the Vermont Legislature, March 2009

Four nuclear experts were appointed by Vermont’s legislature and Governor to assess whether Vermont Yankee should be allowed to continue to operate after its 40 year license expires in 2012. The report found serious problems including:

• Aging equipment, including the condenser and main steam isolation valves
• Aging workforce with inadequate procedures for continued long-term plant operation with new personnel
• Serious equipment failures could have been avoided but management did not apply adequate money and time for inspections based on employee concerns.
• Equipment reliability was in the worst 25% of all plants nationwide
• Weak corrective action program