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Palisades nuclear plant workers on leave due to fire check records

Posted at 9:22 AM, Jul 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-19 09:22:51-04

COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Officials say nearly two dozen security workers at Palisades nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan are on paid leave after inconsistencies in fire inspection records were found.

Plant spokeswoman Val Gent tells The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. placed the workers on leave while it investigates the allegations. One of the workers’ duties is to do routine checks to look for any possible signs of fire.

Specifics weren’t released, but Gent says “we cannot tolerate employees stating they completed a task when they didn’t, and we are obligated to fully investigate any such instances.”

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Prema Chandrathil says the plant’s owner Entergy placed 22 security workers on leave.

The plant is in Van Buren County’s Covert Township on the shore of Lake Michigan.