ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 1997               TAG: 9703050085
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: RICHMOND

NUCLEAR VIOLATIONS CITED

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has summoned Virginia Power officials to Atlanta to discuss seven apparent violations of monitoring and maintenance standards at the Surry Nuclear Plant, the NRC said Tuesday.

The NRC said an inspection in mid-January found that Virginia Power is not adequately implementing a rule that took effect last July. The rule requires utilities to monitor plant performance and condition and conduct preventive maintenance to keep the plant operating properly.

Virginia Power spokesman James Norvelle said utility officials were reviewing the NRC inspectors' report and would not address the alleged violations until the March 11 enforcement conference.

However, he said the alleged violations did not pose a public hazard. ``The report does not mean Surry was operating in an unsafe manner,'' Norvelle said.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   28 lines