NRC chief: Palisades improving

COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A visit to one of the four worst-performing nuclear plants in the country, Palisades near South Haven, left the government's top regulator believing that some improvements are being made.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko said after touring the plant it is important the plant management convey a "strong safety message from the top to the bottom of the organization. .. We're starting to see some of that happening at the facility but there is still a measure of work that needs to be done."

Several incidents in the last year left Palisades managers admitting their safety culture was lax.

The NRC ramped up its scrutiny of Palisades and has demanded the owner, Entergy, make improvements.

The Associated Press reports anti-nuclear activists say they'll meet with Jaczko following his tour of the Palisades plant in southwestern Michigan.

In a phone conference Thursday, activists said the plant has many flaws. They include a brittle reactor pressure vessel and aging steam generators.

Jaczko announced his resignation from the NRC on May 21.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.