The Nation - News from Aug. 13, 1989

Nine of 10 employee-training programs at the Palo Verde nuclear plant at Phoenix could lose their national accreditation unless improvements are made in the next four months, officials said. Loss of accreditation by the National Nuclear Accrediting Board would not jeopardize Palo Verde’s operating license or the safe operation of the plant, officials said, but would mean tougher scrutiny of the facility, including more frequent inspections by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and closer employee screening. The nine training programs were placed on probation in late June. Four are for operations training, three for maintenance, one for technical staff and one for chemistry. The radiation-protection training program for technicians escaped being placed on probation.