The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has launched a “Click With Care” campaign, after an inadvertent email leak revealed candid details of a special inspection at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and caused a public uproar in Massachusetts.
“Many of us are aware of the impact of erroneously sending an email to the wrong person,” NRC Chief Information Officer David Nelson wrote in an internal email Tuesday. “Recently, this has been a topic of concern throughout the NRC as the repercussions can result in the loss of sensitive information or harm to the NRC’s reputation.” Nelson’s email to NRC staff includes tips for preventing future such incidents, including activating warning indicators in Outlook that potential email recipients are external to the NRC.
The controversial 2,300-word email, written by NRC Pilgrim inspection team leader Don Jackson, was mistakenly forwarded by a Region I project engineer to Diane Turco, president of the Cape Downwinders, a group of residents from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket who have long called for Pilgrim’s immediate closure. Jackson’s message detailed a long list of observations at the plant, including concerns about owner Entergy’s safety culture.
At the request of a host of officials from the state, NRC staff held a public meeting in Plymouth on Jan. 31, fielding calls from some 300 people for the facility to be shut down. The 44-year-old facility, which has experienced numerous unplanned shutdowns and other operational issues dating to 2013, is scheduled for permanent closure in 2019.
“We will be sharing more tips through a variety of channels over the next several months, and we hope to see you and your teams at our upcoming cybersecurity events,” Nelson wrote.
