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Charlotte Area Duke Plant Violates Safety Standards For 28 Years

Posted by Christopher Shumate | Dec 17, 2012 | 0 Comments

On February 28, 2012, a watch group cited Duke Energy's Oconee plant, located near Seneca, South Carolina for several safety violations. According to the watch group's report, the plant operated with an inoperable backup emergency cooling system for a lengthy 28 year period.

The Oconee plant installed the cooling system in 1983 in response to a partial meltdown at Three Mile Island, a nuclear plant with a similar design located in Pennsylvania. The cooling system was designed to open if overheating in the reactor building occurred. However, the electrical breakers for the cooling system opened at low temperatures. This defect posed a devastating safety risk, as the backup system could potentially fail to operate and cool the plant if an accident occurred. Although installed in 1983, the system was never tested and was in fact inoperable until June, 2011.

About the Author

Christopher Shumate

Mr. Chris Shumate is a native of Gastonia, North Carolina, and worked various jobs while pursuing his undergraduate and Juris Doctor education, including several heavy manual labor and skilled trade positions. In his practice, Mr. Shumate often encounters circumstances where these prior experiences are helpful in representing you. Upon graduating law school from the University of South Carolina, Mr. Shumate joined one of the Carolinas' larger defense firms, where he represented a diverse set of employers and insurance companies in civil cases and workers' compensation claims across the Carolinas. Chris utilized this experience to obtain a working knowledge of the insurance industry, and build personal contacts used today in representing you. Mr. Shumate ultimately decided he wanted to focus his law practice on assisting those who have been injured, and doing so with the focus on a personal relationship that is uncommon in the bigger firms. Mr. Shumate's also has a passion for assisting those facing the challenges of the criminal legal system. By representing individuals in a variety of criminal and traffic matters, Mr. Shumate works to achieve the best possible result for each client regardless of the charges levied by the prosecution. Chris has tirelessly pursued his mission of helping people from all walks of life throughout the Carolinas with a variety of legal matters. If you are interested in learning more about Chris Shumate and The Shumate Law Offices, please contact us at 704.371.5059. We look forward to assisting you to achieve a positive result in your legal concern. Education J.D., University of South Carolina B.S., University of South Carolina Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice N.C. State BarS.C. State BarU.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina Professional & Bar Association Memberships N.C. Bar Association S.C. Bar Association Mecklenburg County Bar N.C. Academy Of Trial Lawyers American Association For Justice

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