06/12/08

PHOENIX (AP) _ U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will
hold a June 30 public meeting to discuss the status of improvements
at the nation's largest nuclear power plant.

Officials with Arizona Public Service Co., the utility that
operates the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, will brief the
staff at the 6:30 p.m. meeting at Tonopah Valley High School in
Tonopah.

Palo Verde's safety rating was downgraded last year after a
series of problems, including leaking oil seals and a broken
emergency generator.

NRC Chairman Dale Klein said in late February, after touring the
plant 55 miles west of downtown Phoenix, that it could take months
before Palo Verde proved it deserved a better safety rating.

Palo Verde supplies electricity to about 4 million customers in
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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