The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) may penalize the owner of Indian Point over weapons-grade uranium at the plant.

The NRC said it was considering taking ?enforcement action? against plant owner Entergy for missing inventory checks on tiny amounts of uranium-235 stored at the plant. The uranium is in 32 small detectors, which once measured radiation in the nuclear plant?s reactors. The uranium has been housed in a locked box at the bottom of the spent fuel pools since 1998, before Entergy bought the plant.

Entergy spokesman Jim Steets says the NRC didn?t make it clear the box had to be opened and inspected. Neil Sheehan of the NRC countered, saying, ?There is no room for sloppiness when it comes to special nuclear material.?

According to Entergy, the box has been opened and its contents matched records dating back to 1998. Even though the situation involves weapons-grade uranium, both Entergy and the NRC agree the discrepancy in accounting never posed a safety threat. However, Westchester's Emergency Services Commission is still worried that Entergy is not following federal regulations.