By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has selected Christopher Speer to be the new resident inspector at the Waterford 3 nuclear plant, located in Killona on the west bank of St. Charles Parish.
“Chris’s background and experience will assist the NRC in carrying out its mission of protecting people and the environment and ensuring the safe operation of nuclear power plants,” said NRC Region IV Administrator Arthur T. Howell.
Speer joined the NRC’s Region IV office in Arlington, Texas, in 2011, where he has been working as a reactor inspector. He is also a participant in the NRC’s Nuclear Safety Profes-sional Devel-opment Program. Prior to joining the NRC, Speer worked as a nuclear engineer at the Bettis Atomic Power Labora-tory. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Missouri—Rolla.
Speer said the best part of his new position is his ability to go out into the plant and get hands-on. The new inspector said he is excited about the job and enjoys being able to lay eyes on problems and potential issues every day to make sure they’re being resolved correctly.
“I enjoy the job, and I like the technical challenge of going out into the plant and overseeing what they’re doing, reviewing their engineering work and making sure that I’m doing my due dillgence to help ensure public safety,” he said. “More than that, the area is nice, and I like exploring it. I’m a small-town kid at heart, so being in a large city to go wander around and explore is kind of exciting.”
Each U.S. commercial nuclear power plant has at least two resident inspectors. Speer joins senior resident inspector Marlone Davis. They serve as the agency’s eyes and ears at the facility, conducting inspections and monitoring significant work projects.
The Waterford 3 resident inspectors can be reached at 985-783-6253.