Press Release-I-07-070, - NRC to Continue Enhanced Oversight of Indian Point in 2008
| ML073610559 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 12/27/2007 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region I |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release I-07-070 | |
| Download: ML073610559 (2) | |
Text
No. I-07-070
Contact:
Diane Screnci, 610/337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610/337-5331 December 27, 2007 NRC TO CONTINUE ENHANCED OVERSIGHT OF INDIAN POINT IN 2008 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will continue to conduct additional inspections at the Indian Point nuclear power plant throughout 2008 to ensure issues associated with on-site groundwater contamination and the facilitys new siren system are being properly addressed.
Entergy Nuclear operates Indian Point, which is located in Buchanan (Westchester County),
N.Y.
Overall, the NRC considers Entergys operation of Indian Point to be acceptable, with both operating units currently in the category of oversight that would typically result in a baseline, or routine, level of inspections. The NRCs Action Matrix, available at http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/actionmatrix_summary.html, shows both Indian Point 2 and 3 at present in the Licensee Response Column.
However, NRC Region I Administrator Samuel J. Collins, in a request to the agencys Executive Director for Operations, Luis A. Reyes, wrote that ongoing issues involving groundwater contamination at the site and the performance of the new Alert and Notification System (ANS) present unique challenges to the NRCs regulatory oversight of the plant.
This inspection program deviation is needed to ensure that in 2008 the NRC can continue to inspect Entergys resolution of the groundwater remediation efforts, installation and testing of the ANS, and communicate the issues to interested stakeholders, Mr. Collins wrote.
This level of inspection effort is in addition to the four Resident Inspectors assigned to the Indian Point site.
Mr. Reyes approved the formal request, in the form of a deviation memo, on Dec. 20.
The deviation memo marks a continuation of additional NRC oversight at Indian Point that was first approved in October 2005 and then renewed in December 2006, providing more resources for inspecting the plant in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov
In the near future, Entergy is expected to submit to the NRC a final report regarding its efforts to characterize on-site groundwater contamination. With regard to the new siren system, the NRC continues to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State of New York and local counties to monitor Entergys progress in resolving technical issues that must be addressed before the system can be placed into operation.
A copy of the deviation memo will be posted on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/indian-point-issues.html.
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