Press Release-II-07-011, - NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Oconee Nuclear Plant
| ML070950089 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 04/05/2007 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region II |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-II-07-011 | |
| Download: ML070950089 (2) | |
Text
NRC NEWS UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-07-011 April 5, 2007 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Roger Hannah (404)562-4417 NRC TO DISCUSS 2006 PERFORMANCE AT OCONEE NUCLEAR PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Duke Energy officials on Thursday, April 12, to discuss the NRCs annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Oconee nuclear power plant, located near Seneca, S.C.
The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Oconee Office Complex Auditorium, 155 East Pickens Highway (Highway 183) outside Seneca. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting.
The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Oconee plant and the nations other commercial nuclear power facilities, NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. This meeting is a chance for us to discuss that safety performance with the company, with local officials and with people living near the plant.
A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/oco_2006q4.pdf.
The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and then increase to white, yellow or red, depending on the safety significance of the issues involved.
The NRC said the Oconee plant operated safely during 2006, but performance during the most recent quarter was in the NRCs degraded cornerstone column based on a white performance indicator in conjunction with a white inspection finding in the same area. The details are available in the letter mentioned above. In response to the degraded cornerstone performance at the plant, the NRC plans a supplemental inspection to look into those issues.
In addition to that inspections and the NRCs routine baseline inspections, NRC inspectors will also be looking at the plants independent spent fuel storage facility and Dukes actions related to a temporary instruction for containment sump blockage. The NRC staff will also conduct reactor operator licensing exams at the Oconee plant this year.
Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.
Current information for the Oconee plant is available on the NRC web site at:
www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO1/oco1_chart.html,
www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO2/oco2_chart.html and www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO3/oco3_chart.html.
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