Press Release-IV-99-034, NRC Region IV Issues Mid-Cycle Plant Performance Review Results

Press Release-IV-99-034, NRC Region IV Issues Mid-Cycle Plant Performance Review Results

ML003707739
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/13/1999
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-99-034
Download: ML003707739 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, Texas 76011-8064 RIV: 99-34 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Breck Henderson October 13, 1999 OFFICE: 817-860-8128 Cellular: 817-917-1227 E-Mail: bwh@nrc.gov NRC Region IV Issues Mid-Cycle Plant Performance Review Results The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is making its mid-cycle Plant Performance Reviews (PPRs) for nuclear power plants available on the NRC web site. PPRs are an interim measure the NRC is using to assess nuclear power plant safety. The agency began using it for this purpose after suspending the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) in 1998 while it developed a revised reactor oversight process. The text of each mid-cycle PPR letter is available from the NRC Region IV Office of Public Affairs and on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/ppr. As additional PPR letters are issued, they will be made available in the same manner.

Full scale PPRs, which consisted of an in-depth, integrated assessment of overall plant performance were conducted approximately six months ago. The results of those PPRs were communicated to each power reactor licensee and provided performance information similar to that previously contained in SALP reports. The recently conducted mid-cycle PPRs did not entail the same level of assessment effort. The primary purpose of these reviews was to evaluate safety performance information from the past six months to identify any changes in performance from that described in the last PPRs in order to allocate inspection resources appropriately.

In most instances, the region will continue to execute inspection plans consisting of core and regional initiative inspections, commensurate with the level of performance described in the PPRs issued last spring. However, as a result of the staffs recent evaluation of licensee performance, the inspection activity at some plants will be adjusted in certain areas.

-More-

An important element of the previous SALP process was the public meeting the NRC would have with the licensee to discuss the assessment results. During the interim process, the staff has continued its practice of meeting with licensees periodically to discuss its performance assessment. Most plants have had public meetings in the recent past and therefore few meetings are scheduled as a result of the PPRs. These meetings are announced in advance and are open to the public.

The revised reactor oversight process is currently undergoing a pilot evaluation at nine plants and is scheduled for full implementation next spring. Under the revised process, the staff will conduct quarterly performance reviews based on a number of performance indicators and inspection findings. A full description of the revised program is available on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/primer.htm or http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/index.html .