ML15132A637
| ML15132A637 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/12/2015 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region I |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Press Release-I-15-022 | |
| Download: ML15132A637 (2) | |
See also: see also:Press Release-I-15-022
Text
No. I-15-022 May 12, 2015
Contact: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 E-mail: opa1.resource@nrc.gov
Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331
NRC to Hold Regulatory Performance Public Meeting
Regarding Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant on May 20th
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will present details on its annual assessment of
safety performance at the Indian Point nuclear power plant during a public meeting on May 20th
in Tarrytown, N.Y.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the Westchester
Marriott, located at 670 White Plains Road. Doors to the room will open to the public at 6 p.m.
For security purposes, local law-enforcement officers will be conducting searches of personal
items, such as purses and backpacks, and random screenings at the rooms entry point.
NRC staff will be available starting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss issues related to the plant.
Prior to the end of the 7 p.m. meeting, NRC staff will answer questions on the plants
performance and the agencys oversight activities at the Buchanan (Westchester County), N.Y.,
facility.
An audio recording will be made of the meeting, and that recording will be transcribed.
Both the recording and the transcript will be made available on the NRCs website,
www.nrc.gov, at a later date.
Under the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, the agency gauges plant performance
through the use of color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators, which are
statistical measurements of plant performance that can trigger additional oversight if exceeded.
On an overall basis, Indian Point, which is owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc.,
operated safely in 2014. As of the end of last year, the plant had no inspection findings or
performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). Therefore,
Indian Point Units 2 and 3 are currently under the NRCs normal level of oversight.
The NRCs normal level of oversight at each U.S. nuclear power plant involves
thousands of hours of inspection. In 2014, the agency devoted approximately 8,280 hours0.00324 days <br />0.0778 hours <br />4.62963e-4 weeks <br />1.0654e-4 months <br /> of
review at Indian Point.
By assessing each plants performance in a comprehensive manner, we are able to focus
our inspection resources on those areas most in need of attention, NRC Region I Administrator
Dan Dorman said. Because Indian Point did not have any safety or security issues rising above
very low significance in 2014, we are not currently planning any inspections above and beyond
our normal reviews.
The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice a year: during the mid-cycle,
or mid-point, of the year, and at the conclusion of the year. Inspection findings and performance
indicators are also updated on a quarterly basis on the agencys website. Following the release of
the Annual Assessment letters each March, the NRC meets with the public in the vicinity of each
plant to discuss the results.
Normal inspections are performed by three Resident Inspectors assigned to Indian Point.
Reviews are also carried out at the sites by specialist inspectors assigned to the agencys Region
I Office in King of Prussia, Pa. Among the areas to be inspected this year at Indian Point are
groundwater monitoring, emergency planning, the dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel and the
plants problem identification and resolution program.
The NRC will also review Entergys adherence to license renewal commitments for
Indian Point 3. That units initial 40-year operating license will expire on Dec. 12, 2015, but it
will remain valid while the agency continues to review a license extension application for plant.
Despite the lack of a final decision on the application, the NRC expects Entergy to abide by
equipment maintenance and other commitments that would be formalized if the plant were to
receive an extension.
The Annual Assessment letter for Indian Point, as well as the notice for the May 20th
meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available
for Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3.