Press Release-I-16-018, NRC to Hold Public Meeting on June 8 in Tarrytown, N.Y., Regarding Performance of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-16-018: NRC to Hold Public Meeting on June 8 in Tarrytown, N.Y., Regarding Performance of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

ML16152A757
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	05/31/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-018
Download: ML16152A757 (1)

Text

No. I-16-018 May 31, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on June 8 in Tarrytown, N.Y.,

Regarding Performance of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will share information on its annual assessment of safety performance at the Indian Point nuclear power plant during a public meeting on Wednesday, June 8, in Tarrytown. N.Y.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, at 455 South Broadway. (Directions to the hotel are available here.) During the meeting, NRC staff will answer questions regarding the plants performance and the agencys oversight activities at the Buchanan (Westchester County), N.Y., plant, which is owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. In addition, the staff will be prepared to address more recent issues, including degradation identified in a portion of the Indian Point 2 baffle-former bolts.

Determinations on performance are based on a combination of inspection findings and performance indicators utilized by the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, the foundational program used by the agency to complete its mission of assessing plant safety. The findings and indicators are classified by color, ranging from green, for an issue of very low safety or security significance, to white, yellow or red, representing high safety or security significance.

Indian Point Units 2 and 3 operated safely during 2015. Unit 2 was under the normal level of NRC oversight as of the end of last year by virtue of having no inspection findings that were greater than green and no performance indicators that were other than green. However, Unit 3 transitioned to increased NRC oversight during the fourth quarter of 2015 after its Performance Indicator for Unplanned Scrams (shutdowns) per 7,000 Hours of Operation went from green to white. That change occurs if a plant has more than three unplanned shutdowns for 7,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> of operation.

The NRC will perform a Supplemental Inspection at Indian Point Unit 3 focused on ensuring the company understands the root causes of the shutdowns, whether the issues could affect other areas of plant performance and any corrective actions. That will take place once Entergy notifies the NRC of its readiness for the review.

In 2015, the NRC performed approximately 10,150 hours0.00174 days <br />0.0417 hours <br />2.480159e-4 weeks <br />5.7075e-5 months <br /> of inspection at Indian Point. While Indian Point Unit 2 will receive our standard, wide-ranging battery of inspections, Unit 3 will be the subject of additional scrutiny because of the number of unplanned shutdowns, NRC Region I Deputy

Administrator David Lew said. Our expectation is that Entergy will develop a full understanding of, and address, any underlying problems.

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 carried out by the three Resident Inspectors assigned to Indian Point. Reviews are also performed 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 emergency preparedness, fire protection and radiological safety.

The Annual Assessment letter for Indian Point, as well as the notice for the June 8th meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Unit 2 and Unit 3.

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No. I-16-018 May 31, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Public Meeting on June 8 in Tarrytown, N.Y.,

Regarding Performance of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will share information on its annual assessment of safety performance at the Indian Point nuclear power plant during a public meeting on Wednesday, June 8, in Tarrytown. N.Y.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, at 455 South Broadway. (Directions to the hotel are available here.) During the meeting, NRC staff will answer questions regarding the plants performance and the agencys oversight activities at the Buchanan (Westchester County), N.Y., plant, which is owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. In addition, the staff will be prepared to address more recent issues, including degradation identified in a portion of the Indian Point 2 baffle-former bolts.

Determinations on performance are based on a combination of inspection findings and performance indicators utilized by the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, the foundational program used by the agency to complete its mission of assessing plant safety. The findings and indicators are classified by color, ranging from green, for an issue of very low safety or security significance, to white, yellow or red, representing high safety or security significance.

Indian Point Units 2 and 3 operated safely during 2015. Unit 2 was under the normal level of NRC oversight as of the end of last year by virtue of having no inspection findings that were greater than green and no performance indicators that were other than green. However, Unit 3 transitioned to increased NRC oversight during the fourth quarter of 2015 after its Performance Indicator for Unplanned Scrams (shutdowns) per 7,000 Hours of Operation went from green to white. That change occurs if a plant has more than three unplanned shutdowns for 7,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> of operation.

The NRC will perform a Supplemental Inspection at Indian Point Unit 3 focused on ensuring the company understands the root causes of the shutdowns, whether the issues could affect other areas of plant performance and any corrective actions. That will take place once Entergy notifies the NRC of its readiness for the review.

In 2015, the NRC performed approximately 10,150 hours0.00174 days <br />0.0417 hours <br />2.480159e-4 weeks <br />5.7075e-5 months <br /> of inspection at Indian Point. While Indian Point Unit 2 will receive our standard, wide-ranging battery of inspections, Unit 3 will be the subject of additional scrutiny because of the number of unplanned shutdowns, NRC Region I Deputy

Administrator David Lew said. Our expectation is that Entergy will develop a full understanding of, and address, any underlying problems.

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 carried out by the three Resident Inspectors assigned to Indian Point. Reviews are also performed 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 emergency preparedness, fire protection and radiological safety.

The Annual Assessment letter for Indian Point, as well as the notice for the June 8th meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Unit 2 and Unit 3.

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