Press Release-I-13-016, NRC to Hold Open House on April 18th in Delta, Pa., to Discuss Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant Annual Assessment

Press Release-I-13-016: NRC to Hold Open House on April 18th in Delta, Pa., to Discuss Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant Annual Assessment

ML13101A355
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	04/11/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-13-016
Download: ML13101A355 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 2100 Renaissance Blvd., King of Prussia, Pa. 19406-2713 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. I-13-016 April 11, 2013

Contact:

Diane Screnci, (610) 337-5330 Email: opa1.resource@nrc.gov Neil Sheehan, (610) 337-5331 NRC TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 18th IN DELTA, PA.,

TO DISCUSS PEACH BOTTOM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ANNUAL ASSESSMENT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public open house on Thursday, April 18, to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant.

During the open house, which is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the Peach Bottom Inn, at 6085 Delta Road in Delta, Pa., attendees will have an opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with NRC staff members about the plants 2012 performance and the agencys oversight of the facility. NRC staff on hand will include the inspectors assigned to the plants on a full-time basis and their supervisors.

Overall, the Peach Bottom plant -- consisting of two boiling-water reactors located in Delta (York County) -- operated safely during 2012. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 did not have any inspection findings that were greater than green (rising to the level requiring additional NRC oversight) or any performance indicators that were other than green (exceeding the threshold for the indicator and requiring additional NRC oversight). As a result, Peach Bottom will continue to receive the NRCs normal level of oversight during 2013.

Plants that meet criteria set out by the NRC receive the normal level of oversight, which still consists of a detailed regime involving thousands of hours of inspection. In 2012, the agency devoted approximately 5,570 hours0.0066 days <br />0.158 hours <br />9.424603e-4 weeks <br />2.16885e-4 months <br /> of inspection to the Peach Bottom plant.

When the time comes to evaluate a plants performance for the previous year, we take a fresh look at any and all issues that might be of concern. We then adjust our plans for assessing the facility accordingly, NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. As we map out our inspection plans for the remainder of 2013, we remain focused on ensuring that safety is the foremost objective for all plant operators.

The NRC uses a combination of color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess plant performance. The colors begin with green and then increase to white, yellow or red, commensurate with the risk significance of the issues involved. The agency 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 the NRCs web site, www.nrc.gov, each quarter. Following the release of the annual reports every March, the NRC meets with the public in the vicinity of each plant to discuss the results. The sessions are in keeping with the agencys commitment to transparency with respect to its activities.

The annual assessment letter for the Peach Bottom plant and the notice for the open house, as well as current performance information for Peach Bottom Unit 2 and Peach Bottom Unit 3, can be found on the NRC website.

Routine inspections are carried out by the two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to each plant and by inspection specialists from the agencys Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa.

Among the areas of performance to be inspected at Peach Bottom this year by NRC specialists are activities associated with emergency planning, problem identification and resolution, the dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel and radiological safety.

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription or by clicking on the EMAIL UPDATES link on the NRC homepage (www.nrc.gov). E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's website. For the latest news, follow the NRC on www.twitter.com/NRCgov.