Press Release-I-14-024, NRC Plans Open House for May 29 to Discuss Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-14-024: NRC Plans Open House for May 29 to Discuss Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant

ML14148A135
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	05/22/2014
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-14-024
Download: ML14148A135 (1)

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No: I-14-024 May 22, 2014 CONTACT: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC Plans Open House for May 29 to Discuss Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold an open house on Thursday, May 29, to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant. Exelon Generation Co. LLC operates the twin-reactor plant, which is located in Delta (York County), Pa.

The open house is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. at the Peach Bottom Inn, at 6085 Delta Road in Delta. During the session, members of the public will have an opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with NRC staff regarding the plants performance in 2013, as well as the agencys oversight plans for the facility this year. The NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis, as well as their supervisor, will be on hand.

Under the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators are used to assess plant performance. (Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance which, if exceeded, trigger additional NRC oversight.) The colors range from green, connoting very low safety or security significance, to white, yellow or red, for an issue of high significance.

Overall, the Peach Bottom plant performed safely during 2013. At the conclusion of last year, as assessed by the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, there were no performance indicators for the plant that were other than green (very low risk) and no inspection findings that were greater than green (that is, none of the findings exceeded very low safety significance). As a result, Peach Bottom will continue to receive the NRCs normal level of oversight during 2014, barring any changes.

The normal level of oversight consists of a detailed regime entailing thousands of hours of inspection. In 2013, the NRC devoted approximately 6,485 hours0.00561 days <br />0.135 hours <br />8.01918e-4 weeks <br />1.845425e-4 months <br /> of inspection at Peach Bottom.

We take very seriously the task of stepping back on a regular basis to size up plant performance. These comprehensive evaluations help guide our reviews for the year ahead, though we maintain flexibility should conditions change, NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. Peach Bottom, by virtue of its performance in 2013, will receive our routine - though still substantial -

battery of inspections.

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 two Resident Inspectors assigned to Peach Bottom.

Reviews are also performed at the site by specialist inspectors assigned to the agencys Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa. Among the areas to be inspected this year at Peach Bottom are emergency preparedness, radiological safety and the implementation of an industry initiative to monitor the condition of underground piping.

The Annual Assessment letter for Peach Bottom, as well as the meeting notice for the May 29th open house, are available on the NRCs website. Current performance information is also available for Peach Bottom Unit 2 and Peach Bottom Unit 3.

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