Press Release-I-16-008, NRC to Hold Open House on April 6 in Delta, Pa., to Discuss 2015 Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-16-008: NRC to Hold Open House on April 6 in Delta, Pa., to Discuss 2015 Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant

ML16091A370
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	03/30/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-008
Download: ML16091A370 (2)

Text

No: I-16-008 March 30, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Open House on April 6 in Delta, Pa.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, April 6, in Delta, Pa., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at the Peach Bottom Inn, located at 6085 Delta Road, Delta, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. to discuss the plants performance in 2015 and the agencys oversight plans for the remainder of 2016. On hand will be agency employees responsible for inspections of the plant, including the Resident Inspectors based at the Delta (York County), Pa., site on a full-time basis.

The NRCs Reactor Oversight Process is the foundational program that enables the agency to successfully complete its mission of assessing plant safety. Under that program, the NRC 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.

Based on its 2015 reviews, the NRC determined that Peach Bottom, which is the site of two operating reactors owned by Exelon, was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance).

The NRCs normal level of oversight at each U.S. nuclear power plant involves thousands of hours of inspection. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 5,365 hours0.00422 days <br />0.101 hours <br />6.035053e-4 weeks <br />1.388825e-4 months <br /> of review at Peach Bottom.

Our Annual Assessments allow us to step back at regular intervals and size up plant performance. However, we view oversight of each facility as an ongoing responsibility, NRC Region I Administrator Dan Dorman said. In the case of Peach Bottom, the plants current performance qualifies for our normal level of oversight.

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 two Resident Inspectors assigned to Peach Bottom.

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 Peach Bottom are radiological controls and safety, emergency planning and the plants dry cask storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

The Annual Assessment letter for Peach Bottom, as well as the notice for the April 6th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Peach Bottom Unit 2 and Unit 3.

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No: I-16-008 March 30, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Open House on April 6 in Delta, Pa.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, April 6, in Delta, Pa., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at the Peach Bottom Inn, located at 6085 Delta Road, Delta, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. to discuss the plants performance in 2015 and the agencys oversight plans for the remainder of 2016. On hand will be agency employees responsible for inspections of the plant, including the Resident Inspectors based at the Delta (York County), Pa., site on a full-time basis.

The NRCs Reactor Oversight Process is the foundational program that enables the agency to successfully complete its mission of assessing plant safety. Under that program, the NRC 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.

Based on its 2015 reviews, the NRC determined that Peach Bottom, which is the site of two operating reactors owned by Exelon, was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance).

The NRCs normal level of oversight at each U.S. nuclear power plant involves thousands of hours of inspection. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 5,365 hours0.00422 days <br />0.101 hours <br />6.035053e-4 weeks <br />1.388825e-4 months <br /> of review at Peach Bottom.

Our Annual Assessments allow us to step back at regular intervals and size up plant performance. However, we view oversight of each facility as an ongoing responsibility, NRC Region I Administrator Dan Dorman said. In the case of Peach Bottom, the plants current performance qualifies for our normal level of oversight.

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 two Resident Inspectors assigned to Peach Bottom.

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 Peach Bottom are radiological controls and safety, emergency planning and the plants dry cask storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

The Annual Assessment letter for Peach Bottom, as well as the notice for the April 6th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Peach Bottom Unit 2 and Unit 3.

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