Press Release-I-16-009, NRC to Hold Open House on April 12 in Ontario, N.Y., to Discuss 2015 Performance of R.E. Ginna Nuclear Plant

Press Release-I-16-009: NRC to Hold Open House on April 12 in Ontario, N.Y., to Discuss 2015 Performance of R.E. Ginna Nuclear Plant

ML16096A240
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	04/05/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-009
Download: ML16096A240 (1)

Text

No: I-16-009 April 5, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Open House on April 12 in Ontario, N.Y.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of R.E. Ginna Nuclear Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Tuesday, April 12, in Ontario, N.Y., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the R.E. Ginna nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at Ontario Town Hall, at 1850 Ridge Road in Ontario, from 4 - 6 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 Ontario pressurized-water reactor 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 Ginna operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, the Exelon-owned and -operated plant had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). Therefore, the plant is 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 2015, the agency devoted approximately 5,160 hours0.00185 days <br />0.0444 hours <br />2.645503e-4 weeks <br />6.088e-5 months <br /> of review at Ginna.

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 Ginna, 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 Resident Inspectors assigned to Ginna. Each plant has two Resident Inspectors. 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 Ginna are the plants problem identification and resolution program, radiological safety and emergency preparedness. In addition, the NRC will perform an inspection of the plants Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and the sites implementation of NRC post-Fukushima requirements.

The Annual Assessment letter for Ginna, as well as the notice for the April 12th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Ginna.

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No: I-16-009 April 5, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Open House on April 12 in Ontario, N.Y.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of R.E. Ginna Nuclear Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Tuesday, April 12, in Ontario, N.Y., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the R.E. Ginna nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at Ontario Town Hall, at 1850 Ridge Road in Ontario, from 4 - 6 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 Ontario pressurized-water reactor 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 Ginna operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, the Exelon-owned and -operated plant had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). Therefore, the plant is 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 2015, the agency devoted approximately 5,160 hours0.00185 days <br />0.0444 hours <br />2.645503e-4 weeks <br />6.088e-5 months <br /> of review at Ginna.

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 Ginna, 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 Resident Inspectors assigned to Ginna. Each plant has two Resident Inspectors. 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 Ginna are the plants problem identification and resolution program, radiological safety and emergency preparedness. In addition, the NRC will perform an inspection of the plants Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and the sites implementation of NRC post-Fukushima requirements.

The Annual Assessment letter for Ginna, as well as the notice for the April 12th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Ginna.

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