Press Release-I-16-012, NRC to Hold Open House on April 27 in Berwick, Pa., to Discuss 2015 Performance of Susquehanna Nuclear Plant

Press Release-I-16-012: NRC to Hold Open House on April 27 in Berwick, Pa., to Discuss 2015 Performance of Susquehanna Nuclear Plant

ML16111B183
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	04/20/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-012
Download: ML16111B183 (2)

Text

No: I-16-012 April 20, 2016 CONTACT: Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 NRC to Hold Open House on April 27 in Berwick, Pa.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of Susquehanna Nuclear Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, April 27, in Berwick, Pa., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at the Susquehanna Energy Information Center, at 634 Salem Blvd., from 4:30 - 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 on a full-time basis at the Salem Township (Luzerne County),

Pa., site.

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 the Susquehanna nuclear plant, which is owned by Talen Energy and is the site of two boiling-water reactors, operated safely during 2015. The plant had one white (low to moderate safety significance) issue in the area of emergency preparedness open as of the end of last year. The issue involved a concern with how plant personnel would determine the start of a 15-minute clock for emergency assessment and declaration for a scenario involving the potential loss of primary containment.

In response, the NRC completed a supplemental inspection at Susquehanna in November 2015 to review the companys root cause evaluation and corrective actions. The NRC found the response to be satisfactory and closed out the finding as of the first quarter of 2016.

Otherwise, all performance indicators for Susquehanna were green and no inspection findings were greater than green as of the end of 2015. Therefore, the plant will receive the NRCs normal level of oversight in 2016, barring any changes. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,265 hours0.00307 days <br />0.0736 hours <br />4.381614e-4 weeks <br />1.008325e-4 months <br /> of review at Susquehanna.

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 Susquehanna, 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 carried out by the two Resident Inspectors assigned to Susquehanna.

Reviews are also performed at the sites by specialist inspectors on a periodic basis.

Among the areas to be inspected this year at Susquehanna are the plants problem identification and resolution program, emergency preparedness and dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel. In addition, the NRC will perform inspections of the implementation of NRC post-Fukushima requirements at the plant.

The Annual Assessment letter for Susquehanna, as well as the notice for the April 27th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Susquehanna Unit 1 and Unit 2.

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No: I-16-012 April 20, 2016 CONTACT: Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 NRC to Hold Open House on April 27 in Berwick, Pa.,

to Discuss 2015 Performance of Susquehanna Nuclear Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a public open house on Wednesday, April 27, in Berwick, Pa., to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant.

NRC staff will be at the Susquehanna Energy Information Center, at 634 Salem Blvd., from 4:30 - 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 on a full-time basis at the Salem Township (Luzerne County),

Pa., site.

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 the Susquehanna nuclear plant, which is owned by Talen Energy and is the site of two boiling-water reactors, operated safely during 2015. The plant had one white (low to moderate safety significance) issue in the area of emergency preparedness open as of the end of last year. The issue involved a concern with how plant personnel would determine the start of a 15-minute clock for emergency assessment and declaration for a scenario involving the potential loss of primary containment.

In response, the NRC completed a supplemental inspection at Susquehanna in November 2015 to review the companys root cause evaluation and corrective actions. The NRC found the response to be satisfactory and closed out the finding as of the first quarter of 2016.

Otherwise, all performance indicators for Susquehanna were green and no inspection findings were greater than green as of the end of 2015. Therefore, the plant will receive the NRCs normal level of oversight in 2016, barring any changes. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,265 hours0.00307 days <br />0.0736 hours <br />4.381614e-4 weeks <br />1.008325e-4 months <br /> of review at Susquehanna.

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 Susquehanna, 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 carried out by the two Resident Inspectors assigned to Susquehanna.

Reviews are also performed at the sites by specialist inspectors on a periodic basis.

Among the areas to be inspected this year at Susquehanna are the plants problem identification and resolution program, emergency preparedness and dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel. In addition, the NRC will perform inspections of the implementation of NRC post-Fukushima requirements at the plant.

The Annual Assessment letter for Susquehanna, as well as the notice for the April 27th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Susquehanna Unit 1 and Unit 2.

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