Press Release-I-16-013, NRC to Discuss Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment in Conjunction with May 18 Oswego, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce Meeting

Press Release-I-16-013: NRC to Discuss Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment in Conjunction with May 18 Oswego, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce Meeting

ML16131A789
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	05/10/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-013
Download: ML16131A789 (2)

Text

No. I-16-013 May 10, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Discuss Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment in Conjunction with May 18 Oswego, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce Meeting The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Nine Mile Point nuclear power plant in conjunction with a meeting of the Greater Oswego-Fulton, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, May 18. Members of the public are invited to attend.

The chambers meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the Canal Commons building, at 197 W. 1st St. in Oswego. Immediately following the Chambers meeting, NRC staff will deliver a short presentation and will be prepared to answer questions from the public about plant performance and the agencys role in ensuring safe operations. The NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis will be among the agency staff on hand.

Nine Mile Point is located in nearby Scriba, N.Y. There are two operating boiling-water reactors at the site, which is owned by Exelon.

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 Nine Mile Point was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, Units 1 and 2 had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). As a result, both units are currently under the NRCs normal level of oversight.

In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,725 hours0.00839 days <br />0.201 hours <br />0.0012 weeks <br />2.758625e-4 months <br /> of review at Nine Mile Point.

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 Acting Region I Administrator David Lew said. In the case of Nine Mile Point, 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 three resident inspectors assigned to Nine Mile Point. Reviews are also performed 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 Nine Mile Point are emergency preparedness, radiological safety and permanent plant modifications. In addition, the NRC will inspect the plants dry cask storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

The Annual Assessment letter for Nine Mile Point, as well as the meeting notice for the May 18 meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Unit 1 and Unit 2.

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No. I-16-013 May 10, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Discuss Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment in Conjunction with May 18 Oswego, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce Meeting The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the Nine Mile Point nuclear power plant in conjunction with a meeting of the Greater Oswego-Fulton, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, May 18. Members of the public are invited to attend.

The chambers meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the Canal Commons building, at 197 W. 1st St. in Oswego. Immediately following the Chambers meeting, NRC staff will deliver a short presentation and will be prepared to answer questions from the public about plant performance and the agencys role in ensuring safe operations. The NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis will be among the agency staff on hand.

Nine Mile Point is located in nearby Scriba, N.Y. There are two operating boiling-water reactors at the site, which is owned by Exelon.

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 Nine Mile Point was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, Units 1 and 2 had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). As a result, both units are currently under the NRCs normal level of oversight.

In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,725 hours0.00839 days <br />0.201 hours <br />0.0012 weeks <br />2.758625e-4 months <br /> of review at Nine Mile Point.

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 Acting Region I Administrator David Lew said. In the case of Nine Mile Point, 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 three resident inspectors assigned to Nine Mile Point. Reviews are also performed 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 Nine Mile Point are emergency preparedness, radiological safety and permanent plant modifications. In addition, the NRC will inspect the plants dry cask storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

The Annual Assessment letter for Nine Mile Point, as well as the meeting notice for the May 18 meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Unit 1 and Unit 2.

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