Press Release-I-16-016, NRC to Hold Meeting with Exelon on May 26 in Stafford Township, N.J., Regarding Performance of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-16-016: NRC to Hold Meeting with Exelon on May 26 in Stafford Township, N.J., Regarding Performance of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant

ML16141A137
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	05/20/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-16-016
Download: ML16141A137 (2)

Text

No. I-16-016 May 20, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Meeting with Exelon on May 26 in Stafford Township, N.J.,

Regarding Performance of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will share information on its annual assessment of safety performance at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant during a public meeting on Thursday, May 26, in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, N.J.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Manahawkin, at 151 Route 72 West, in Stafford. During the session, NRC staff will answer questions on the plants performance and the agencys oversight activities at the Lacey Township, N.J., plant, which is owned and operated 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 Oyster Creek was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, the plant had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). As a result, the plant is currently under the NRCs normal level of oversight. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,150 hours0.00174 days <br />0.0417 hours <br />2.480159e-4 weeks <br />5.7075e-5 months <br /> of review at Oyster Creek.

However, an NRC inspection report issued on May 12 contained an inspection finding that has been preliminarily classified as white, or of low to moderate safety significance. The finding stems from the failure of a 3-inch hose that supplies water from a storage tank to a pump and in turn to one of the plants emergency diesel generators. The failure occurred during a regular test on Jan. 4. If it is finalized as white, the plant would move to the Regulatory Response Column of the agencys Action Matrix and receive additional oversight from the agency.

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 Oyster Creek, the plant is currently under our normal level of oversight, but that could change depending on the outcome of our enforcement process

for the preliminary white finding. Our final decision will be made public once that review has reached its conclusion.

The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice each year: during the midcycle, 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 NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Oyster Creek. 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 Oyster Creek are radiological safety, emergency preparedness and the plants problem identification and resolution program. In addition, the NRC will inspect the plants dry cask storage facility.

The Annual Assessment letter for Oyster Creek, as well as the notice for the May 26th meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for the plant.

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No. I-16-016 May 20, 2016

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC to Hold Meeting with Exelon on May 26 in Stafford Township, N.J.,

Regarding Performance of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will share information on its annual assessment of safety performance at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant during a public meeting on Thursday, May 26, in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, N.J.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Manahawkin, at 151 Route 72 West, in Stafford. During the session, NRC staff will answer questions on the plants performance and the agencys oversight activities at the Lacey Township, N.J., plant, which is owned and operated 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 Oyster Creek was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, the plant had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than green (very low safety significance). As a result, the plant is currently under the NRCs normal level of oversight. In 2015, the agency devoted approximately 6,150 hours0.00174 days <br />0.0417 hours <br />2.480159e-4 weeks <br />5.7075e-5 months <br /> of review at Oyster Creek.

However, an NRC inspection report issued on May 12 contained an inspection finding that has been preliminarily classified as white, or of low to moderate safety significance. The finding stems from the failure of a 3-inch hose that supplies water from a storage tank to a pump and in turn to one of the plants emergency diesel generators. The failure occurred during a regular test on Jan. 4. If it is finalized as white, the plant would move to the Regulatory Response Column of the agencys Action Matrix and receive additional oversight from the agency.

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 Oyster Creek, the plant is currently under our normal level of oversight, but that could change depending on the outcome of our enforcement process

for the preliminary white finding. Our final decision will be made public once that review has reached its conclusion.

The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice each year: during the midcycle, 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 NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Oyster Creek. 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 Oyster Creek are radiological safety, emergency preparedness and the plants problem identification and resolution program. In addition, the NRC will inspect the plants dry cask storage facility.

The Annual Assessment letter for Oyster Creek, as well as the notice for the May 26th meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for the plant.

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