Press Release-II-06-006, NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Summer Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-06-006: NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Summer Nuclear Power Plant

ML060830391
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	03/24/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
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Category:Press Release
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Press Release-II-06-006
Download: ML060830391 (1)

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NRC NEWS UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-06-006 March 24, 2006 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Roger Hannah (404)562-4417 NRC TO DISCUSS 2005 PERFORMANCE AT SUMMER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff are scheduled to meet with South Carolina Electric &

Gas officials March 31, to discuss the NRCs annual assessment of safety performance last year at the Summer nuclear power plant, located near Jenkinsville, S.C. The period covered is the calendar year 2005.

The 11:00 a.m. meeting at the Summer plants Nuclear Learning Center building is open to public observation. Before the session ends, NRC staff will be available to answer public questions on the plants safety performance, as well as the agencys role in ensuring safe operation of the facility.

Each year the NRC staff assesses the performance of the Summer plant and all of the nations other commercial nuclear power plants, NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. This meeting gives us a chance to discuss our assessment with the company, with local officials and with residents near the plant. Our aim is to make this information available to the public and answer any questions people may have about our oversight.

A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/sum_2005q4.pdf .

The Summer plant operated safely during 2005. The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and increase to white, yellow or red, commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Because all inspection findings and performance indicators for the plant during 2005 were classified as green, Summer will receive the baseline, or normal, level of inspections during 2006.

Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md. In addition to the baseline inspections in 2006, the NRC plans special inspections of the containment building sumps and of the reactor pressure vessel head and head penetration nozzles.

These inspections are part of the agencys review of sump clogging and vessel head penetration cracking at pressurized water reactors.

Current information for the Summer plant is available on the NRC web site at:

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SUM/sum_chart.html .