Press Release-II-06-024, NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Catawba Nuclear Plant

Press Release-II-06-024: NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at Catawba Nuclear Plant

ML061070665
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	04/17/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-06-024
Download: ML061070665 (2)

Text

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-06-024 April 17, 2006 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Roger Hannah (404)562-4417 NRC TO DISCUSS 2005 PERFORMANCE AT CATAWBA NUCLEAR PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Duke Energy Corporation officials on Wednesday, April 26, to discuss the agencys assessment of safety performance last year at the Catawba nuclear power plant, located near York in northwestern South Carolina.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Rock Hill, S.C., City Council Chambers. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting.

The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Catawba plant and the nations other commercial nuclear power facilities, NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. This meeting is a chance for us to discuss that safety performance with the company, with local officials and with people living near the plant.

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/cat_2005q4.pdf .

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and then increase to white, yellow or red, depending on the safety significance of the issues involved.

The NRC said the Catawba plant operated safely during 2005 with all inspection findings being green, or very low safety significance, and all performance indicators also indicating performance at levels requiring no additional NRC oversight.

As a result, the NRC plans to conduct only routine baseline inspections at the plant for the rest of 2006. The NRC staff will also conduct several non-routine inspections, including the independent spent fuel storage facility, reactor vessel head and head penetrations, containment sump blockage and initial reactor operator licensing exams.

Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.

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

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CAT1/cat1_chart.html and www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CAT2/cat2_chart.html .