Press Release-II-07-017, NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Summer Nuclear Plant

Press Release-II-07-017: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Summer Nuclear Plant

ML071010476
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	04/11/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-07-017
Download: ML071010476 (1)

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-07-017 April 11, 2007 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Roger Hannah (404)562-4417 NRC TO DISCUSS 2006 PERFORMANCE AT SUMMER NUCLEAR PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with South Carolina Electric &

Gas officials on Thursday, April 19, to discuss the NRCs annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Summer nuclear power plant, located near Jenkinsville, S.C., northwest of Columbia.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Room B1 of the Summer plants Nuclear Learning Center building near the plant site. 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 Summer plant and other commercial nuclear power facilities, NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. This meeting gives us a chance to discuss that performance with the company, local officials and people 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/sum_2006q4.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 Summer plant operated safely during 2006, but performance during all four quarters of 2006 was in the NRCs regulatory response column based on a white inspection finding related to the companys failure to properly prepare a radioactive material for shipment. An NRC inspection in September 2006 identified no significant additional findings and the issue was closed.

Based on that performance, the NRC plans to conduct routine baseline inspections at the Summer plant during 2007 as well as initial reactor operator licensing examinations.

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 Summer plant is available on the NRC web site at:

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