Press Release-II-08-011, NRC to Discuss 2007 Performance at St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-08-011: NRC to Discuss 2007 Performance at St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

ML080840186
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	03/24/2008
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
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Category:Press Release
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Download: ML080840186 (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-08-011 March 24, 2008 CONTACT: Ken Clark (404)562-4416 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Roger Hannah (404)562-4417 NRC TO DISCUSS 2007 PERFORMANCE AT ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Florida Power &

Light officials April 1 to discuss the NRC=s annual assessment of safety performance for 2007 at the St. Lucie nuclear power plant, located at Jensen Beach, Fla, near Ft. Pierce.

The 1:00 p.m. meeting at the St. Lucie Energy Encounter Building, located at 6501 S.

A1A at Jensen Beach, is open to public observation. Before the meeting ends, NRC staff will be available to answer public questions on the plant=s safety performance, as well as the agency=s role in ensuring safe operation of the facility.

AThe NRC continually inspects and reviews the performance of St. Lucie and all commercial nuclear power plants, issuing inspection reports throughout the year and an overall assessment at years end, NRC Acting Region II Administrator Victor McCree said. This meeting is an opportunity to discuss that annual assessment with the company, with local officials and people near the plant, and to answer any questions they may have.

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess performance. The colors start with Agreen@ and increase to Awhite,@ Ayellow@ or Ared,@

commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved.

The NRC said the St. Lucie plant operated safely during the 2007 assessment period, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, with all inspection findings being of very low safety significance and all performance indicators indicating performance at levels requiring no additional NRC oversight. As a result, the NRC plans to conduct routine baseline inspections at the plant during 2008.

A letter sent from the NRC Region II office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2007 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/stl_2007q4.pdf .

Current performance information for North Anna Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/STL1/stl1_chart.html . Current performance information for Unit 2 is at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/STL2/stl2_chart.html .

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.