Press Release-II-09-011, NRC to Discuss 2008 Performance of Farley Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-09-011: NRC to Discuss 2008 Performance of Farley Nuclear Power Plant

ML090720582
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	03/13/2009
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-09-011
Download: ML090720582 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-09-011 March 13, 2009 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 562-4416 NRC TO DISCUSS 2008 PERFORMANCE OF FARLEY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, March 19, with representatives of Southern Nuclear to discuss the agencys assessment of safety performance during 2008 at the Farley nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company, is 18 miles southeast of Dothan in southern Alabama.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. CDT in the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce offices, 102 Jamestown Boulevard in Dothan.

After the formal presentation, NRC staff will be available to answer questions on the safety performance of the Farley plant, as well as the NRC role in ensuring safe plant operation.

Throughout the year, we inspect and review the performance of the Farley plant and all commercial nuclear plants, NRC Region II Administrator Luis Reyes said. We issue several inspection reports during the year and an overall annual assessment. This meeting allows us to discuss that assessment 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 2008 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/far_2008q4.pdf .

The NRC found that Farleys 2008 performance met all NRC safety objectives. With the exception of some generic inspections, such as spent fuel storage and operator licensing exams, the agency plans only routine or baseline inspections at the plant in 2009. Beginning in 2007, both Farley units experienced problems that concerned the NRC staff and that performance continued through the first two quarters of last year. However, performance in the second half of 2008 showed improvement and resulted in both units receiving less NRC oversight.

Current performance information for Farley Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site at:

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/FAR1/far1_chart.html . Current performance information for Unit 2 is at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/FAR2/far2_chart.html .