Press Release-II-11-005, NRC to Increase Oversight of Robinson Nuclear Plant

Press Release-II-11-005: NRC to Increase Oversight of Robinson Nuclear Plant

ML110320330
Person / Time
Site:	Robinson
Issue date:	02/01/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-11-005
Download: ML110320330 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Web Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. II-11-005 February 1, 2011 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC TO INCREASE OVERSIGHT OF ROBINSON NUCLEAR PLANT The H.B. Robinson nuclear power plant will receive additional oversight from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the result of a series of NRC inspection findings and plant issues. The Robinson plant is located near Hartsville, S.C., and operated by Progress Energy.

The increased oversight is linked to three white inspection findings, which have low to moderate safety significance, and a white performance indicator. Two of the white findings are related to a March 28, 2010, shutdown and two fires in the facilitys electrical systems. The third white finding, which also was issued in 2010, stemmed from problems with an emergency diesel generator. In addition, the plant reported a white performance indicator for an excessive number of unplanned reactor shutdowns last year.

The two most recent white findings involved the failure to adequately implement certain procedures required during the event last March and the failure to develop operator training that would have provided complete guidance for actions required during those events. Those findings are violations of NRC requirements and Progress Energy is required to respond to those violations.

Overall, the Robinson plant continues to operate safely, said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. However, these findings point to performance issues and a trend that needs to be understood and addressed. The additional oversight by NRC is warranted based on the procedural and training shortcomings revealed by the March event.

The additional NRC inspections will provide assurance that the root causes of the performance issues are understood and corrective actions are sufficient to prevent recurrence. The additional inspections have not yet been scheduled.

The NRC evaluates inspection findings and performance indicators at commercial nuclear power plants with a color-coded system which classifies them as green, white, yellow or red, in increasing order of safety significance. As the significance increases, the NRC heightens the level of oversight for that plant. If a plant takes appropriate corrective actions and improves safety performance, the agency returns to its normal, but still extensive, inspection schedule.

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