Press Release-II-11-018, NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss 2010 Performance Assessment for Oconee Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-11-018: NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss 2010 Performance Assessment for Oconee Nuclear Power Plant

ML111040267
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	04/14/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-11-018
Download: ML111040267 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE, Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. II-11-018 April 14, 2011 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC SCHEDULES MEETING TO DISCUSS 2010 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR OCONEE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, April 19, to discuss the agencys assessment of safety performance during 2010 at the Oconee nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by Duke Energy, is near Seneca, S.C., about 30 miles west of Greenville, S.C.

The meeting, in the Oconee World of Energy, 7812 Rochester Highway in Seneca, will begin with a short presentation at 6:30 p.m., followed by an informal open house ending at 8 p.m.

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

The NRC evaluates nuclear power plants in a systemic and detailed way every year, said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. The inspections and oversight at Oconee ensure that the plant is operated in a way that protects people and the environment.

A letter sent from the NRC Region II office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2010 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/oco_2010q4.pdf.

The NRC found that the Oconee plant met all NRC safety objectives during 2010, and performance for all three units was at a level that did not require any more than the detailed baseline NRC inspections. In addition, the agency will complete some generic inspections related to spent fuel storage and reactor coolant system maintenance. Operator licensing examinations will also be conducted. The NRC staff will also continue its review of ongoing significant modifications to the plant.

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

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO1/oco1_chart.html. Current information for Units 2 and 3 is at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO2/oco2_chart.html and www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/OCO3/oco3_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 website.