Press Release-II-11-035, NRC Schedules Public Meeting for May 25 to Discuss Performance of Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-11-035: NRC Schedules Public Meeting for May 25 to Discuss Performance of Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant

ML111380684
Person / Time
Site:	Brunswick
Issue date:	05/18/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-11-035
Download: ML111380684 (2)

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 Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No: II-11-035 May 18, 2011 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2.Resource@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC SCHEDULES PUBLIC MEETING FOR MAY 25 TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE OF BRUNSWICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, May 25, to discuss the agencys assessment of safety performance during 2010 at the Brunswick nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by Progress Energy, is located near Southport, N.C.

The meeting, in the Brunswick Media Center Auditorium, 8520 River Road SE in Southport, will begin with an open house and poster session at 5:30 p.m. EDT, followed by a brief presentation at 6:30 p.m.

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

The NRC evaluates nuclear power plants in a systematic and detailed way every year, said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. The inspections and oversight at Brunswick 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 website at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/bru_2010q4.pdf.

At the beginning of 2010, both Brunswick units were subject to increased NRC oversight and inspection due to a white inspection finding related to the plants emergency diesel generators. An NRC inspection in March 2010 found that the company had effectively addressed that issue and the plant returned to normal NRC oversight until an emergency response staffing issue was identified in September 2010. That finding led the NRC to again increase inspection and oversight of the plant.

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess plant performance. The colors start with green, which has very low safety significance, to white, yellow or red, based on the significance of the issues. Inspection findings and performance indicators are updated on the NRCs website (www.nrc.gov) each quarter.

Current performance information for Brunswick Unit 1 is available on the NRC website at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/BRU1/bru1_chart.html. Current performance information for Unit 2 is at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/BRU2/bru2_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 NRCs website.