Press Release-II-13-007, NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Farley Nuclear Plant Safety Performance

Press Release-II-13-007: NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Farley Nuclear Plant Safety Performance

ML13067A239
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	03/06/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-13-007
Download: ML13067A239 (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-13-007 March 6, 2013 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2.Resource@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE TO DISCUSS FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT SAFETY PERFORMANCE The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled an open house for Monday, March 11, to provide information about the agencys inspections and assessment of the Farley nuclear power plant during 2012. The Farley plant, operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Co.,

is located near Columbia, Ala., about 18 miles south of Dothan.

The informal open house and poster session is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CDT in the Alabama Midland Railroad Depot, 312 Midland Street (intersection of 3rd Avenue and Midland Street) in Ashford, Ala. The NRC staff will be available to answer questions about the safety performance of the Farley plant as well as overall NRC oversight and inspection.

Overall, the NRC staff concluded that both units at the Farley plant operated safely in 2012. Both units were subject to increased oversight during the first three quarters of 2012, but the NRC determined that the plant staff has adequately addressed a security inspection finding.

There were no additional inspection findings or performance indicators that would cause the NRC to increase its level of oversight and inspection. During 2013, the NRC staff will continue the detailed routine inspections at the Farley plant that all nuclear power plants receive.

In addition to those inspections, the NRC staff plans to conduct initial operator license examinations during 2013.

Inspections are carried out by the NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialized inspectors from the Region II office in Atlanta.

The NRC inspects nuclear plants and monitors their performance on an ongoing basis, said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. We issue inspection reports throughout the year and we hold these meetings near each plant to discuss our oversight and answer any questions local residents may have.

The NRC evaluates inspection findings and performance indicators at commercial nuclear power plants with a color-coded system that classifies them as green, white, yellow or red, in increasing order of safety significance. As the significance increases, the NRC increases the level of oversight. If a plant takes corrective actions and improves safety performance, the

agency returns to its normal, but still extensive, inspection schedule. Inspection findings and performance indicators are updated on the NRCs website (www.nrc.gov) each quarter.

The annual assessment letter for Farley Units 1 and 2 will be available on the NRC website prior to the meeting or can be obtained by contacting the Region II Office of Public Affairs. The NRC website also has current performance information for Farley Unit 1 and Unit 2.

News releases are available through a free Listserv subscription or by clicking on the EMAIL UPDATES link on the NRC homepage (www.nrc.gov). E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's website. For the latest news, follow the NRC on www.twitter.com/NRCgov.