Press Release-II-20-004, NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss Performance of Westinghouse Facility

Press Release-II-20-004: NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss Performance of Westinghouse Facility

ML20085G479
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Issue date:	03/25/2020
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
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Category:Press Release
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Press Release-II-20-004
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No: II-20-004 March 25, 2020

Contact:

Roger Hannah, 404-997-4417 Joey Ledford, 404-997-4416 NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss Performance of Westinghouse Facility The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will discuss the results of a performance review of the Westinghouse nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Columbia, S.C., during a virtual meeting scheduled for March 31.

The session will be held from 6-8 p.m., Eastern Time with NRC officials from the Region II office in Atlanta and Westinghouse officials from the Columbia facility. The meeting can be accessed by the public and media via Skype. NRC officials will be available following the formal portion of the meeting to answer questions. For individuals without access to Skype, a telephone conference number will also be available and the presentation slides can be emailed. The NRC is aware of significant community interest in the facility and will schedule an in-person meeting at a more appropriate time.

The NRC staff assessed performance of the Westinghouse facility during the period beginning Jan. 1, 2019, and ending Dec. 31, 2019, in safety operations, safeguards (security),

radiological controls, facility support and other areas. Although the safeguards or security-related area was assessed, that information is not publicly available due to its sensitive nature.

Overall, the NRC staff review determined that Westinghouse continued to conduct its activities safely and securely, protecting public health and the environment.

The NRC reviewed several 2019 events and determined that no adjustments were needed to the inspection program because there were no events or issues that required additional focus by the NRC. However, the NRC will continue to review the facilitys performance for significant issues that may cause an adjustment.

The NRC does not have resident inspectors at the Columbia facility, but fuel facility inspectors from its Atlanta regional office conduct periodic inspections of various aspects of the operation.

A copy of the NRC letter to the company regarding the performance review is publicly available on the NRC website.

For virtual meeting access or telephone call-in information, contact either Tom Vukovinsky at 404-997-4622 (email: Thomas.Vukovinsky@nrc.gov) or Katherine McCurry at 404-997-4438 (email: Katherine.McCurry@nrc.gov).