Press Release-III-13-009, NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 10 to Discuss Performance of Perry Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-III-13-009: NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 10 to Discuss Performance of Perry Nuclear Power Plant

ML13091A329
Person / Time
Site:	Perry
Issue date:	04/01/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-13-009
Download: ML13091A329 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region III 2443 Warrenville Road Lisle IL 60532 Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. III-13-009 April 1, 2013

Contact:

Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662 E-Mail: OPA3.Resource@nrc.gov Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663 NRC SCHEDULES PUBLIC MEETING APRIL 10 TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE OF PERRY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting with representatives of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. on April 10 to discuss the agencys assessment of safety performance for last year at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. The plant is located in Perry, Ohio, approximately 35 miles northeast of Cleveland.

The meeting is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. EDT at the Quail Hollow Resort, 11080 Concord-Hambden Rd., in Painesville. The NRC staff will present its result of the plants 2012 annual assessment, talk about agency activities, and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public.

When the NRC evaluates Perrys performance for the previous year, we take a look at any and all issues that might be of concern, said Region III Administrator Charles Casto. Then we map out our inspection plans for that specific facility, issue inspection reports and hold these public meetings near the plant. We do this in order to discuss our oversight and answer questions from local residents on how we ensure safety is the foremost objective for plant operators.

The annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2012 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and then increase to white, yellow, or red, commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance. The NRCs action matrix reflects overall plant performance and agency response. There are five columns in the matrix with Column 1 requiring a baseline level of inspections. A move to the other columns results in an increased level of NRC oversight and inspections.

Overall, the NRC found that the Perry facility operated safely in 2012. The NRCs assessment of Perrys performance included a security finding, a white inspection finding associated with the removal of a source range monitor from the reactor core, and a white

performance indicator involving worker exposure controls. The plant is in the degraded cornerstone column in the action matrix and is receiving increased NRC oversight. The letter noted that the NRC chose to deviate from its normal process and not move the plant to a lower cornerstone column because the performance issues appear to be understood and not widespread.

This assessment may change if the plants actions and understanding of issues are not adequate.

Perry will continue to receive increased oversight inspection efforts used by the NRC for plants in the degraded column. The NRC will also conduct a supplemental inspection to follow up on corrective actions, the sustainability of those actions, and verify that plant staff understand the cause of issues in order to prevent reoccurrence.

Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill., and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.

The most current performance information for Perry is available on the NRC website.

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