Press Release-III-13-023, NRC Schedules Open House June 26 to Discuss Performance of Point Beach Nuclear Plant

Press Release-III-13-023: NRC Schedules Open House June 26 to Discuss Performance of Point Beach Nuclear Plant

ML13170A181
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	06/19/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-13-023
Download: ML13170A181 (2)

Text

No: III-13-023 June 19, 2013 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 NRC Schedules Open House June 26 to Discuss Performance of Point Beach Nuclear Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public open house June 26 to discuss the agencys annual safety performance of the Point Beach nuclear power plant. The two-unit plant is operated by NextEra Energy Point Beach LLC, and is located in Two Rivers, Wis., about 13 miles northwest of Manitowoc.

The open house is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. at the Lester Public Library, Community Room, 1001 Adams St., in Two Rivers. Attendees can have one-on-one discussions with NRC staff members about the plants 2012 performance and the agencys oversight of the facility.

When the NRC evaluates Point Beachs 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 public meetings near the plant in order to discuss our oversight and answer questions from local residents.

The NRC review concluded that Point Beach Units 1 and 2 operated safely in 2012.

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, according to the safety significance of the issues involved. Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance.

Over the past year the plant had two white findings of low-to-moderate safety significance. One involved an emergency exercise where the plants protective action recommendations resulted in a contradictory recommendation, first to evacuate and then to shelter during the exercise. This finding was applicable to Units 1 and 2. The second white finding involved Unit 1 and is associated with the plants failure to ensure alignment of the turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump. This would have resulted in a failure of the equipment to work when called upon.

The findings have resulted in increased oversight and additional inspections in 2013 to ensure effective corrective actions. Routine 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 annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to the company addresses the performance of the plant during 2012 and is available on the NRC website.

The most current performance information for Point Beach Unit 1 and Unit 2 is available on the NRC website.

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