Press Release-III-14-014, NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 15 to Discuss Performance of Duane Arnold Energy Center

Press Release-III-14-014: NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 15 to Discuss Performance of Duane Arnold Energy Center

ML14099A371
Person / Time
Site:	Duane Arnold
Issue date:	04/09/2014
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-14-014
Download: ML14099A371 (1)

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No: III-14-014 April 9, 2014 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 15 to Discuss Performance of Duane Arnold Energy Center The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting with representatives of NextEra Energy Duane Arnold on April 15 to discuss the agencys 2013 assessment of safety performance at the Duane Arnold Energy Center. The plant is located in Palo, Iowa, approximately eight miles northwest of Cedar Rapids.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Hiawatha Community Center, 101 Emmons St., In Hiawatha, Iowa. The NRC will present its assessment of the plants 2013 performance, talk about agency activities, and be available to discuss questions or comments with the public.

NRC inspectors spend a significant amount of time monitoring a wide range of plant activities to ensure the plant operates safely. Our hands-on approach is a key factor in protecting the public and environment, said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. We hold public meetings near the plant every year to update those who live nearby about NRCs oversight.

The annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2013 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

The NRCs assessment of Duane Arnolds performance is that overall the plant operated safely last year. A decline in performance, however, was reflected in two inspection findings of low to moderate safety significance. One finding related to poor procedures and maintenance of the diesel generator oil heat exchanger. The second finding involved the failure to perform an operability evaluation and investigate an unexpected reading on the reactor core isolation cooling turbine speed indicator.

The decline in the plants performance has resulted in increased oversight and additional inspections 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 most current performance information for Duane Arnold is available on the NRC's website.