Press Release-III-16-016, NRC to Hold Open House to Discuss Agency'S Assessment of Dresden Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-III-16-016: NRC to Hold Open House to Discuss Agency'S Assessment of Dresden Nuclear Power Plant

ML16173A387
Person / Time
Site:	Dresden
Issue date:	06/21/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-16-016
Download: ML16173A387 (2)

Text

No: III-16-016 June 21, 2016 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 NRC to Hold Open House to Discuss Agencys Assessment of Dresden Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold an open house on June 30 to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance of the Dresden nuclear power plant. The two-unit plant is operated by Exelon Generation Company, LLC, and is located in Morris, Ill., about 25 miles southwest of Joliet.

The public will be able to talk with NRC staff members and ask questions about the plants 2015 performance and the agencys oversight of the facility. The open house, which will also include informational posters, is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. CDT at the Grundy County Administrators Building, 1320 Union St. in Morris.

NRC inspectors who work at the plant and NRC staff from our regional office in Lisle, Ill., are looking forward to speaking with members of the public about the performance of the Dresden plant and other topics related to nuclear safety that are of interest to the community, said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. We hold such meetings near the plant every year to discuss how we ensure the plant operates safely and foster an open dialogue with the public.

The NRC concluded that overall, Dresden operated safely in 2015.

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.

Unit 2 and Unit 3 had similar white findings of low to moderate safety significance for failing to establish measures to ensure the reliable operation of certain safety-related valves. The issue was first identified on Unit 3 at the end of 2014 and then on Unit 2 during the second quarter of 2015. Unit 2 also had a white performance indicator in the area of unplanned shutdowns at the beginning of 2015.

These issues resulted in increased NRC oversight for both units.

The NRC conducted supplemental inspections to follow up on the issues and determined the plant had taken appropriate actions. The plant will continue to receive the NRCs normal level of oversight for the remainder of 2016.

Normal inspections are performed by the two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to Dresden.

Reviews are also performed at the site by specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill., and from the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md. Among the areas of performance to be inspected this year by NRC inspectors are activities associated with radiological safety, equipment designs, and emergency preparedness.

The NRCs 2015 assessment letter and current performance information for Unit 2 and Unit 3 are available on the NRC website.

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