Press Release-III-17-019, NRC to Conduct Open House to Discuss 2016 Performance of Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant

Press Release-III-17-019: NRC to Conduct Open House to Discuss 2016 Performance of Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant

ML17192A321
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	06/30/2017
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-17-019
Download: ML17192A321 (1)

Text

No: III-17-019 June 30, 2017 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng, 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil, 630-829-9663 NRC to Conduct Open House to Discuss 2016 Performance of Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will be available to discuss the 2016 safety performance of the Monticello nuclear plant operated by Northern States Power Company, Minnesota, during an open house planned for July 11. The single-unit facility is located in Monticello, Minn., about 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut St., in Monticello. On hand to discuss the plants performance and the NRCs oversight of the facility will be agency employees responsible for inspections of the plant, including the resident inspectors based at the site on a full-time basis.

The Monticello plant operated safely during 2016. All performance indicators were within the normal band. However, during the last two quarters of 2016, the plant started to receive increased NRC oversight due to a white (low to moderate safety significance) inspection finding. The finding involved a failure to promptly correct several conditions that resulted in the gradual degradation of a safety-related system, ultimately preventing it from functioning as designed.

The NRCs Reactor Oversight Process uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators, to measure plant performance. Any inspection findings or performance indicators that have more than very low safety significance trigger increased NRC oversight.

Day-to-day inspections are performed by two resident inspectors assigned to the plant. Reviews are also carried out at the sites by specialist inspectors assigned to the agencys Region III office in Lisle, Ill.

The annual assessment letter for Monticello, as well as the notice for the meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current plant performance information is also available.