Press Release-IV-05-013, NRC to Discuss 2004 Performance Assessment for Callaway Nuclear Plant

Press Release-IV-05-013: NRC to Discuss 2004 Performance Assessment for Callaway Nuclear Plant

ML051080158
Person / Time
Site:	Callaway
Issue date:	04/18/2005
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-05-013
Download: ML051080158 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4005 No. IV-05-013 April 18, 2005

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: 817-860-8128 NRC TO DISCUSS 2004 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR CALLAWAY NUCLEAR PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of Union Electric Co. on April 21 to discuss the results of the agencys assessment of safety performance at the Callaway nuclear plant during 2004. The plant is located near Jefferson City, Mo.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, 415 West McCarty Street, Jefferson City. Before the session is adjourned, NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the plants safety performance, as well as the agencys role in ensuring safe operation of the facility.

Each year the NRC staff evaluates the performance of each of the nations commercial nuclear plants, said Region IV Administrator Bruce S. Mallett. This meeting gives us a chance to discuss our assessment with the company, local officials and residents near the plant. We want to make this information available to the public and answer any questions people may have about the plant.

Overall, Callaway operated safely during 2004. The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and increase to white, yellow and red, according to the safety significance of the issues involved.

According to the assessment, the number of unplanned reactor shutdowns exceeded a performance threshold during the first quarter of 2004. A supplemental inspection last November concluded that the company had successfully evaluated the associated conditions and events.

Additionally, the NRC staff has identified deficiencies in the area of human performance where failure to follow plant procedures resulted in increased challenges to plant equipment

from preventable transients and operating events. As part of its baseline, or routine inspection program, the NRC staff intends to focus attention on this area during 2005.

Routine inspections are performed by the NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV office and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas, to plant officials will serve as the basis for the meeting. It is available on the NRC web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/call_2004q4.pdf Current information for Callaway is available on the NRC web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CALL/call_chart.html .

2