Press Release-IV-05-018, NRC to Discuss 2004 Performance Assessment for Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant

Press Release-IV-05-018: NRC to Discuss 2004 Performance Assessment for Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant

ML051260039
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Calhoun
Issue date:	05/06/2005
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-05-018
Download: ML051260039 (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-05-018 May 6, 2005

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: 817-860-8128 NRC TO DISCUSS 2004 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR FORT CALHOUN NUCLEAR PLANT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of the Omaha Public Power District on May 10 to discuss the results of the agencys assessment of safety performance at the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant during 2004. The plant is located north of Omaha, Neb.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Omaha Marriott, 10220 Regency Circle in Omaha. 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, Fort Calhoun 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.

Fort Calhoun will receive the baseline, or normal level of inspections during 2005.

The plant had one white inspection finding and one white performance indicator because an emergency diesel generator was unavailable for 28 days during the third quarter of 2004. As a result, in addition to baseline inspections which are conducted at every plant, the NRC plans to

conduct a supplemental inspection to provide assurance that corrective actions have been taken to prevent recurrence Baseline 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/fcs_2004q4.pdf Current information for Ft. Calhoun is available on the NRC web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/FCS/fcs_chart.html .