Press Release-IV-06-010, NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at San Onofre Nuclear Plant

Press Release-IV-06-010: NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance at San Onofre Nuclear Plant

ML061290047
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	05/09/2006
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-06-010
Download: ML061290047 (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-06-010 May 9, 2006

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: 817-860-8128 NRC TO DISCUSS 2005 PERFORMANCE AT SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR PLANT Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with Southern California Edison Co.

officials on May 16, to discuss the NRCs annual assessment of safety performance at the San Onofre nuclear plant during 2005.

The 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Country Plaza Inn, Conference Room, 35 Via Pico Plaza, San Clemente, Calif., is open to public observation. Before the session ends, NRC staff will be available to answer questions on the plants safety performance, as well as the agencys role in ensuring safe plant operation.

Each year, the NRC assesses the performance of all of the nations commercial nuclear power plants, said Region IV Administrator Bruce S. Mallett. The meeting gives us an opportunity to discuss our findings with the company, local officials and members of the public.

We look forward to meeting with members of the community and answering any questions they may have about our oversight.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2005 and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/sano_2005q4.pdf .

Overall, San Onofre operated safely during the period. The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear power plant performance. The colors start with green and then increase to white, yellow or red, commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Because all of the inspection findings and performance indicators for the plant during the last quarter of 2005 were determined to be green, San Onofre will receive a baseline (or routine) level of inspections during the upcoming assessment period.

Routine inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas. Among the areas of plant operations to be inspected during the next year by NRC specialists are emergency preparedness and radiological safety.

Current performance information for San Onofre Unit 2 is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SANO2/sano2_chart.html . Current performance information for San Onofre Unit 3 is available at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SANO3/sano3_chart.html .