Press Release-IV-07-046, NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Palo Verde Nucelar Generating Station

Press Release-IV-07-046: NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Palo Verde Nucelar Generating Station

ML073470747
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	12/13/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-07-046
Download: ML073470747 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, Texas 76011-4005 No. IV-07-046 December 13, 2007

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: (817) 860-8128 NRC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a two-part meeting with Arizona Public Service Co. officials on Dec. 19, to discuss the results of a comprehensive inspection at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and the status of performance improvements. APS operates the plant located 55 miles west of Phoenix.

The meeting, which will be open to public observation, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Energy Information Center at 5951 S. Wintersburg Road in Tonopah, Az. As the meeting is being held at the Palo Verde site, a state issued form of identification or a valid drivers license will be required for entry to the facility. Members of the public should plan on arriving 30 to 45 minutes before the meeting begins to accommodate security processing.

Conferees will discuss the results of a comprehensive inspection conducted this fall at Palo Verde as part of its heightened oversight as a result of performance problems there. A 20-member inspection team assessed the breadth and depth of problems at Palo Verde that included a broad review to determine what processes and programs need improvement. Focus areas included the quality of technical assessments, the timeliness and thoroughness of corrective actions, communications between technical organizations, engineering quality and the safety culture at the site.

During the second part of the meeting, APS officials will present a briefing on the status of improvement programs at the site. The public will have an opportunity to observe and ask questions of NRC staff before each meeting is adjourned. A written report on the inspection results will be available in 30 - 45 days and will be posted to the agency web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/listofrpts_body.html.

NRC news releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html . The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.