Press Release-IV-11-023, NRC to Discuss Performance Assessment for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-IV-11-023: NRC to Discuss Performance Assessment for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

ML111330357
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	05/12/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-11-023
Download: ML111330357 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 Telephone: (817) 860-8128 Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. IV-11-023 May 12, 2011

Contact:

Victor Dricks (817) 860-8128 E-Mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov Lara Uselding (817) 276-6519 NRC TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR DIABLO CANYON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting in San Luis Obispo, Calif., on June 15, to discuss the agencys 2010 performance assessment for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The plant, located near San Luis Obispo, is operated by Pacific Gas &

Electric Co.

The meeting will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 333 Madonna Road, in San Luis Obispo. In addition to the performance assessment, the NRC staff will be available to answer questions and hear comments from the public on issues related to Diablo Canyon.

Each year, the NRC assesses the performance of all of the nations commercial nuclear power plants, said Region IV Administrator Elmo E. Collins. The meeting provides us an opportunity to discuss our annual assessment of the plant with the company, local officials and the public. We look forward to 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 2010 and will serve as the basis for the meeting. It is available on the NRC website at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/diab_2010q4.pdf.

The NRC said Diablo Canyon operated safely during 2010 and will receive the detailed inspection regime during 2011 used by the NRC for plants in this category. Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV office in Arlington, Texas.

The letter says PG&E has made progress in addressing human performance issues regarding the use of conservative assumptions in decision making. However, progress needs to be made in addressing issues involving problem identification and resolution because inspections continue to identify findings associated with this theme. NRC plans to conduct focused inspections to monitor the licensees progress in addressing this issue.

Current performance information for Diablo Canyon Unit 1 is available on the NRC website at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DIAB1/diab1_chart.html.

Information for Unit 2 is available at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DIAB2/diab2_chart.html.

News releases are available through a free listserv 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 NRCs website.