Press Release-IV-13-014, NRC to Discuss 2012 Performance Assessment for Columbia Generating Station

Press Release-IV-13-014: NRC to Discuss 2012 Performance Assessment for Columbia Generating Station

ML13136A091
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	05/16/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
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Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-13-014
Download: ML13136A091 (2)

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No: IV-13-014 May 16, 2013 CONTACT: Victor Dricks (817) 200-1128 Lara Uselding (817) 200-1519 NRC To Discuss 2012 Performance Assessment for Columbia Generating Station The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Richland, Wash., on June 4, with representatives of Energy Northwest to discuss the agencys 2012 assessment of safety performance for the Columbia Generating Station. The plant is located 12 miles northwest of Richland.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Walkley Room of the Energy Northwest Training Center, 3000 George Washington Way, Richland.

In addition to the performance assessment, the NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the safety performance of Columbia Generating Station, as well as the NRCs role in ensuring safe plant operation.

The NRC continually reviews the performance of Columbia Generating Station and the nations other commercial nuclear power facilities, NRC Region IV Administrator Arthur T.

Howell said. This meeting will provide an opportunity for a discussion of our annual assessment of safety performance with the company and with local officials and residents who live near the plant.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2012 and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion.

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with green and then increase to white, yellow, or red, commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance. The NRCs action matrix reflects overall plant performance and agency response. There are five columns in the matrix with Column 1 requiring a baseline level of inspections. A move to the other columns results in an increased level of NRC oversight and inspections.

Columbia Generating Station was in Column 3, the degraded cornerstone column of the NRCs action matrix during 2012, but was returned to Column 1 on May 14, 2013, after a supplemental inspection determined that appropriate corrective actions had been taken to address deficiencies related to emergency preparedness.

As a result, Columbia Generating Station will receive the normal level of oversight for the rest of 2013. Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant, inspection specialists from the Region IV office in Arlington, Texas, and specialists from the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.

Information about the plants current performance is available on the NRC website.

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