Press Release-IV-15-025, NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One

Press Release-IV-15-025: NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One

ML15232A342
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	08/20/2015
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-15-025
Download: ML15232A342 (1)

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No: IV-15-025 August 20, 2015 CONTACT: Victor Dricks (817) 200-1128 Lara Uselding (817) 200-1519 NRC To Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Russellville, Ark., on Sept. 17 with representatives of Entergy Operations to discuss preparations for a comprehensive inspection to be conducted in early 2016 at Arkansas Nuclear One. The plant is located in Russellville.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Lakepoint Conference Center, 61 Lake Point Lane. Entergy officials will brief the NRC on preparations they are making for the comprehensive inspection being conducted because of significant performance issues that warrant the highest level of NRC oversight of operating plants.

Inspectors will devote about 3,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> of effort to independently assess the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to identify, evaluate and correct performance issues; provide insights into the causes of performance deficiencies; and evaluate the adequacy of a third-party safety culture assessment conducted at the site.

The public is invited to observe the meeting and will have an opportunity to ask questions or comment after the business portion is conducted.

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; plants in Column 5 are not permitted to operate. The NRC increases the level of oversight and inspection as plant performance deteriorates.

In June 2014, the NRC issued yellow findings to Arkansas Nuclear One in connection with a 2013 heavy equipment handling incident at the plant. In January 2015, the NRC issued yellow findings associated with flood protection at the plant. The cumulative effect of these violations moved the plant into Column 4, and it is receiving the highest level of NRC oversight of operating plants.

Inspections will be performed by three 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., as well as other regional offices, as needed.

Information about the plants current performance is available on the NRC web site.