Press Release-IV-16-007, NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One

Press Release-IV-16-007: NRC to Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One

ML16081A229
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	03/21/2016
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-16-007
Download: ML16081A229 (1)

Text

No. IV-16-007 March 21, 2016 CONTACT: Victor Dricks, 817-200-1128 NRC To Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Russellville, Ark., on April 6 with representatives of Entergy Operations to discuss the 2015 safety performance of Arkansas Nuclear One as well as the results of a comprehensive inspection. 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 Reeves E.

Richie Training Center, 1448 S.R. 333, Russellville. The public is invited to observe the meeting and will have an opportunity to ask questions or make comments after the business portion of the meeting is concluded.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2015. Current performance information for the plant can be found on the NRC website.

By assessing each plants performance in a comprehensive manner, we are able to focus our inspection resources on those areas most in need of attention, NRC Region IV Administrator Marc Dapas said. Overall, the plant operated safely in 2015. However, Arkansas Nuclear One is receiving the highest level of NRC oversight because of the significance of previously issued inspection findings.

Specifically, 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 degraded flood protection at the plant.

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. Arkansas Nuclear One is in Column 4 of the NRC Action Matrix.

As part of the NRCs increased oversight of Arkansas Nuclear One, a team of 25 inspectors recently spent about 3,600 hours0.00694 days <br />0.167 hours <br />9.920635e-4 weeks <br />2.283e-4 months <br /> independently assessing the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to identify, evaluate and correct performance issues; develop insights into the causes of performance deficiencies; and evaluate the adequacy of a third-party safety culture assessment conducted at the site.

The team will present its preliminary findings at the meeting. Any deficiencies will be documented in a written report that will be made publicly available this spring. The NRC will then issue a Confirmatory Action Letter that documents commitments made by Entergy officials to address the deficiencies.

Additional information about the plant is available at a special page on the NRC website.

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No. IV-16-007 March 21, 2016 CONTACT: Victor Dricks, 817-200-1128 NRC To Hold Public Meeting on Arkansas Nuclear One The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Russellville, Ark., on April 6 with representatives of Entergy Operations to discuss the 2015 safety performance of Arkansas Nuclear One as well as the results of a comprehensive inspection. 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 Reeves E.

Richie Training Center, 1448 S.R. 333, Russellville. The public is invited to observe the meeting and will have an opportunity to ask questions or make comments after the business portion of the meeting is concluded.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2015. Current performance information for the plant can be found on the NRC website.

By assessing each plants performance in a comprehensive manner, we are able to focus our inspection resources on those areas most in need of attention, NRC Region IV Administrator Marc Dapas said. Overall, the plant operated safely in 2015. However, Arkansas Nuclear One is receiving the highest level of NRC oversight because of the significance of previously issued inspection findings.

Specifically, 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 degraded flood protection at the plant.

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. Arkansas Nuclear One is in Column 4 of the NRC Action Matrix.

As part of the NRCs increased oversight of Arkansas Nuclear One, a team of 25 inspectors recently spent about 3,600 hours0.00694 days <br />0.167 hours <br />9.920635e-4 weeks <br />2.283e-4 months <br /> independently assessing the adequacy of Entergy programs and processes used to identify, evaluate and correct performance issues; develop insights into the causes of performance deficiencies; and evaluate the adequacy of a third-party safety culture assessment conducted at the site.

The team will present its preliminary findings at the meeting. Any deficiencies will be documented in a written report that will be made publicly available this spring. The NRC will then issue a Confirmatory Action Letter that documents commitments made by Entergy officials to address the deficiencies.

Additional information about the plant is available at a special page on the NRC website.

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