View source for Press Release-II-09-037, NRC Cites Southern Nuclear Operating Co. for Farley Nuclear Plant Emergency Plan Violation

{{Adams
| number = ML091950404
| issue date = 07/14/2009
| title = Press Release-II-09-037: NRC Cites Southern Nuclear Operating Co. for Farley Nuclear Plant Emergency Plan Violation
| author name = 
| author affiliation = NRC/OPA/RGN-II/FO
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 05000348, 05000364
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| case reference number = Press Release-II-09-037
| document type = Press Release
| page count = 1
| newsletter region = NRC Region II
| newsletter year = 2009
| newsletter integer = 37
}}

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{{#Wiki_filter:NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-09-037                                                                                        July 14, 2009 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 562-4417                                                      E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 562-4416 NRC CITES SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. FOR FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT EMERGENCY PLAN VIOLATION The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that Southern Nuclear Operating Co. violated NRC regulations regarding tone alert radios distributed to residents near the two-unit Farley nuclear plant, operated by the company southeast of Dothan in southern Ala. The tone alert radios are part of a system to alert and provide information to people near the plant in the event of a radiological emergency.
In early 2008, Farley plant employees identified that more than 100 tone alert radios had not been distributed to addresses within the plants 10-mile emergency planning zone. A subsequent review identified additional addresses that had also not received the radios. During the summer of 2008, Southern Nuclear distributed radios to those addresses and also revised the plants procedures for distributing and maintaining those radios.
         "The NRC takes any reduction in the effectiveness of a plants emergency plans very seriously," said Region II Administrator Luis Reyes. "While were satisfied the company evaluated the deficiencies and took appropriate actions to improve their program, this violation underscores the importance of proper notification in the event of a radiological emergency.
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,"
matching the safety significance of the issues involved.
This issue was determined to be a "white" finding of low to moderate safety significance.
Based on the violation of NRC regulatory requirements, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation to Southern Nuclear for its failure to establish an effective means of providing early notification and instruction to people living near the plant. NRC white findings normally result in additional NRC inspections and oversight.
The letter notifying Southern Nuclear Operating Co. of the white finding will be available from the NRC's Region II Office of Public Affairs or at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.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 NRC's Web site.}}