Press Release-IV-13-021, NRC Will Hold an Open House on Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Performance

Press Release-IV-13-021: NRC Will Hold an Open House on Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Performance

ML13205A218
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	07/24/2013
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-13-021
Download: ML13205A218 (1)

Text

No: IV-13-021 July 24, 2013 CONTACT: Victor Dricks (817) 200-1128 Lara Uselding (817) 200-1519 NRC Will Hold an Open House on Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Performance The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold an open house Aug. 5 to discuss the agencys assessment of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Stations 2012 safety performance. The plant is located in Port Gibson, Miss.

During the open house, which is scheduled for 12-1:30 p.m. at the Clairborne County Administration Building, 501 Main St., in Port Gibson, attendees will have an opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with NRC staff members about the plants 2012 performance and the agencys oversight of the facility. NRC staff on hand will include the inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis, and staff from the Region IV office in Arlington, Texas.

The assessment letter sent from the NRC to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2012 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

Overall, the Grand Gulf plant operated safely during 2012. At the conclusion of last year, all performance indicators and inspection findings for the facility were green, or of very low risk.

The NRC continually reviews the performance of Grand Gulf and the nations other commercial nuclear power plants, 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.

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.

In addition to the normal level of inspection for plants that are operating well, Grand Gulf will receive a supplemental inspection this year because of a white performance indicator it received following four unplanned reactor shutdowns.

Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialist inspectors from the Region IV office in Arlington, Texas, and the agencys headquarters in Rockville, Md.

The most current assessment for Grand Gulf is available on the NRC website.