ML14209A125

Press Release-III-14-032: NRC Schedules Public Meeting Aug. 7 to Discuss Performance of Clinton Nuclear Power Station

ML14209A125
Person / Time
Site:	Clinton
Issue date:	07/28/2014
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
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Press Release-III-14-032
Download: ML14209A125 (2)

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No: III-14-032 July 28, 2014 CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 NRC Schedules Public Meeting Aug. 7 to Discuss Performance of Clinton Nuclear Power Station The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting with representatives of Exelon Generation Co. on Aug. 7 to discuss the agency's annual safety performance of the Clinton Nuclear Power Station. The plant is located in Clinton, Ill., about 23 miles southeast of Bloomington. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. CDT at the Vespasian Warner Library, 310 N. Quincy St., in Clinton. The NRC will present its assessment of the plant's 2013 performance, talk about agency activities, and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public. "NRC inspectors spend a significant amount of time monitoring a wide range of plant activities to ensure the plant operates safely. Our hands-on approach is a key factor in protecting the public and environment," said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. "We hold public meetings near the plant every year to make our inspectors available and accessible to answer questions and have open discussions about NRC oversight with those who live near the plant." The annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to the company addresses the performance of the plant during 2013 and is available on the NRC website. Overall, the Clinton plant operated safely in 2013. 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 NRC's 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 another column results in an increased level of NRC oversight and inspections. For the first three quarters of 2013 year, Clinton's performance indicators and inspection findings were "green" and the plant was in Column 1. In the fourth quarter, the plant moved to Column 2 due to a "white" performance indicator in the area of unplanned scrams.

Page l 2 The NRC is performing a supplemental inspection to review the plant's actions to correct the performance issue. Routine inspections are conducted by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill., and the agency's headquarters in Rockville, Md. Some of the performance areas to be inspected this year include radiation protection and operator licensing examinations. The most current performance information for Clinton is available on the NRC website.