NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation's Nuclear Plants

March 8, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued annual assessment letters to the nation's 103 operating commercial nuclear power plants. All the plants continue to operate safely.

"NRC assessments of nuclear power plant performance are central to the agency’s mission of protecting people and the environment," said Elmo E. Collins, director of the division of inspection and regional support in the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

"These annual assessments report the results of NRC's reviews and give the public an overview of how each plant has performed."

The regulatory framework for reactor oversight consists of three strategic performance areas: reactor safety, radiation safety and safeguards.

Within each strategic performance area are cornerstones that reflect the essential safety aspects of facility operation. These cornerstones include initiating events, mitigating systems, barrier integrity, emergency preparedness, public radiation safety, occupational radiation safety and physical protection.

Satisfactory licensee performance in the cornerstones provides reasonable assurance of safe facility operation and that the NRC safety mission is being accomplished. Each cornerstone contains inspection procedures and performance indicators (PIs) to ensure that objectives are being met.

The NRC evaluates plant performance by analyzing inspection findings resulting from the NRC inspection program and the PIs reported by the licensee on a quarterly basis. Both PIs and inspection findings are evaluated and given a color designation based on their safety significance. Green inspection findings or PIs indicate very low risk significance and have little or no impact on safety. White, yellow or red inspection findings or PIs each, respectively, represent a greater degree of safety significance.

Later this spring, the NRC will meet publicly with the operators of every plant in nearby locations to discuss plant performance. A separate announcement will be issued for each plant meeting. In addition to the annual assessment letters, plants also receive an NRC inspection plan for the coming year. Updated information on plant performance is posted to the NRC web site every quarter. The plants also receive a midcycle assessment letter during the year; the next midcycle letters will be issued in September.

Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).