NRC open house to discuss 2014 plant performances

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold a public open house Wednesday in Salem, New Jersey, to review the agency’s annual safety performance evaluation of the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear power plants.

Through the use of the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process, the agency rates plant performance with color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators. These statistical measurements of plant performance allow the NRC to implement additional oversight if needed.

At the end of 2014, neither Salem Unit 2 nor Hope Creek had any inspection findings or performance indicators that were rated lower than “green” (very low safety significance). Salem Unit 1, however, moved into a “white” category (low to moderate safety significance) following an unplanned shutdown on Oct. 19, 2014. The NRC will perform an additional inspection at Salem Unit 1 to to address any underlying issues and perform any necessary corrective actions.

“Our process calls for stepped-up scrutiny at Salem Unit 1 due to one of its performance indicators crossing the green-white threshold. We will ensure that the company has appropriately evaluated the underlying issues and put in place corrective actions to prevent a recurrence,” NRC Region I Administrator Dan Dorman said. “More broadly, our annual assessments serve to help us focus our inspection resources on those areas where attention is most needed.”

The  5-7 p.m. open house will be at the PSEG Energy & Environmental Resource Center, 244 Chestnut St. NRC inspectors will be available to discuss both the facilities’ performance in 2014 and the agency’s oversight plans for 2015.