NRC to hold open house on Oconee nuclear plant performance review

Oconee nuclear plant
Oconee nuclear plant | Courtesy of Duke Energy

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold an open house today on its performance review of the Oconee nuclear plant, near Seneca, South Carolina.

The event will run 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Oconee World of Energy in Seneca. NRC staff and the plant's resident inspectors will be on hand to answer questions on the plant's performance.

The NRC will use its annual assessment letter for the plant, operated by Duke Energy, to guide the open house. The letter said the three Oconee reactors operated safely and in compliance with environmental standards.

The NRC uses a color system to assess performance. The colors start with green, which indicates safe operations, then progress to white, yellow or red. All inspection findings and performance reviews at Oconee last year were green.

"We invite the public to visit with us and find out what we’re doing to ensure Oconee and other nuclear plants are operated safely," NRC Region II Administrator Cathy Haney said. "These annual meetings offer an opportunity for everyone, and especially people who live near the plant, to learn about our inspection and oversight programs."