NRC to hold open house on Salem, Hope Creek nuclear plants' performance

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is holding an open house today in Salem, New Jersey, on the 2015 performance of the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants.

The open house began at 5 p.m. and runs through 6:30 at the Energy & Environmental Resource Center on Chestnut Street.

During the course of 2015, NRC staff found that the reactors at Salem and Hope Creek nuclear power plants operated safely. Both plants are owned and operated by Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). The NRC said neither plant had inspection findings that were greater than the green color level.

The NRC uses a color-level system to indicate the severity of an issue in safety and operation. Green indicates issues that cause little to no concern in regard to regulation. The most severe color level is red. As a result of the plant’s 2015 results, both will remain under typical NRC oversight.

“Our annual assessments allow us to step back at regular intervals and size up plant performance. However, we view oversight of each facility as an ongoing responsibility,” NRC Region I Administrator Dan Dorman said. “In the case of Salem and Hope Creek, the plants’ current performance qualifies for our normal level of oversight.”