NRC Staff Identifies Nuclear Power Plants Warranting Increased Regulatory Attention

---

	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
	Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
	Washington, DC 20555-001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov

---

No. 97-095

June 25, 1997

NRC STAFF IDENTIFIES NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
WARRANTING INCREASED REGULATORY ATTENTION

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff advised the Commission today that it has identified 13 nuclear power plants that warrant increased NRC regulatory attention.

No additional plants were added to the NRC watch list; one plant - Indian Point 3, operated by the New York Power Authority near Buchanan, New York - was removed after correcting problems and demonstrating improved performance. The plant was first placed on the NRC watch list in June 1993. NRC staff will continue to monitor the plant's performance to ensure improvements are sustained.

Thirteen plants remain on the NRC watch list. They were identified earlier this month at a meeting during which senior NRC managers conducted their semi-annual review of the performance of operating nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities.

The plants are:

Crystal River Unit 3, operated by Florida Power Corp. near Crystal River, Florida (listed in January).

Dresden Units 2 and 3, operated by Commonwealth Edison Co. near Morris, Illinois (first listed in June 1987, removed in December 1988, and added again in January 1992);

LaSalle Units 1 and 2, operated by Commonwealth Edison near Ottawa, Illinois (listed in January);

Maine Yankee, operated by Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co., near Bath, Maine (listed in January);

Millstone Units 1, 2 and 3, operated by Northeast Utilities Service Co. at Waterford, Connecticut (listed in January 1996);

Salem Units 1 and 2, operated by Public Service Electric and Gas Co. near Salem, New Jersey (listed in January); and

Zion Units 1 and 2, operated by Commonwealth Edison 40 miles north of Chicago (first listed in January 1991, removed in January 1993 and relisted in January).

EDITORS: Texts of letters to utilities with plants on the watch list or which have been removed from the list, will be available on the NRC's Internet home page.