NRC Finds Performance 'Acceptable' at Perry Nuclear Plant in Latest Review

---

NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION III 801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532

---

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-99-13
March 31, 1999

CONTACT:	Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663/e-mail: rjs2@nrc.gov
	Angela Greenman (630) 829-9662/e-mail: opa3@nrc.gov

 

NRC FINDS PERFORMANCE 'ACCEPTABLE'
AT PERRY NUCLEAR PLANT IN LATEST REVIEW

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has found that safety performance remains acceptable in the NRC's latest plant performance review at the Perry Nuclear Power Station, located at Perry, Ohio.

The review covered the time period from March of last year through January 31.

In a letter to FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, which operates the plant, Geoff Grant, Division Director in the NRC's Region III Office, said, "Overall, performance at Perry was acceptable. Progress continued to be made in enhancing station performance."

He continued, "Some recurring balance of plant [non-nuclear] material condition issues exist but the maintenance department has been effective in maintaining the overall good material condition of the plant. Engineering support to other organizations continued to be good. Plant support performance remained good and no major weaknesses exist in this functional area."

Grant added, "Although there is a low threshold for problem identification and the corrective action program received close management attention, some recent failures to adequately implement the program have been identified. Some human performance and procedural adherence issues occurred during the period and improvement is needed in these areas."

The text of the plant performance review letter is available from the NRC Region III Office of Public Affairs and on the NRC web site.

NRC reviews safety performance twice a year at every licensed nuclear power plant in the nation. These reviews give the agency staff an integrated assessment of plant performance and provide a basis for planning inspection activities.

Plant performance reviews are an interim measure NRC is using to monitor nuclear power plant safety. The agency began using it for this purpose after suspending the Systematic Assessment of License Performance (SALP) process until a new assessment program is developed. Previously, SALP reports were issued every 12 to 24 months.

The new reactor oversight and assessment program being developed will provide quarterly performance reports, based on a number of performance indicators and on inspection findings. This program will be tested at eight plants beginning in June and will be extended to all plants next January. A full description of the new program is available on the NRC web site.