NRC Finds Performance 'Acceptable' in Latest Review of Catawba

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NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 23T85, Atlanta, GA 30303

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No: II-99-25
April 5, 1999

CONTACT:

Ken Clark (Phone: 404/562-4416, E-mail: kmc2@nrc.gov) Roger Hannah (Phone 404/562-4417, E-mail: rdh1@nrc.gov)

 

NRC FINDS PERFORMANCE 'ACCEPTABLE' IN LATEST REVIEW OF CATAWBA

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has found that safety performance remains acceptable in the NRC's latest plant performance review at the Catawba nuclear power plant, operated by Duke Power Company near York, South Carolina.

In a letter to Duke Power outlining the results of the performance review, NRC official Charles R. Ogle said that "overall performance at Catawba was acceptable" and that both units operated for the most part at 100 percent power for the last six months. However, he said that engineering performance, while continuing to be acceptable, declined during the evaluation period, which ran from April 1997 through January 1999. He said that, in addition to the normal inspection program, additional inspections would be conducted in the areas of engineering and fire protection. Additionally, a previously scheduled inspection to assess performance in the areas of maintenance, testing and operation of a plant system will be performed.

The text of the plant performance review letter is available from the NRC Region II 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 being used by the NRC as an interim measure 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 sites 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.