NRC TO DISCUSS 2007 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
FOR COOPER NUCLEAR PLANT
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Brownville, Neb., on June 2, with representatives of the Nebraska Public Power District, to discuss the agency's assessment of safety performance for last year at the Cooper nuclear plant.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the Brownville Concert Hall, Atlantic Avenue and Second St., Brownville.

In addition to the performance assessment, the NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the safety performance of Cooper, as well as the NRC's role in ensuring safe plant operation.

"The NRC continually reviews the performance of Cooper and the nation's other commercial nuclear power facilities," NRC Region IV Administrator Elmo E. Collins said. "This meeting will provide an opportunity for a discussion of our annual assessment of safety performance with the company and with local officials and residents who live near the plant."

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2007 and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/cns_2007q4.pdf.

The NRC utilizes color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear power plant performance. The colors start with "green" and then increase to "white," "yellow" or "red," commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved.

The NRC said Cooper operated safely during 2007. However, there were 14 inspection findings during 2007 associated with human performance. While there have been some improvements in human performance work practices corrective actions have not yet proven fully effective. As a result, NRC will continue to focus attention on this area through its baseline, or routine inspection program.

Routine inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas.

Current performance information for Cooper is available on the NRC web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CNS/cns_chart.html.

NRC news releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC Home Page at www.nrc.gov also offers a Subscribe to News link in the News & Information menu. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web Site.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008