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

June 24, 1997

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a meeting with officials of the Babcock & Wilcox Naval Nuclear Fuel Division in Lynchburg, Virginia, at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, July 1, to discuss the plant's performance. The meeting will be held at the Babcock & Wilcox Group Headquarters, Route 726, Mt. Athos Road in Lynchburg.

NRC officials will discuss with B & W a review performed by the agency in which performance was evaluated in the areas of safety operations, safeguards, radiological controls and facility support for a period from July 1, 1994 through September 30, 1996.

The NRC review concludes that the plant staff's performance was focused on safety in all areas. The review indicates that performance in radiological controls and security was excellent and performance was good in other areas.

In a letter to B & W on May 16, NRC Regional Administrator Luis Reyes wrote that "you significantly improved in imlementing followup action to correct deficiencies identified during your self-assessments and audits." However, Reyes noted that the facility faces challenges in maintenance of equipment and operations in the uranium recovery area.

The review is used to form a basis for establishing the NRC's inspection program at the facility for the next year as well as providing the company feedback on how the NRC views its performance.

The meeting is open to interested members of the public and the media for observation and NRC officials will be available at the conclusion of the meeting to answer any questions.