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NRC Seal NRC NEWS

U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION IV

611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Arlington TX 76011


No. IV-00-31 July 13, 2000
CONTACT: Breck Henderson
Phone: 817-860-8128
Cellular: 817-917-1227
e-mail: bwh@nrc.gov

NRC TO MEET WITH PUBLIC TO DISCUSS NEW REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS FOR WOLF CREEK

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting Thursday, July 20, in Burlington, Kansas, to discuss the new reactor oversight process for Wolf Creek, a nuclear power plant operated by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Company.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Coffey County Court House, Courthouse Basement, 110 South 6th St., Burlington. Anyone who would like to learn more about the new oversight process or ask questions of NRC officials is invited to attend.

The new program was implemented nationwide in early April after a six-month pilot test conducted at 13 nuclear power plants at nine sites from May to November 1999. It uses more objective, timely, and safety-significant criteria in assessing performance, while seeking to more effectively and efficiently regulate the industry. It also takes into account improvements in the performance of the nuclear industry over the past twenty years.

Under the new process, inspections by NRC resident inspectors and regional office-based personnel are supplemented by statistical measures of plant activities called performance indicators. These performance indicators measure important safety aspects of plant performance, including the viability of redundant safety systems, emergency planning, radiation protection, and security.

Inspection findings and performance indicators for each nuclear power plant are posted on the NRC's internet website every three months, along with semi-annual updates to each plant's inspection plans. Current performance information for Wolf Creek can be found at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/WC/wc_chart.html

A plain language summary of the new inspection and assessment program is available from the NRC Office of Public Affairs or on the website at: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/primer.htm.

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