NRC STAFF TO MEET WITH ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. TO DISCUSS
PERFORMANCE OF PALO VERDE NUCLEAR PLANT
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of Arizona Public Service Co. on May 17 to discuss the results of the agency’s annual assessment of safety performance at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The facility, operated by APS, is located about 55 miles west of Phoenix, Ariz.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Centennial Room, Ruth Fisher Elementary School, 38201 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah, Ariz. Before the session is adjourned, NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the plant’s safety performance, as well as the agency’s role in ensuring safe operation of the facility.

"Each year the NRC staff evaluates the performance of each of the nation’s commercial nuclear plants," said Region IV Administrator Bruce S. Mallett. "This meeting gives us a chance to discuss our assessment with the company, local officials and residents near the plant. We want to make this information available to the public and answer any questions people may have about the plant."

Palo Verde operated safely during 2004. However, the NRC staff has identified a trend in declining human performance at the plant, as well as weaknesses in problem identification and resolution. NRC will focus attention on these areas as part of its baseline, or routine inspections during 2005.

Baseline inspections are performed by the NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV office and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md.

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas, to plant officials will serve as the basis for the meeting. It is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/palo_2004q4.pdf .

Current information for Unit 1 is available at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/PALO1/palo1_chart.html.
Current information for Unit 2 is available at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/PALO2/palo2_chart.html.
Current information for Unit 3 is available at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/PALO3/palo3_chart.html.

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Thursday, February 22, 2007