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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 )

No: II-98-49

July 2, 1998

NRC RATES FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT "SUPERIOR" IN THREE AREAS,
"GOOD" IN ONE AREA OF LATEST ASSESSMENT REPORT

The Farley nuclear power plant received performance ratings of "superior" in three areas and "good" in the one remaining area of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's latest systematic assessment of licensee performance (SALP) of the facility.

The SALP report was issued June 29 to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, which operates the facility near Columbia, Alabama. It evaluates the plant's performance from November 24, 1996 through May 30 of this year.

NRC and Southern Nuclear officials will discuss the report during a meeting set for 10:00 a.m. (CDT) Wednesday, July 15, at the Farley site. The meeting will be open for public observation, and NRC officials will be available after the meeting to speak with reporters, state and local officials, and members of the public.

The NRC SALP process rates licensees in four functional areas -- plant operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant support -- and assigns ratings of Category 1, 2 or 3 depending on whether their performance in those areas was superior, good or adequate.

The report on Farley gives the plant a Category 1 rating in plant operations, maintenance and engineering indicating "superior" performance, and a Category 2 rating in plant support, indicating "good" performance. The ratings in the plant's previous SALP report, issued in January 1997, were Category 1's in plant operations and engineering and Category 2's in maintenance and plant support.

In his cover letter to the report, NRC Regional Administrator Luis Reyes said "reliable equipment performance was a key contributor to performance improving to superior in the maintenance area." He said performance in the plant support area remained at a good level, but "adherence to radiological control procedures and material condition of fire protection equipment and systems detracted from attaining a superior rating."

Reyes also highlighted the Farley plant's self-assessment program, saying "assessments were thorough and corrective actions resulted in few repetitive problems."

EDITORS: A copy of the full SALP report is available from this office. SALP reports are also available on the NRC's Internet web site (www.nrc.gov/OPA) and by e-mail subscription. To receive SALP reports by e-mail as they are issued, send an e-mail to listproc@nrc.gov with the following message: subscribe salp yourfirstname yourlastname.