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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II
101 Marietta St., Suite 2900, Atlanta, GA 30323 | | CONTACT: |
Ken Clark (Phone: 404-331-5503, E-mail: kmc2@nrc.gov ) |
| Roger Hannah (Phone 404-331-7878, E-mail: rdh1@nrc.gov ) |
No. II-96-53 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Ken Clark 404-331-5503 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)
Roger Hannah 404-331-7878
OCONEE NUCLEAR PLANT RATED "SUPERIOR" IN THREE
AREAS, "GOOD" IN FOURTH AREA OF NRC ASSESSMENT REPORT
The Oconee nuclear power plant received performance ratings of "superior" in plant
operations, engineering and plant support, and "good" in maintenance in the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission's latest systematic assessment of licensee performance (SALP) of
the facility.
The SALP report was sent June 10 to Duke Power Company, which operates the facility near
Seneca, South Carolina. It evaluates the plant's performance from October 30, 1994,
through May 4 of this year.
NRC and Duke Power Company officials will discuss the report during a meeting set for 1:00
p.m. Thursday, June 27, at the Oconee site. The meeting will be open for public observation.
NRC officials will be available after the meeting to speak with reporters, state and local
officials, and members of the public.
NRC systematic assessment reports rate licensees in four functional areas plant
operations, maintenance, engineering, and plant support and assign ratings of Category
1, 2 or 3 depending on whether their performance in those areas was superior, good or
adequate. The report on Oconee gives the plant a Category 1 rating in plant operations,
engineering and plant support, indicating "superior" performance, and a Category 2 rating
in maintenance, indicating "good" performance. In the previous SALP report in 1994, the
plant received a 1 in plant support and 2's in plant operations, engineering and maintenance.
In his cover letter to the report, NRC Regional Administrator Stewart Ebneter said "Oconee's
performance improved markedly during this period in the functional areas of engineering and
operations, with sustained superior performance in the area of plant support." Ebneter
attributed the improvement in part to "an aggressive self-assessment and corrective action
program."
In the letter, Ebneter said performance in the maintenance area remained good "with notable
improvement in some areas." However, he pointed to challenges remaining in fuel handling,
human performance and equipment failures.
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EDITORS: A copy of the full SALP report is available from this office.
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