“We inspect and review the performance of the Farley plant and all other commercial nuclear plants throughout the year,” NRC Region II Administrator Luis Reyes said. “This meeting gives us an opportunity to discuss the plant’s safety performance with the company, local officials and citizens interested in the plant.”
– Source NRC –
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, March 30, with representatives of Southern Nuclear Operating Co. to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance during 2009 at the Farley nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by Southern Nuclear, is 18 miles southeast of Dothan in south Alabama.
The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin with an open house at 6:30 p.m. CDT, followed by a brief presentation at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 171 Hospitality Lane in Dothan.
Before and after the presentation, NRC staff will be available to answer questions on the safety performance of the Farley plant, as well as the NRC role in ensuring safe plant operation.
“We inspect and review the performance of the Farley plant and all other commercial nuclear plants throughout the year,” NRC Region II Administrator Luis Reyes said. “This meeting gives us an opportunity to discuss the plant’s safety performance with the company, local officials and citizens interested in the plant.”
A letter sent from the NRC Region II office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2009 and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/far_2009q4.pdf.
The NRC found that Farley’s 2009 performance met all NRC safety objectives. There were findings during the year, however, that prompted additional inspections beyond the scope of those considered routine or baseline. One inspection, completed in February, was related to the plant being cited for failure to properly maintain the system for communicating with all nearby residents in the event of an emergency. This supplemental inspection found no significant weaknesses.
Current performance information for Farley Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/FAR1/far1_chart.html. Current performance information for Unit 2 is at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/FAR2/far2_chart.html.