NRC ISSUES MID-CYCLE ASSESSMENTS FOR NATION’S NUCLEAR PLANTS 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued mid-cycle assessment letters to the 

nation’s 104 operating commercial nuclear power plants. The agency’s most recent assessments 

show that all plants continue to operate safely. 

 “We ensure nuclear power plants are safe, inspecting them and rating their performance 

regularly, as part of our mission to protect people and the environment,” said Bruce A. Boger, 

associate director for operating reactor oversight and licensing in the NRC’s Office of Nuclear 

Reactor Regulation. 

 For this assessment period, all 104 plants are in the two highest performance categories. 

There are five levels of plant performance based on a detailed assessment of performance 

indicators (e.g. safety system availability and reliability, control of radiation exposure and 

unplanned shutdowns) and inspection findings. Levels range from “meeting all safety 

cornerstone objectives” (highest level) to “unacceptable performance” (lowest level). Additional 

information on the Reactor Oversight Process is available at : http://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1649/r4/ . 

 

 The latest round of assessments shows that 84 of the plants are performing at the highest 

level. If a nuclear power plant’s performance declines, the NRC increases the level of inspection 

to ensure the plant operator is taking the steps necessary to correct the situation. The additional 

amount of inspection is commensurate with the level of plant performance. 

 Currently 20 plants are receiving additional inspection and attention, including Unit 1 at 

Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas; Units 1 and 2 at Calvert Cliffs, Maryland; Columbia 

Generating Station, Washington; Cooper, Nebraska; Duane Arnold, Iowa; Units 1 and 2 at 

Farley, Alabama; Ginna, N.Y.; Units 1 and 2 at Hatch, Georgia; Kewaunee, Wisconsin; Units 1 

and 2 at McGuire, N.C.; Unit 2 at Nine Mile Point, N.Y.; Unit 1 at Oconee, S.C.; Palisades, 

Michigan; Units 1 and 2 at Prairie Island, Minnesota; and Unit 2 at San Onofre, California. 

 

 Every six months each plant receives either a mid-cycle review letter or an annual 

assessment letter, along with an NRC inspection plan. The next annual assessment letters will be 

issued in March 2010. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 

E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 09-147 September 4, 2009
 A list of each plant’s current performance rating is available on the NRC Web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/actionmatrix_summary.html . 

Updated information on plant performance is posted to the NRC Web site as it becomes 

available. The mid-cycle assessment letters sent to each licensee are available on the NRC Web 

site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/index.html . 

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