No. III-09-014 

Contacts: 

Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 

Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 

 May 7, 2009 

 E-Mail: opa3@nrc.gov 

Web site: www.nrc.gov

 

NRC TO DISCUSS 2008 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT 

FOR DRESDEN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT MAY 14

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of Exelon 

Generation Company on Thursday, May 14, to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety 

performance last year at the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant. The two-unit plant is located in 

Morris, Ill., roughly 60 miles southwest of Chicago. 

 The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CDT at 

the Grundy County Administration Center, Grundy County Board Room, 1320 Union Street, in 

Morris. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment, talk about the NRC and its 

range of activities, and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before 

the close of the meeting. 

 “The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Dresden plant and the nation’s 

other commercial nuclear power facilities,” NRC Region III Administrator Mark Satorius said. 

“This meeting allows us to discuss our annual assessment of safety performance with the 

company and area residents. One of NRC’s main goals is to explain to people in the community 

how the agency regulates nuclear power plants.” 

 A letter sent from the NRC Region III Office to plant officials addresses the performance 

of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available 

on the NRC Web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/dres_2008q4.pdf. 

The NRC utilizes a combination of color-coded inspection findings and performance 

indicators to measure plant performance. The colors go from “green” to “white,” “yellow” or 

“red,” commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. 

 

 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III 

2443 Warrenville Road 

Lisle IL 60532 
 The NRC’s assessment concluded that Dresden Unit 1 and 2 operated safely in 2008. All 

of the inspection findings and performance indicators for Dresden during 2008 were determined 

to be “green.” 

 

As a result of this performance, the NRC will continue to conduct the very detailed routine 

inspections for plants that are performing well. Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident 

Inspectors assigned to the plant, and inspection specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill. 

Among the areas of plant operations to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are engineering 

modifications, emergency response and license renewal inspections. 

 Current performance information for Dresden is available on the NRC’s web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DRES2/dres2_chart.html (Unit 2) and 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DRES3/dres3_chart.html (Unit 3). 

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