No. III-10-018 

Contacts: 

Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 

Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 

 May 18, 2010 

 E-Mail: opa3@nrc.gov

Web site: www.nrc.gov

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR ISSUES AND 

2009 PERFORMANCE OF D.C. COOK NUCLEAR PLANT 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled an open house for Tuesday, 

May 25, to discuss with local residents NRC activities and nuclear power issues and answer 

questions about the agency’s assessment of safety performance for last year at the D.C. Cook 

nuclear power plant. The two-unit plant operated by Indiana Michigan Power Co. is in 

Stevensville, Mich., roughly 60 miles southwest of Kalamazoo. 

The open house is informal and will begin at 6 p.m. EDT at the Maud Preston Palenske 

Memorial Library, 500 Market Street, in St. Joseph. NRC staff will be available to answer 

questions on the safety performance of the D.C. Cook plant as well as areas of safety and 

security not specifically associated with the plant. 

 “The NRC continually reviews the performance of the D.C. Cook plant and the nation’s 

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

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

of the local community. The goal of this meeting is to explain how the NRC works and answer 

questions from residents about nuclear regulation.” 

A letter sent from the NRC Region III office to plant officials addressed the performance 

of the plant during 2009 and will serve as the basis for the discussion. It is available on the NRC 

Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/cook_2009q4.pdf. 

 The NRC found that the D.C. Cook nuclear plant met all NRC safety objectives during 

2009, and performance was at a level that resulted in no additional NRC oversight. The NRC 

uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant 

performance. The colors start with “green” and then increase 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 
 All performance indicators and inspection findings for D.C. Cook during 2009 were 

determined to be “green.” Performance indicators are a statistical measurement of plant and 

equipment performance. 

 

 D.C. Cook will continue to receive the detailed inspection regime used by the NRC for 

plants that require no additional oversight. Routine inspections are performed by two NRC 

Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region III Office 

in Lisle, Ill., and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. Among the areas of plant 

operations to be inspected during the ensuing year by NRC specialists are equipment design, 

radiation protection, and the independent spent fuel storage installation. 

 Current performance information for D.C. Cook is available on the NRC web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/COOK1/cook1_chart.html (Unit 1) and 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/COOK2/cook2_chart.html (Unit 2). 

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