No. II-11-020 April 14, 2011

CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov

 Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416

NRC SCHEDULES MEETING TO DISCUSS 2010 PERFORMANCE

ASSESSMENT FOR HATCH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials have scheduled a meeting for Thursday, 

April 21 to provide information on the agency’s annual assessment of safety performance for the 

Hatch nuclear power plant during 2010.

The NRC will host an open house at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by a presentation and 

question and answer session in the executive conference room of the Southeastern Technical 

College, 3001 East 1st St., in Vidalia. The open house and meeting provide an opportunity for the 

public to learn about the plant’s performance last year as well as NRC oversight and inspection. 

The Hatch plant, which has two boiling-water reactors, is located in south Georgia near 

Baxley, about 20 miles south of Vidalia. It is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Co.

Overall, the NRC staff concluded that the Hatch plant operated safely in 2010 and will 

receive normal detailed baseline oversight and inspection efforts. Hatch Unit 2 was subject to 

increased oversight during the first three quarters of 2010, but was returned to normal oversight 

last October after a supplemental inspection found no significant issues. 

“The NRC evaluates nuclear power plants in a systemic and detailed way every year,” 

said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. “The inspections and oversight at Hatch 

ensure that the plant is operated in a way that protects people and the environment.”

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

performance. The colors start with “green,” which has very low safety significance, to “white,” 

“yellow” or “red,” based on the significance of the issues. Inspection findings and performance 

indicators are updated on the NRC’s web site (www.nrc.gov) each quarter. 

The annual assessment letter for the Hatch plant is available on the NRC web site at 

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/hat_2010q4.pdf. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II

245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE, Suite 1200

Atlanta, GA 30303-1257

Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov
Routine inspections are carried out by the NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant 

and by inspection specialists from the Region II office in Atlanta. Among the areas at the Hatch 

plant to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are component design basis, managing gas 

accumulation in the plant’s emergency core cooling systems, and operator licensing 

examinations.

Current performance information for Hatch Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site 

at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/HAT1/hat1_chart.html. Current performance 

information for Hatch Unit 2 is available on the NRC web site at 

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/HAT2/hat2_chart.html.

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