NRC ISSUES ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTERS FOR 

NATION’S NUCLEAR PLANTS

 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued annual assessment letters to the nation’s 

104 operating commercial nuclear power plants. “We ensure nuclear power plants are safe, 

continually inspecting them and rating their performance on a regular basis, as part of our mission 

to protect people and the environment,” said Eric Leeds, director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear 

Reactor Regulation. 

 

 Currently, 103 of 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 “fully meeting all safety cornerstone objectives” (highest 

level) to “unacceptable performance” (lowest 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. Additional information on the Reactor Oversight Process is available at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1649/r4/. 

 Later this spring and summer, the NRC will host a public meeting or other event in the 

vicinity of each plant to discuss the results of the annual assessment. A separate announcement will 

be issued for each plant meeting. In addition to the annual assessment letters, plants also receive an 

NRC inspection plan for the coming year. Updated information on plant performance is posted to 

the NRC Web site every quarter at: 

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

 Eighty-four plants are performing at the highest level and are being inspected by NRC using 

the normal detailed level inspection program. Nineteen plants are performing at the next highest 

level, needing to resolve one or two items of low safety significance; and will receive additional 

inspection and attention to follow up on corrective actions. These plants are: Braidwood 1 (Ill.); 

Brunswick 1 and 2 (N.C.); Columbia Generating Station (Wash.); Davis-Besse (Oh.) Dresden Unit 

3(Ill.); Duane Arnold (Iowa); Farley 1 and 2 (Ala.); Indian Point 3 (N.Y.); McGuire 1 and 2 (N.C.); 

Nine Mile Point 2 (N.Y.); Oyster Creek (N.J.); Palisades (Mich.); Prairie Island 2 (Minn.); 

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. 10-041 March 8, 2010
San Onofre 2 (Calif.); Seabrook (N.H.); and Waterford 3(La.). The Ginna plant, in New York, is at 

the third level of performance with one degraded safety cornerstone and will receive more NRC 

inspections, senior management attention and oversight focused on the cause of the degraded 

performance. 

 Each plant receives either a mid-cycle review letter or an annual assessment letter every six 

months, along with an NRC inspection plan. The upcoming mid-cycle assessment letters will be 

issued in September 2010. 

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

available. The annual assessment letters sent to each licensee are available on the NRC Web site at: 

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

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