NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III

2443 Warrenville Road

Lisle IL 60532

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

No. III-11-009

Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663

April 14, 2011

 E-Mail: OPA3.RegionIII@nrc.gov

 

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE FOR APRIL 28 TO DISCUSS CLINTON NUCLEAR 

POWER PLANT PERFORMANCE AND NRC OVERSIGHT

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials have scheduled an open house for Thursday, 

April 28, to discuss with local residents the agency’s assessment of safety performance for last 

year at the Clinton Nuclear Power Station and other NRC oversight activities. 

The open house is informal and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. CDT at the Clinton Elks 

Lodge, 1520 E. South St. (just off Ill. Route 54), Clinton, Ill.

The Clinton plant is operated by Exelon Generation Company and is located near 

Clinton, Ill., about 23 miles southeast of Bloomington, Ill.

“The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Clinton facility 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 open house is to explain how the NRC works to protect 

people and the environment 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 2010 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/clin_2010q4.pdf. 

Overall, the NRC found that the Clinton facility operated safely in 2010. 

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. 

All performance indicators and inspection findings for Clinton during 2010 were 

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

equipment performance.
Clinton will continue to receive the detailed inspection regime required for plants that are 

operating well and require no additional oversight. 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. In addition to the day-to-day 

inspections performed by the resident inspectors, specific areas of plant operations to be 

inspected include radiation protection, in-service inspection activities for safety systems, fire 

protection, and emergency preparedness. The agency is also conducting an inspection to review 

several instances where the plant staff failed to follow NRC requirements which affected the 

agency’s ability to perform its oversight functions.

The most current performance information for Clinton is available on the NRC website 

at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CLIN/clin_chart.html.

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