No. IV-10-021 

Contact: Victor Dricks: (817) 860-8128 

 Lara Uselding: (817) 276-6519 

 

 April 28, 2010 

 E-Mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov

NRC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS 

 2009 PERFORMANCE OF WOLF CREEK 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting in New Strawn, 

Kan., on Tuesday, May 11, to provide information on the agency=s 2009 assessment of the safety 

performance for the Wolf Creek Generating Station. Located three miles north of Burlington, the 

plant is operated by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp. 

 The public meeting between the NRC staff and Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp 

officials will begin at 6 p.m. at the New Strawn Community Center, 319 Getz Street, New 

Strawn, Kan. Prior to the meeting’s adjournment, there will be an opportunity for members of the 

public to ask questions of the NRC staff regarding the plant’s performance, as well as the 

agency’s oversight of the facility. 

“The NRC continually reviews the performance of Wolf Creek and the nation’s other 

commercial nuclear power facilities,” said NRC Region IV Administrator Elmo E. Collins. “This 

meeting will provide an opportunity for a discussion of our annual assessment of safety 

performance with the company as well as local officials and residents who live near the plant.” 

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance 

of the plant during 2009 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/wc_2009q4.pdf. 

Although Wolf Creek operated in a manner that protected public health and safety and 

fully met all cornerstone objectives, NRC inspections have continued to identify issues involving 

inadequate problem evaluation. For the fourth consecutive assessment cycle, a substantive crosscutting issue involving problem identification and resolution has been identified. The licensee’s 

inability to address this issue warrants the NRC’s increased attention. As a result, the NRC will 

focus its inspections on this area to determine if the licensee’s corrective actions result in 

improved performance. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region IV 

 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 

 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 

Telephone: (817) 860-8128 
The licensee performed a safety culture assessment in March 2010. At the public meeting, 

the NRC has requested that the licensee share insights gained from this assessment and discuss 

their plans to address the continuing challenges in the area of problem identification and 

resolution. 

Inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by 

inspection specialists from the Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas. 

Current performance information for Wolf Creek is available on the NRC web 

site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/WC/wc_chart.html. 

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