NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III

2443 Warrenville Road

Lisle IL 60532

Site: www.nrc.gov

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

No. III-11-008

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 DUANE ARNOLD

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 Duane 

Arnold Energy Center and other NRC oversight activities. 

The open house is informal and will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. CDT at the Hiawatha Community 

Center, 101 Emmons St., Hiawatha, Iowa.

The Duane Arnold Energy Center is operated by NextEra Energy Duane Arnold, LLC, and is 

located in Palo, Iowa, about 8 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Duane Arnold 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/duan_2010q4.pdf. 

Overall, the NRC found that the Duane Arnold 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 Duane Arnold during 2010 were 

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

performance.
Duane Arnold 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. Among the areas of plant operations being inspected are 

problem identification and resolution, radiation protection, fire protection, emergency preparedness and 

dry cask spent fuel storage. 

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

at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DUAN/duan_chart.html.

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