No. II-12-020 April 12, 2012

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

 Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE AND PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS ANNUAL 

ASSESSMENT OF SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled an open house and brief 

presentation for Tuesday, April 24 to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance 

during 2011 for the Sequoyah nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by the Tennessee Valley 

Authority, is located near Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., about 18 miles northeast of Chattanooga.

The session, which will be open to the public, is scheduled from 6-7 p.m. EDT in the 

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Training Center Auditorium, Igou Ferry Road in Soddy-Daisy.

NRC staff will be available to answer questions on the safety performance of the 

Sequoyah plant, as well as the NRC role in ensuring safe plant operations. A brief presentation 

on NRC oversight and the plant’s performance in 2011 is scheduled for 6:30.

Overall, the NRC staff concluded that the Sequoyah plant operated safely in 2011 and

Unit 2 will receive normal detailed baseline oversight and inspection efforts. Unit 1 was subject 

to additional NRC inspection based on the number of unplanned shutdowns, but a recent 

inspection found that TVA had taken actions to address the issues and Unit 1 has returned to the 

normal level of inspection.

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

performance. The colors start with “green,” and escalate 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. 

“During 2011, our inspectors spent many hours ensuring that the Sequoyah plant met 

NRC safety requirements and protected both people living near the plant and the environment,” 

NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree said.

NRC inspectors also looked at whether there were immediate safety concerns at 

Sequoyah and other U.S. plants after the March 2011 events at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 

Japan. Those reviews found that the plants remained safe.

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II

245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Suite 1200

Atlanta, GA 30303-1257

Web Site: www.nrc.gov
The annual assessment letter for the Sequoyah plant is available on the NRC web site at 

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/seq_2011q4.pdf. 

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 

Sequoyah plant to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are the Unit 2 steam generator 

replacement, operator licensing examinations, and problem identification and resolution.

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

at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SEQ1/seq1_chart.html. Current performance 

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

www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SEQ2/seq2_chart.html.

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