No. IV-13-010

Contact: Victor Dricks (817) 200-1128

 

 

 April 4, 2013

E-Mail: OPA4@nrc.gov

NRC TO DISCUSS 2012 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

FOR WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR PLANT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in New Strawn, Kan., on April 18,

with representatives of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp. to discuss the agency's 2012

assessment of safety performance for the Wolf Creek nuclear plant. The plant is located near 

Burlington, Kan.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the New 

Strawn Community Center, 319 W. Getz, New Strawn.

In addition to the performance assessment, the NRC staff will be available to answer

questions from the public on the safety performance of Wolf Creek, as well as the NRC's role in

ensuring safe plant operation.

"The NRC continually reviews the performance of Wolf Creek and the nation's other

commercial nuclear power facilities," NRC Region IV Administrator Arthur T. Howell said. 

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

performance with the company and with 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 2012 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_2012q4.pdf .

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. Performance indicators are 

statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance. The NRC’s action matrix reflects 

overall plant performance and agency response. There are five columns in the matrix with 

Column 1 requiring a baseline level of inspections. A move to the other columns results in an 

increased level of NRC oversight and inspections. Wolf Creek is in Column 3 of the NRC’s 

action matrix.

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region IV

 1600 E. Lamar Blvd.

 Arlington, TX 76011 - 4125

Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov
Overall, the NRC found that the Wolf Creek operated safely in 2012. The NRC’s 

assessment of the plant’s performance included a yellow inspection finding involving the plant 

staff’s failure to provide adequate oversight of contractors while they performed work that could 

affect safety-related equipment in April 2011, and a white performance indicator because of 

recurring problems with the plant’s emergency diesel generators.

Wolf Creek will continue to receive increased oversight inspection efforts used by the 

NRC for plants in the degraded performance column. The NRC will also conduct supplemental 

inspections to follow up on corrective actions, the sustainability of those actions, and verify that 

plant staff understands the cause of issues in order to prevent reoccurrence 

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

specialists from the Region IV Office in Arlington, Texas.

Information about the plant’s current performance is available at: 

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

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