NRC ISSUES ANNUAL ASSESSMENT LETTERS FOR

NATION’S NUCLEAR PLANTS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued annual assessment letters to the nation’s 

operating commercial nuclear power reactors. As of Dec. 31, 2011, 99 of 104 nuclear reactors 

were performing at a high level.

“We ensure nuclear power plants are safe, continually inspecting them and assessing their 

performance on a regular basis, as part of our mission to protect people and the environment,” 

said Eric Leeds, director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

There are five levels of plant performance based on a detailed assessment of performance 

indicators (e.g., safety system availability and reliability, control of radiation exposure and 

unplanned shutdowns) and inspection findings. Levels range from “fully meeting all safety 

cornerstone objectives” to “unacceptable performance”.

All nuclear plants are inspected daily by the NRC. If a plant’s performance declines, the 

NRC increases the level of inspection and oversight to ensure the plant operator is taking the 

steps necessary to correct the situation. The additional amount of inspection is commensurate 

with the level of plant performance. 

Eighty-eight nuclear reactors fully met all safety performance objectives and were 

inspected by NRC using the normal detailed level inspection program.

Eleven nuclear reactors were assessed as needing to resolve one or two items of low 

safety significance. For this performance level, regulatory oversight includes additional 

inspection and attention to follow up on corrective actions. These plants were: Brunswick 1 and 

2 (N.C.); Byron 2 (Ill.); Cooper (Neb.); Crystal River 3 (Fla.); Limerick 2 (Pa.); Millstone 2 

(Conn.); Pilgrim (Mass.); Prairie Island 1 (Minn.); Sequoyah 1 (Tenn.); and Waterford (La.).

(Byron 2 and Cooper have resolved their issues since the reporting period ended and have 

transitioned to the baseline inspection level.)

Three nuclear reactors were at a degraded level of performance. For this performance 

level, regulatory oversight includes more NRC inspections, senior management attention and 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov

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No. 12-022 March 7, 2012
oversight focused on the cause of the degraded performance. These plants were: Palisades 

(Mich.); Perry 1 (Ohio); and Susquehanna 1 (Pa.).

One reactor, Browns Ferry 1 in Alabama, require increased oversight due to a safety 

finding of high significance, which will include additional inspections to confirm the plant’s 

performance issues are being addressed.

Fort Calhoun plant in Nebraska is in an extended shutdown with significant performance 

issues and is currently under a special NRC oversight program distinct from the normal 

performance levels. Therefore the plant will not receive an annual assessment letter.

Later this spring and summer, the NRC will host a public meeting or other event in the

vicinity of each plant to discuss the details of the annual assessment results. A separate 

announcement will be issued for each public assessment meeting. In addition to the annual 

assessment letters, plants also receive an NRC inspection plan for the coming year. 

Note that the NRC routinely provides changes to information on plant performance and

posts the latest information as it becomes available to the NRC website.

Each plant receives either a mid-cycle review letter or an annual assessment letter every 

six months, along with an NRC inspection plan. The next mid-cycle assessment letters will be 

issued in September 2012. 

More information is available on the NRC website for:

• The Reactor Oversight Process;

• The annual assessment letters to each nuclear power plant; and

• The most current information on nuclear power plant performance.

• Fort Calhoun oversight.

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