No. I-14-008 March 10, 2014 

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 

 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 

NRC Schedules Open House for March 20 to Discuss

Performance of Ginna Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct an open house on Thursday, March 20, to 

discuss the agency’s annual review of safety performance at the R.E. Ginna nuclear power plant.

During the open house, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. at Ontario Town Hall, at 1850 Ridge Road in 

Ontario, N.Y., members of the public will be able to hold one-on-one discussions with NRC staff 

regarding the plant’s performance in 2013, as well as the agency’s oversight plans for the facility this 

year. NRC staff in attendance will include the Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time 

basis and their supervisor.

Under the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process, color-coded inspection findings and performance 

indicators are used to assess plant performance. (Performance indicators are statistical measurements of 

plant and equipment performance which, if exceeded, trigger additional NRC oversight.) The colors 

range from green, connoting very low safety or security significance, to white, yellow or red, for an 

issue of high significance.

Ginna is a pressurized-water reactor located in Ontario, N.Y., and operated by Constellation 

Energy Nuclear Group LLC. Overall, the plant operated safely and was under normal NRC oversight in 

2013. At the conclusion of last year, Ginna had no inspection findings that were greater than green and 

no performance indicators that were other than green.

However, on Feb. 14, 2014, the NRC notified Constellation that it had preliminarily classified 

an inspection finding for the plant as white, or of low to moderate safety significance. The finding 

involves the plant’s flood-protection program. If that finding is finalized as white, the agency will 

increase its level of oversight for Ginna until the company can demonstrate to the NRC that it has 

appropriately evaluated the problem’s root causes and put in place effective corrective actions.

The normal level of oversight consists of a detailed regime entailing thousands of hours of 

inspection. In 2013, the NRC devoted approximately 5,100 hours of inspection at Ginna.

“We take very seriously the task of stepping back on a regular basis to size up plant 

performance. These comprehensive evaluations help guide our reviews for the year ahead, though we 

maintain flexibility should conditions change,” NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. “Once a 
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final determination on the pending inspection finding for Ginna is rendered, the NRC will make known 

whether the plant will be subjected to further NRC scrutiny going forward.”

The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice a year: during the mid-cycle, or 

mid-point, of the year, and at the conclusion of the year. Inspection findings and performance indicators 

are also updated on a quarterly basis on the agency’s website. Following the release of the Annual 

Assessment letters each March, the NRC meets with the public in vicinity of each plant to discuss the 

results.

Routine inspections are carried out by the two Resident Inspectors assigned to Ginna. Reviews 

are also performed at the sites by specialist inspectors assigned to the agency’s Region I Office in King 

of Prussia, Pa. Among the areas to be inspected this year at Ginna are the plant’s radiological safety 

program and the dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel at the site.

The Annual Assessment letter for Ginna, as well as the meeting notice for the March 18th open 

house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Ginna.