No. III-09-016 

Contacts: 

Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 

Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 

 May 13, 2009 

 E-Mail: opa3@nrc.gov 

Web site: www.nrc.gov

NRC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE 

ASSESSMENT FOR BRAIDWOOD NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of Exelon 

Generation Co. Thursday, May 21, to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance for 

last year at the Braidwood Nuclear Power Plant. The plant has two reactor units in Braceville, 

Ill., 20 miles southwest of Joliet. 

 The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. CDT at 

the Fossil Ridge Public Library District meeting room, 386 W. Kennedy Road, in Braidwood. 

The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment, talk about the NRC and its range of 

activities, and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close 

of the meeting. 

 “The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Braidwood plant 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 the 

company and members of the local community. We want to help people understand how the 

NRC works to protect the public and the environment and make sure as much information as 

possible is available on the NRC’s regulation of nuclear power plants.” 

 A letter sent from the NRC Region III Office to plant officials addresses the performance 

of the plant during the period 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/brai_2008q4.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. 

Overall, Braidwood operated safely during 2008. At the conclusion of last year, all 

performance indicators and inspection findings were at a level that required no additional NRC 

oversight. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III 

2443 Warrenville Road 

Lisle IL 60532 
 Based on last year’s performance, in 2009, Braidwood will continue to receive the 

detailed inspection regime used by the NRC for plants that are operating well. 

 Inspections are performed by two NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant and by 

inspection specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill. Among the areas of plant operations 

to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are independent spent fuel storage pad construction, 

radiation protection, and emergency preparedness exercise inspection. 

 Current performance information for Quad cities is available on the NRC’s web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/BRAI1/brai1_chart.html (Unit 1) and 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/BRAI2/brai2_chart.html (Unit 2). 

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