No: III-15-010 April 13, 2015

CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663

NRC Schedules Meeting April 20 

to Discuss Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold an open house April 20 to discuss the agency’s 

annual safety performance review for the Point Beach nuclear power plant. The two-unit plant is 

operated by NextEra Energy Point Beach LLC, and is located in Two Rivers, Wisc., approximately 13 

miles northwest of Manitowoc.

The open house is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. CDT at the Lester Public Library, 1001 Adams St., 

in Two Rivers. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with NRC staff members about the plant’s 

2014 performance and the agency’s oversight of the facility. NRC staff on hand will include the 

inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis and staff from the Region III office in Lisle, Ill.

“NRC inspectors spend a significant amount of time monitoring a wide range of plant activities 

to ensure the plant operates safely. Our hands-on approach is a key factor in protecting the public and 

environment,” said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. “We hold public meetings 

near the plant every year to make our inspectors available and accessible to answer questions and have 

open discussions about NRC oversight with those who live near the plant.”

The NRC’s assessment of Point Beach’s performance for the past year had Unit 1 in Column 3 

due to two “white” or low to moderate safety significant findings and Unit 2 in Column 2 because of 

one “white” finding. One “white” finding affected both units and is associated with the plant’s failure to 

implement external flooding wave run-up protection design features. The second “white” finding 

involved only Unit 1 and is associated with the plant’s failure to ensure alignment of the turbine-driven 

auxiliary feed water pump. This would have resulted in a failure of the equipment to work when called 

upon. 

The NRC recently completed its supplemental team inspection for the white findings to assess 

the plant’s understanding of the issues and the effectiveness of the short- and long-term corrective 

actions to prevent recurrence. The NRC concluded the plant has taken appropriate actions to resolve the 

issues. As a result both units are in Column 1 of the action matrix.

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. The NRC uses color-coded 
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inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start 

with “green” and then progress to “white,” “yellow,” or “red,” commensurate with the safety 

significance of the issues involved. Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and 

equipment performance. 

Overall, the NRC found that the Point Beach facility operated safely in 2014 and the plant will 

continue to receive the detailed inspection regime used by the NRC for all plants. Routine inspections 

are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from 

the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill., and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. 

The annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to the company addresses the 

performance of the plant during 2014 and is available on the NRC website. The most current 

performance information for Point Beach Unit 1 and Unit 2 is available on the NRC website.