No: III-14-012 March 28, 2014

CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663

NRC Schedules Public Meeting April 8 to Discuss Performance of 

Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting with representatives of 

NextEra Energy April 8 to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance for 2013 at the Point 

Beach Nuclear Power Plant. The two-unit plant is located in Two Rivers, Wisc., approximately 13 miles 

northwest of Manitowoc.

The meeting is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. CDT at the Two Creeks Town Hall, 5128 East 

Tapawingo Road, in Two Creeks. The NRC will present its assessment of the plant’s 2013 performance, 

talk about agency activities, and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public. 

“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 staff available to answer questions about NRC oversight with those 

who live near the plant.”

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

performance of the plant during 2013 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

The NRC’s assessment of Point Beach’s performance for the past year has 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 Unit 1 and is associated with the plant’s failure to ensure alignment of the turbine-driven 

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

upon. 

The NRC is currently completing a 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 will be issuing an inspection report with conclusions on the 

plant’s actions. The outcome of this inspection will determine in which column the units will reside and

the level of inspection effort going forward.
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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 

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. 

Overall, the NRC found that the Point Beach facility operated safely in 2013 but the decline in 

performance has resulted in increased oversight and additional inspections to ensure effective corrective 

actions. 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 most current performance information for Point Beach Unit 1 and Unit 2 is available on the 

NRC website.