No. II-13-024 April 22, 2013

CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov

 Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE AND PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS ANNUAL 

ASSESSMENT OF SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled an open house and brief 

presentation for April 30 to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance during 2012 

for the Sequoyah nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, is 

near Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., about 18 miles northeast of Chattanooga.

The session, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the 

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Training Center Auditorium, 2440 Igou Ferry Road in Soddy-Daisy.

NRC staff will be available to answer questions on the safety performance of the 

Sequoyah plant, as well as the NRC role in ensuring safe plant operations. There will be a brief 

presentation on NRC oversight and the plant’s performance in 2012.

Overall, the NRC staff concluded that both units of the Sequoyah plant operated safely in 

2012 and will receive normal detailed baseline oversight and inspection efforts. Unit 1 was 

subject to additional NRC inspections during the first quarter of 2012 based on a number of 

unplanned shutdowns. However, inspections found that TVA had taken actions to address the 

issues and Unit 1 was returned to the normal level of inspection.

Apparent violations from inspections this year at Sequoyah related to the way TVA 

analyzed and prepared for possible floods at the plant are still pending and could affect 

Sequoyah’s regulatory standing. 

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess plant 

performance. The colors start with green, and escalate to white, yellow or red based on the 

significance of the issues. Inspection findings and performance indicators are updated on the

NRC’s website each quarter. 

“The NRC inspects nuclear plants and monitors their performance on an ongoing basis,” 

said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree. “We issue inspection reports throughout the 

year and we hold these annual meetings near each plant to discuss our oversight and answer any 

questions local residents may have.”

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II

245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Suite 1200

Atlanta, GA 30303-1257

Web Site: www.nrc.gov
The annual assessment letter for the Sequoyah plant, on which is meeting is based, is 

available on the NRC website.

Routine inspections are carried out by the NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant 

and by inspection specialists from the Region II office in Atlanta. Among the areas at the 

Sequoyah plant scheduled to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are buried piping and 

tanks and the triennial fire protection inspection. 

Current performance information for Sequoyah Unit 1 is available on the NRC website. 

Current performance information for Sequoyah Unit 2 is also available.

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