No: III-15-009 April 8, 2015

CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663

NRC Schedules Meeting April 16 to Discuss

Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting April 16 to discuss the 

agency’s annual safety performance review of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant. The plant is 

operated by NextEra Energy Duane Arnold LLC, and is located in Palo, Iowa, about eight miles 

northwest of Cedar Rapids. 

The public meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. at the Hiawatha Community Center, 101 Emmons 

St., in Hiawatha. Attendees can discuss with NRC staff members the plant’s 2014 performance and the 

agency’s oversight of the facility. The public will be able to observe the business meeting between the 

NRC and plant officials, and then participate in the question and comment period once the business 

portion has concluded. 

“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.”

Overall, the Duane Arnold facility operated safely in 2014. All performance indicators were 

“green” or of low safety significance; however the unit was under enhanced oversight for the first two 

quarters of 2014. This was due to two “white” or low to moderate findings in the area of mitigating 

systems that occurred in 2013. Mitigating systems are made up of key pieces of equipment and specific 

systems that must be available and reliable when needed. After conducting a supplemental inspection, 

the NRC found the plant had addressed the issues and returned the plant to Column 1, or normal 

oversight. 

NRC inspectors also identified issues in the areas of human performance and problem 

identification and resolution. Specifically NRC inspectors found plant workers had evaluated problems

using an inconsistent decision-making process. Corrective actions were taken and appear to address the 

evaluation issues however the NRC found the corrective actions to address the consistent process were 

not sufficient. As a result, the NRC will conduct an additional inspection to look into the plant staff’s 

effort and progress to address the issue. The NRC expects the plant staff to discuss their corrective 

actions during the public meeting.
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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. 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.

This year Duane Arnold 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 Duane Arnold is available on the NRC website.