No: I-16-006 March 28, 2016 

Contact: Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 

 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 

*Corrected – Meeting Start Time*

NRC to Discuss Millstone Nuclear Plant Annual Assessment

During March 29th Meeting with Conn. Nuclear Energy Advisory Council

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will meet with the Connecticut Nuclear Energy Advisory 

Council (NEAC) on Tuesday, March 29, to discuss the agency’s annual review of safety performance 

at the Millstone nuclear power plant, located in Waterford, Conn.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Waterford Town Hall, at 15 Rope Ferry Road in Waterford, 

Conn. Prior to the meeting’s adjournment, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of NRC 

staff regarding the 2015 assessment.

The NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process is the foundational program that enables the agency to 

successfully complete its mission of assessing plant safety. Under that program, the NRC gauges plant 

performance through the use of color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators, which are 

statistical measurements of plant performance that can trigger additional oversight if exceeded.

Based on its 2015 reviews, the NRC determined that Millstone, which is the site of two 

operating reactors owned by Dominion, was operated safely during 2015. As of the end of last year, 

Millstone Unit 2 had no inspection findings or performance indicators that were greater than “green” 

(very low safety significance).

Millstone Unit 3 had no performance indicators that were “greater than green,” but it did have 

one open “greater than green” security-related inspection finding that was identified in early 2015. 

However, the NRC performed a supplemental inspection at Unit 3 in late 2015 to review Dominion’s 

root cause evaluation and any corrective actions and found the company’s response to be satisfactory. 

Therefore, the NRC closed out the finding as of the first quarter of 2016.

Both Millstone Units 2 and 3 are currently under the NRC’s normal level of oversight. In 2015, 

the agency devoted approximately 9,075 hours of review at Millstone.

“Our Annual Assessments allow us to step back at regular intervals and size up plant 

performance. However, we view oversight of each facility as an ongoing responsibility,” NRC Region I 

Administrator Dan Dorman said. “In the case of Millstone, the plant’s current performance qualifies for 

our normal level of oversight.” 
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The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice a year: during the mid-cycle, or 

mid-point, of the year, and at the conclusion of the year. Inspection findings and performance indicators 

are also updated on a quarterly basis on the agency’s website. Following the release of the Annual

Assessment letters each March, the NRC meets with the public in the vicinity of each plant to discuss 

the results. Normal inspections are carried out by the three Resident Inspectors assigned to Millstone. 

Reviews are also performed at the sites by specialist inspectors assigned to the agency’s Region I 

Office in King of Prussia, Pa.

Among the areas to be inspected this year at Millstone are radiological safety, emergency 

preparedness, fire protection and permanent plant modifications. In addition, the NRC will perform an 

audit at the plant in July to review the company’s responses to two of the agency’s post-Fukushima 

orders.

The Annual Assessment letter for Millstone, as well as the meeting notice for the March 29th 

meeting, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for 

Millstone Unit 2 and Millstone Unit 3.