NRC TO DISCUSS 2009 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Tonopah, Ariz., on March 30, with representatives of Arizona Public Service Co., to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety performance during 2009 at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The plant, operated by APS, is located 50 miles west of Phoenix.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m at the auditorium of the Tonopah Valley High School, 38201 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah.

In addition to the performance assessment, the NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the safety performance of Palo Verde and the NRC’s role in ensuring safe plant operation. Results from a recent safety inspection for Palo Verde’s license renewal application will also be discussed.

“The NRC continually reviews the safety performance of Palo Verde and each of the nation’s commercial nuclear power plants,” said Region IV Administrator Elmo E. Collins. “The meeting provides an opportunity for us to discuss our annual assessment of safety performance with the company, local officials and members of the public. We look forward to meeting with members of the community and answering any questions they may have about our oversight.”

A letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during 2009 and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. The letter states that Palo Verde met all NRC safety objectives. It is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/palo_2009q4.pdf.

Current performance information for Palo Verde Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/PALO1/palo1_chart.html.