Units 1 and 2 of the North Anna power station received good marks from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. FILE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

Dominion power's North Anna plant reviewed by NRC

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North Anna nuclear plant performed well during the last quarter; NRC to review how plant did in meeting next week

Date published: 4/17/2007

By RUSTY DENNEN

North Anna Power Station's two nuclear reactors performed safely during 2006.

That's according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has released its annual safety review of the Louisa County plant.

The full report will be discussed in a public meeting next Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at North Anna's Visitor Center. NRC staff will review results of the assessment and answer questions. It's one of two hearings on April 24 in Louisa. The other session will address plans to put one or more additional reactors there.

"The NRC continually reviews the performance of the North Anna plant and other commercial power facilities," NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said in a press release. "This meeting allows us to discuss that performance with the company, with local officials and with people near the plant."

Inspectors look at key plant systems and procedures to compile the report. Among them: reactor and radiation safety, performance on test drills, the plant's alert and notification system and radiation control effectiveness regarding plant workers.

The agency uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant operations. They use green, then white, yellow and red, to signify the safety level of the plant's performance.

The NRC concluded that North Anna operated safely with all inspection findings in the green category. That means there was very low safety significance, and at levels requiring no additional NRC oversight.

As a result, the NRC plans to conduct only routine baseline inspections at the plant for the rest of this year.

Safety is an issue at North Anna because Dominion has applied for an NRC permit that could lead to the construction of up to two more reactors at the site.

North Anna is one of two nuclear power plants owned by Dominion power in Virginia. Dominion owns and operates two other nuclear power plants, in Connecticut and Wisconsin.

The 13,000-acre Lake Anna was built in the early 1970s to cool the plant's reactors. Unit 1 went online in 1978, and Unit 2 in 1980.

Date published: 4/17/2007