"Our goal is superior performance at the Susquehanna plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's assessment is one indicator of how we're doing, and it shows we have work to do to achieve our goal."

That was PP&L's response to the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) report the NRC issued Tuesday (9/30) that gave the Susquehanna nuclear plant a "good" rating for safety performance in three categories. The plant received the "superior" rating in a fourth category. The report covers the period from August 1995 through August 1997.

The NRC periodically evaluates the safety performance of all nuclear power plants in the United States.

"In the previous review period that ended in August 1995, the Susquehanna plant had received the NRC's 'superior' rating in all four categories that are evaluated," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, PP&L's special assistant to the president for Susquehanna. The NRC evaluates operations, maintenance, engineering and plant support, which includes such areas as radiological controls, emergency planning and security.

"The latest SALP report reflects issues that we have dealt with, and reported, over the past two years. These included two unplanned generating unit shutdowns related to maintenance and the misalignment of a diesel generator," Woodeshick noted.

The company has worked aggressively to correct problems in operations, engineering and maintenance — the three areas in which the nuclear plant received the NRC's second highest or "good" rating, he said. Plant support received the NRC's highest or "superior" rating.

"We've implemented corrective actions in the areas of personnel performance, supervisory oversight and independent assessment of station activities," Woodeshick said.

In its SALP report, the NRC said, "Overall performance of the Susquehanna station was good during this period. A generally conservative approach was taken to operation of the facility."

"Our objective at Susquehanna is to be a top performer," Woodeshick noted. "We appreciate the NRC's evaluation of the plant. It gives us an outside perspective of our performance that is valuable in identifying areas where we can concentrate our improvement efforts."

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about five miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PP&L and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc.