Federal nuclear officials on Monday provided the Triangle public with an update on the safety performance of the Shearon Harris nuclear plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the Shearon Harris plant, less than 25 miles southwest of Raleigh, has received consistently high marks in a range of performance categories in 2011.

The NRC’s public meeting was held at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. The meeting included an NRC staff presentation followed by a question-and-answer session for the public.

The public meeting was preceded by an open house where the public could review NRC informational brochures and meet agency staff.

The NRC says the Shearon Harris plant, operated by Raleigh-based Progress Energy, has received high marks in more than a dozen performance indicators, including reactor coolants, heat removal, cooling water and alert/notification systems.

Nuclear critics, such as Durham-based N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, say the annual reviews are misleading because the NRC annual review omits critical information. Chiefly, the yearly security and anti-terror evaluation is deemed sensitive and will not be included for public consideration.

Staff writer John Murawski

Murawski: 919-829-8932