ML040620196

Public Comments from Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich at the Restart Hearing of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant

ML040620196
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	02/12/2004
From:	Kucinich D US HR (House of Representatives)
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML040620196 (1)

Text

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f FER-13 04 08:55 FRDM:DAlJIS BESSE 419-321-7778 TO:630 515 1102 PAGE: 01 http:/lwww.hou sc.gov/kuci 11 icli Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich Ohio 3 10th Covzgressional LlisMct For Immediate Release: Conract:

Tliursday, February 12, 2004 Doug Gordon (202) 225-5871 (a)

(202)494-5 14 1 (c)

Public Comments From Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich At The Restart Hearing Of The Davis Besse Nuclear Power Plant We are here today because two years ago we got lucky. The Nuclcar Regulatory Cornmis$ian (NRC) coaxed Davis Besse to shut down and soon thereafter workers found a hole in thc top of thc reactor.

A rnttjor nuclear accident was averted. We got lucky because the NRC was concerncd about a scparufc safety issuc and First Energy just happened to find the hole.

Much has hecn lcarncd about h o b this happened. It is clear that First Energy failed to safely operate the Davis Besse power plant, Ihe NRC bailed to effectively regulate the nuclear power plant and both entities failed lo place the hsalrh and safety of thosc living near this power plant above the protits of F int Energy.

Tnvosrigations into this incident have revealed that First Energy possessed the einpirical data that sugges~eda problem exi$ted. For example, air-monitoring filters were constantly clogged with rust, 8uggcsting a serious a problem. First Energy chose to ignore the probleins to protect its profits.

The NRC Tnspector General has found that the NRC chose to protect the financial impact on FENOC rathcr tharr force compliance with safety regulation$. After the shutdown of Davis Besse, the NRC released a report that docriincnted its Lessons Learned. The report made a few mommendations a.5 to how the NKC might avoid Rrtiire incidents like the corrosioii probleiiis at Davis Besse. Since the release of the final report, a draft.lessons learned report surfaced that contained seveixl Cd.r reaching recomiiiendations that would in fact make a real difference in nuclear power plant safety. But to avoid costly regulations 011 the industry, those recommendations did not make the final report.

My top goal is public safely and 1 cannot ask my constituents to trust the word of First Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission if they cannot place safety ahead of economic interests, To dare the NRC has denied a l l efforts to push for greater inspections of Davis Besse. I personally pctitioncd Ihe NRC and several public interest groups also petitioned the NRC to force a more complete review olRavis Ress;e.

It i s well known hat the NRC forwartled a criminal investigation LO elic Dcpartrncnt uf Juslicc Cor review. As it seems clear that First Energy i s at least suspected of criminal conduct, it only makcs sewe to witit Cur the coiiclusion or that investigarhn before

I)tlvis Hessc is:permitted to restart. Confidencc i n First Eiicrgys opcratian of rhis nuclear power plant cannot be determined with an ongoing criminal invcgtigation. The public has the right to hear about First Energys wrongdoing before Firsr Energy is rewarded with reactor restart.

T continue to oppose the restart of Davis Besse becniise 1 do not have confjdence in First Energy or the NRC to place safety ahead of profits.

FEB-13-2004 07:11 419 321 7778 96% P. 01