ML19207C420

Requests Record of Safety Repts,Meeting Transcripts & NRC Recommendations Re Plant Operations.Serious Doubts Have Been Raised About Safety of Plant

ML19207C420
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	04/23/1979
From:	Metzenbaum H SENATE
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19207C418	List: ML19207C420
References
NUDOCS 7909110606
Download: ML19207C420 (2)

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. cs es, as April 23, 1979 Joseph M. Hendrie Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W. t

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Dear Chairman Hendrie:

Reports of operator errors, departures from safe operating procedures and mechanical problems at the Davis-Besse nuclear plant operated by Toledo Edison near Port Clinton, Ohio, have raised serious doubts about the safety of this plant.

I am aware that this plant has been shut down for reasons unrelated to the accident at Three Mile Island. But I am also aware that your agency has expressed concern over all similar Babcock 6 Wilcox installations because of possible generic defects.

John G. Davis, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's acting director of inspection and enforcement, is quoted as saying in a NRC meeting of April 5:

"If we did have a rating system of A,B,C, we would put Davis-Besse 'C' on this scale. It should be a better plant."

James Lappler, director of NRC's Chicago regional office, has been quoted as saying that the frequency and potential seriousness of mistakes made by plant personnel have given Davis-Besse one of the poorest reputations for operator precision in the region, which includes 21 nuclear plants in the Midwest.

In light of these comments, I am requesting that you provide me with a complete record of the various safety reports and transcripts of meeting notes pertaining to the Davis-Besse plant, along with the NRC's recommendations for corrections and the responses from Toledo Edison.

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a Since there are indications that To?.edo Edison may put the plant back in operation as early as this week, there is an urgent need to receive these records as soon as possible. I would be glad to have a member of my staff come to your office .

today to secure copies of these records. [~

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.v rY M. Metzenbaum United States Senator HSD!:rmh

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