A watchdog group says the Nuclear Regulatory Commission backed down to the operators of the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant.

The Toledo-area plant has been shut down since a hole was discovered last March in the six-inch-thick steel cap covering the plant's reactor vessel.

The Union of Concerned Scientists says the NRC knew that granting a delay for safety inspections in the fall of 2001 was wrong.

It also charges that the agency gave FirstEnergy Corporation's financial concerns too much weight.

The NRC has not commented on the union's report. FirstEnergy's spokesman has no comment.

The company believes it will be ready to restart the plant by next month, but the NRC says inspections should last at least through May.

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