Context for 1986 Ohio evaluation of Davis-Besse and Perry evacuation plans

1985

Jun 9: Davis-Besse’s primary and auxiliary cooling systems fail; since the company had failed to install emergency systems, this became the worst accident since Three Mile Island. The plant remains closed through 1986.

1986

Jan 31: An earthquake, measuring 5 points on the Richter scale, is centered 10 miles from the Perry I nuclear power plant under construction northeast of Cleveland.

Apr 26: Chernobyl.

May 7: Ohio Governor Richard Celeste meets with Ohio nuclear utility executives to discuss nuclear safety.

Aug 15: Gov. Celeste withdraws State support for the Davis-Besse/Perry emergency plans, and appoints a Emergency Evacuation Review Team.

Sep 4: Gov. Celeste asks Ohio Attorney General Anthony Celebrezze to intervene of behalf of the State in the Perry I licensing case.

Sep 5: Attorney General Celebrezze petitions the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permission to intervene in the Perry I licensing case, and to withhold permission for Perry I to go above 5% power until after the Review Team reports.

Oct 30: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commisssion denies Ohio’s petition, and delays a decision on whether to give the OK for full-power to Perry I.

Nov 7: The Commission vetoes 4 - 1 to give Perry I a full-power license. Attorney General Celebrezze appeals the Commission decisions to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

1987

Jan 7: Ohio’s Review Team reports to Gov. Celeste "that the current emergency response plan for Ohio’s nuclear power plants is inadequate to protect the public and that the premise for planning may be based on unduly optimistic assumptions about the likelihood and consequences of nuclear accidents."

Mar 23: After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit decides against overturning the Commission’s decisions, Gov. Celeste and Attorney General Celebrezze decide that a further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court would be futile.