CARROLL TOWNSHIP -- Both FirstEnergy and Nuclear Regulatory
Commission officials said Wednesday that they were encouraged by the
progress made in their efforts to return the Davis-Besse Nuclear
Power Station to service.
The plant has been shut down since February when workers found a
large hole in the reactor head caused by corrosion from boric acid
leaks. But a 3 1/2 hour meeting at Oak Harbor High School between
FirstEnergy and an NRC Oversight Panel convinced both parties that
even though there are still several issues to resolve, the plant is
on the right track to restoring operation.
"I think several of our inspections have had very positive
results," NRC Panel Chairman Jack Grobe said . "We've gone a great
distance toward closure. We talked about most of the issues today
that I think are key issues. I think the outcome of today is that
there is progress."
FirstEnergy Chief Operating Officer Lew Myers also was optimistic
at the close of the meeting.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but I'm definitely
encouraged," he said. "We're finding more issues every day, but
we're working to resolve them.
"I think (the meeting) went very well."
FirstEnergy informed the NRC panel that they have just about
completed the investigation part of the restart plan and are now in
the implementation phase. They hope to return the plant to service
early next year.
Grobe said there were two specific areas in which FirstEnergy has
made great strides.
"They've replaced the reactor head, we've inspected it, and the
head is adequate," he said. And, "They've also restored the
containment building to its original specifications, which had been
another issue."
But, Grobe said, the plant is still a long way from being ready
to restart. In order for Davis-Besse to restart there are several
other improvements NRC is required to see:
Plant management and personnel must demonstrate proper
understanding of the technical, organizational, programmatic and
human performance problems that led corrosion problem with the
original reactor.
Programs for operating the plant safely, detecting and
correcting problems, controlling boric acid corrosion, and fostering
a more safety-conscious environment must be enhanced.
Resolution of several outstanding design issues.
Any organizational or human performance issues resulting from
the ongoing investigation conducted by NRC must be addressed.
Grobe said although he was pleased with the progress, he's more
concerned with the overall safety of the plant than any schedule
FirstEnergy may have in mind.
"There were still some areas where we weren't so satisfied," he
said. "But the company is identifying what actions they need to take
to satisfy those issues. Once this panel is convinced the plant can
restart safely, and, more importantly, continue to operate safely,
we'll recommend that it is restarted."
Both Myers and Grobe agree that while the relationship between
the company and the panel can sometimes be strained, they are able
to get along because they both have the same goal in mind.
The second half of the meeting saw the panel open the floor up
for discussion from the community. Only a handful of people spoke,
few of whom seemed to share Grobe's "healthy" feelings.
"How can (FirstEnergy) justify neglecting inspections and letting
things get that far?" Asked James Douglas, an Oak Harbor resident
and retired chemical engineer. "I could almost vomit. They have the
biggest plant problem they could imagine, and all I hear on that
stage is gobbledy-gook."
Originally published Thursday, November 14, 2002
