UCS questions NRC on Davis-Besse shield building status prior to reactor restart

NRC inspector examines cracking in Davis-Besse atomic reactor shield building wallDavid Lochbaum, Director of the Nuclear Safety Project at the Union of Concerned Scientists, has written the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission questioning whether or not NRC has adequately inspected cracking in the Davis-Besse atomic reactor's exterior shield building, and whether this aspect of the design can still fulfill its radiologically protective function against external threats, such as tornado missiles. The Cleveland Plain Dealer has reported upon this story, as has Canada's Windsor Star. On October 20th, NRC issued a Preliminary Notification of Occurrence (PNO).

Beyond Nuclear, along with Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario (quoted extensively in the Windsor Star article), Don't Waste Michigan, and the Ohio Green Party, have won standing and the admission for hearing of several contentions against the 20 year license extension sought by FirstEnergy nuclear utility at its problem plagued Davis-Besse atomic reactor. Davis-Besse is now 35 years old. Its original 40 year long operating license will expire on Earth Day (April 22), 2017, but FirstEnergy is seeking permission from NRC to run Davis-Besse till 2037. In the past dozen years, NRC has rubberstamped 75 reactor license extensions, leaving fewer than 30 reactors at which it hasn't yet approved 60 years of operations.