NRC has a performance indicator and inspection finding matrix webpage for Davis-Besse.

June 30, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-30] Ohio Department of Public Safety/Request to Observe the NRC Reactor Vessel Head Replacement Inspection (IP 711007) at Davis-Besse/Letter ML071720529 2007-06-12 4 05000346 2007-06-12 2007-06-29 OHIO SAFETY EDUCATION. SERVICE. PROTECTION OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Administration Bureau of Motor Vehicles Emergency Management Agency Emergency Medical Services Division Office of Criminal Justice Services Ohio Home

* [2007-06-29] 06/27/2007 Slides from Public Meeting between NRC and FENOC Regarding Response to May 14, 2007, Demand for Information ML071790596 2007-06-27 23 05000346 2007-06-27 2007-06-28 Jvul Joe Hagan FENOC President & Chief Nuclear Officer FENOC is Committed to Safety m Lessons learned from the Davis-Besse event will not be forgotten * Strongly committed to operating all nuclear facilities safely and respon

* [2007-06-28] Union of Concerned Scientists (Petitioner's) Handout Material From June 18, 2007 Public Meeting With 2.206 Petition Review Board Re: Exponent Report on 2002 RPV Head Corrosion Event at Davis-Besse ML071780029 2001-08-13 3 05000346 2.206 2001-08-13 2007-06-27 Union of Concerned Scientis Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions su e b ief Not-So-Happy Anniversary: 10 Years of Band-Aid Fixes for CRDM Nozzle Cracking Workers testing the integrity of the reactor vesse

* [2007-06-28] Union of Concerned Scientists' (Petitioner's) Slides from June 18, 2007 Public Meeting with 2.206 Petition Review Board Re: Exponent Report on 2002 RPV Head Corrosion Event at Davis-Besse ML071780028 2007-06-18 16 05000346 2007-06-18 2007-06-27 Unison of Concerned Sci~entists Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions Nuclear Pinocchio David Lochbaum Director, Nuclear Safety Project June 18, 2007 Nuclear Pin-occhie People associate Pinocchio with his pencha

* [2007-06-26] Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Notification of NRC Inspection and Request for Information ML071700620 2007-06-18 6 05000346 NPF-003 2007-06-18 2007-06-25 June 18, 2007 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: DAVIS-BESSE NUCLEAR POWER STATI

June 23, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-22] IR 05000346-07-502(DRS); on 05/14/2007 - 05/18/2007; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station; Routine Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise Baseline Inspection ML071690511 2007-06-14 12 05000346 NPF-003 IR-07-502 2007-06-14 2007-06-21 June 14, 2007 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: DAVIS-BESSE NUCLEAR P

* [2007-06-22] 06/27/2007 Revised Notice of Meeting with FirstEnergy to Discuss Response to NRC's 05/14/2007, Demand for Information Regarding FENOC's Re-analysis of the Timeline and Root Causes for the 2002 Davis-Besse Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Degradation Event ML071710346 2007-06-21 9 05000334 05000346 05000412 05000440 2007-06-21 2007-06-21 Revised Notice - Teleconference Information Added June 21, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Russell Gibbs, Branch Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing FROM: Thomas Wengert,

* [2007-06-21] Davis Besse Submittal of Engineering Program Effectiveness Independent Assessment Plan - Year 2007 ML071650175 2007-06-12 19 05000346 NPF-003 1-1495 2007-06-12 2007-06-20 FENOC - FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 5501 Norrh Slate Roure 2 Oak Harbor 0hi:o 43449 Mark 8. 8ezilla Vice Pres,der?l - Nucjeai 4 79-32 I - 7676 Fax 4 79-32 I - i582 Docket Number 50-346 License Number

* [2007-06-20] COMSECY-07-0018 - Cost Estimate for Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Degradation Display ML070510580 2007-04-20 3 05000346 M061025A COMSECY-07-0018 2007-04-20 2007-06-19 April 20, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Chairman Klein Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield Commissioner Jaczko Commissioner Lyons FROM: Luis A. Reyes /RA/ Executive Director for Operations SUBJECT:

* [2007-06-20] Submittal of Independent Assessment Plan for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Corrective Action Program Implementation - Year 2007, Revision 1 ML071700482 2007-06-11 21 05000346 NPF-003 1-1496 2007-06-11 2007-06-19

* [2007-06-19] Ltr. Tom Gurdziel, re Wrapped Up Nine Mile Observations/Efforts and Started Following Davis-Besse in Spring 2002 ML071650073 2007-05-28 5 05000220 05000346 05000410 DPR-063 NPF-003 NPF-069 2007-05-28 2007-06-18 H ~ EDO DEDMRS DEDR DEDIA AO 9 Twin Orchard Drive Oswego, NY 13126 May 28, 2007 Mr. Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 2

* [2007-06-19] Ohio Dept of Public Safety - Request for Permission to Observe the NRC Inspection related to Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation and Protective Equipment at Davis-Besse/Letter ML071620345 2007-06-05 3 05000346 2007-06-05 2007-06-18 Ted Strickland, Governor Henry GurmBn, Director Nancy J. Dragani Executive Director Emergency Management Agency 2855 West Dublin-Granville Road Columbus Ohio 43235-2206 www ema Ohio gov -* OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 4 E

June 16, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-16] Federal Register Notice - Demand for Information (DFI), Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company ML071340331 2007-05-14 7 05000334 05000346 05000412 05000440 DPR-066 NPF-003 NPF-058 NPF-073 EA-07-123 2007-05-14 2007-06-15 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of FIRST ENERGY NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY (Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant) ) Docket No

* [2007-06-15] SRM-COMSECY-07-0018 - "Cost Estimate for Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Degradation Display." ML071650131 2007-06-14 2 05000346 COMSECY-07-0018 SRM-COMSECY-07-0018 2007-06-14 2007-06-14 June 14, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations FROM: Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary /RA/ SUBJECT: STAFF REQUIREMENTS - COMSECY-07-0018 - COST ESTIMATE FOR D

* [2007-06-15] VR-COMSECY-07-0018, "Cost Estimate for Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Degradation Display." ML071650424 2007-06-14 10 05000346 COMSECY-07-0018 VR-COMSECY-07-0018 2007-06-14 2007-06-14 - UNITED SATES 2 NUCLEAR IREGULATORY COMV1;'l8S!0F1 ,i .  WASHRdNGTO, D.C. 24)555-00 1 COMSECY-07-0018 April 20, 2007 Disapproved, subject to the MEMORANDUM TO: Chairman Klein attached co

* [2007-06-14] 06/27/2007 Notice of Meeting with FirstEnergy Regarding May 14, 2007 Demand for Information re: Davis-Besse ML071620212 2007-06-13 9 05000334 05000346 05000412 05000440 2007-06-13 2007-06-13 June 13, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Russell Gibbs, Branch Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing FROM: Thomas Wengert, Project Manager /RA/ Plant Licensing Branch III-2

* [2007-06-13] Submittal of the 2006 Engineering Programs Effectiveness Independent Assessment Report for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, ML071550285 2006-11-16 80 05000346 NPF-003 1-1478 2006-11-16 2007-06-12 FENOC7 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla 4 19-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax. 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Se

June 9, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-08] 06/18/2007 Notice of Meeting with Union of Concerned Scientists Re Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 10 CFR 2.206 Petition Concerning Protection Against Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) Nozzle Leakage Fast Corrosion Scenario ML071520343 2007-06-07 5 05000346 NPF-003 2007-06-07 2007-06-07 June 7, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Russell Gibbs, Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing FROM: Thomas J. Wengert, Project Manager /RA/ Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Re

* [2007-06-08] Davis-Besse - Report of Changes to the Emergency Core Cooling System Evaluation Model in Accordance with 10 CFR 50.46(a)(3) for the Period of January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 ML071500391 2007-05-25 7 05000346 NPF-003 3343 2007-05-25 2007-06-07 FENOC FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla Vice President - Nuclear 419-321-7676 Fax. 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 10 CFR 50.46 License Number

* [2007-06-07] IR 05000346-07-402, on 02/12-16/2007 and 05/04/2007; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant; TI 2515/154, Material Control and Accounting Program - Cover Letter ML071520433 2007-05-30 5 05000346 NPF-003 IR-07-402 2007-05-30 2007-06-06 Official Use Only - Security-Related Information Enclosure Contains Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information. Upon separation, this page is decontrolled. Official Use Only - Security-Related Informa

* [2007-06-07] NRC Receipt of Davis-Besse, Unit 1 Response to GL 96-06, "Assurance of Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity During Design-Basis Accident Conditions." (TAC M96803) ML071360480 2007-05-31 6 05000346 NPF-003 GL-96-006 TAC M96803 2007-05-31 2007-06-06 May 31, 2007 Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 N. State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT

June 2, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-30] Davis-Besse, Unit 1 - Measurement uncertainty recapture power uprate application ML071300028 2007-05-18 4 05000346 NPF-003 TAC MD5240 2007-05-18 2007-05-29 May 18, 2007 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: D

* [2007-05-30] G20070297 - Letter to Mr. D. Lochbaum re: Protection Against Control Rod Drive Mechanism Nozzle Leakage Fast Corrosion Scenario or More FirstEnergy Falsehoods - Davis-Besse ML071300245 2007-05-18 5 05000346 NPF-003 2.206 G20070297 TAC MD5449 2007-05-18 2007-05-29 ML071300269+ May 18, 2007 Mr. David Lochbaum Director, Nuclear Safety Project Union of Concerned Scientists 1707 H Street NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006-3919 Dear Mr. Lochbaum: Your petit

* [2007-05-30] G20070297 - Letter to Mr. D. Lochbaum re: Protection Against Control Rod Drive Mechanism Nozzle Leakage Fast Corrosion Scenario or More FirstEnergy Falsehoods - Davis-Besse ML071300269 2007-05-29 ML071210285+ ML071300245+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071300269 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME= ML_adams^hqntad01

May 26, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-26] Davis-Besse - Request to Use Subsequent ASME Code Edition and Addenda in Accordance with 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv) ML071370714 2007-05-15 5 05000346 NPF-003 3326 2007-05-15 2007-05-25 FENOC F00J 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 S

* [2007-05-22] LER 06-004-01 for Davis-Besse, Unit 1 Re: Potential Damage to Ventilation Dampers Due to Design-Basis Tornado Differential Pressures ML071310081 2007-05-09 7 05000346 NPF-003 NP-33-06-004-01 LER 06-004-01 2007-05-09 2007-05-21 FENOC 00-4% 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-

May 19, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-18] Davis-Besse - Response to NRC Request Regarding Report Prepared by Exponent Failure Analysis Associates and Altran Solutions Corporation Regarding Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage. ML071290054 2007-05-02 11 05000346 NPF-003 3339 2007-05-02 2007-05-17 FENOC FEMO 76 South Main Street FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Akron, Ohio 44308 Danny L. Pace 330-384-3733 Senior Vice President, Engineering Fax: 330-384-3799 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Se

* [2007-05-18] Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, Response to NRC Generic Letter 2007-01 (TAC No. MD4320). ML071290578 2007-05-08 8 05000346 GL-07-001 TAC MD4320 2007-05-08 2007-05-17 FENOC FirstEnergy Nuclear Operatin ; Company 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla Vice President - Nuclear 419-321-7676 Fax: 419-321-7582 May 8, 12007 Davis-Besse Nuclear Power

* [2007-05-16] Press Release-07-061 - NRC Demands Information from First Energy Regarding Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant. ML071340379 2007-05-14 1 05000346 Press Release-07-061 2007-05-14 2007-05-15 NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov No. 07-061 May 14, 2007 NRC DEMAND

* [2007-05-16] Submittal of Expert Witness Report Prepared by Roger J. Mattson. ML071350034 2007-05-04 99 05000346 NPF-003 3342 2007-05-04 2007-05-15 FENOC 76 South Main Street FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Akron, Ohio 44308 Danny L Pace 330-384-3733 Senior Vice President, Engineering Fax: 330-384-3799 Docket No. 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Serial Numb

* [2007-05-15] 03/02/2007 Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station EOC Annual Assessment Letter (Report 05000346/2007001). ML070610174 2007-03-02 7 2007-03-02 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] IR 05000346-07-401(DRS) on 01/08/2007 - 01/12/2007; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station; Routine Security Baseline Inspection - Cover Letter. ML070520498 2007-02-21 5 2007-02-21 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Confirmatory Action Letter - Davis-Besse. ML070730470 2007-03-20 7 2007-03-20 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis - Besse Nuclear Power Station Re NRC Emergency Response Evaluated Exercise Inspection Requested Documents. ML070790416 2007-03-16 1 2007-03-16 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis Besse, Mitigation of Alloy 82/182 Pressurizer Butt Welds and Enhanced Reactor Coolant System Leakage Monitoring Program. ML070660476 2007-02-28 6 2007-02-28 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis-Besse - Administrative Control of Penetrations During Refueling (License Amendment Request No. 06-0002). ML070520383 2007-02-12 23 2007-02-12 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis-Besse - Semiannual Fitness-for-Duty Report, for the Period July through December 2006. ML070610096 2007-02-27 4 2007-02-27 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis-Besse, Supplemental Response to Generic Letter 2003-01, "Control Room Habitability." ML070880703 2007-03-27 2 2007-03-27 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis-Besse, Unit 1 - Audit of the Licensee's Management of Regulatory Commitments. ML062700476 2007-03-02 17 2007-03-02 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Davis-Besse, Unit 1 - RAI Related to License Amendment Request for TS Improvement Regarding Steam Generator Tube Integrity. ML070870578 2007-03-30 6 2007-03-30 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Final Response to Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station-Task Interface Agreement (TIA) 2006-003 RE: Service Water Setpoint for Swapping from Non- Safety Related to Safety Related Discharge Path (TAC NO. MD2830). ML070510087 2007-02-15 7 2007-02-15 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] LER 06-004-00 for Davis-Besse re: Potential Damage to Ventilation Dampers due to Design-Basis Tornado Differential Pressures. ML070450138 2007-02-12 7 2007-02-12 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Letter - Davis-Besse Re: 2007 Emergency Response Exercise Manual. ML070730028 2007-03-12 2 2007-03-12 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Report Prepared by Exponent Failure Analysis Association and Altran Solutions Corporation (Exponent) Regarding Reactor Pressure Vessel Waste at Davis-Besse. ML070930162 2007-04-02 5 2007-04-02 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Submittal of the 2006 Organizational Safety Culture, including Safety Conscious Work Environment, Independent Assessment Report and Accompanying Action Plan for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. ML070520652 2007-02-02 170 2007-02-02 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Submittal of the Operations Performance Independent Assessment Plan for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station - Year 2007. ML070730423 2007-03-13 12 2007-03-13 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Supplemental Information for Inspection or Mitigation of Alloy 600/82/182 Pressurizer Butt Welds at Davis-Besse. ML070400223 2007-02-07 3 2007-02-07 2007-05-14

May 12, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-12] Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Information Request for NRC Maintenance Effectiveness Baseline Inspection. ML071280769 2007-05-04 6 05000346 NPF-003 2007-05-04 2007-05-11 May 4, 2007 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: DAVIS-BESSE NUCLEAR POWER STATION

* [2007-05-12] Davis-Besse, Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report and Radiological Effluent Release Report for 2006. ML071230387 2007-04-30 188 05000346 NPF-003 3329 P-07 2007-04-30 2007-05-11 ML071230382+ 2006 ."Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report includinagthe Radiologi Releas ffIuent A 4 f MwM;M6j"_ R, 6jr-I __L722 - ____________ ~ __ 41,- -- ~. ~# U A. ANNUAL RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRO

* [2007-05-12] Davis-Besse, Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program Report for 2006. ML071230390 2007-02-16 85 05000346 NPF-003 2007-02-16 2007-05-11 ML071230382+ .... v..';:;;.;. ;¥ .. .. ;..";..L-;.... .... ;:X - Environmental, Inc. Midwest Laboratory an Allegheny Technologies Co. 700 Landwehr Road - Northbrook, IL 60062-2310 (847) 564-0700 fax (847) 564-4517 FIN

* [2007-05-12] Davis-Besse, Transmittal of Combined Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report and Radiological Effluent Release Report for 2006. ML071230385 2007-04-27 5 05000346 NPF-003 3329 P-07 2007-04-27 2007-05-11 ML071230382+ Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station IOak Harbor, Ohio 43449-9760 Docket Number 50-346 10CFR50.36a License Number NPF-3 P-07 Serial Number 3329 April 27, 2007 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commi

* [2007-05-12] Period of Enforcement Discretion During Implementation of National Fire Protection Association Standard 805, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 1. ML071000033 2007-05-01 5 05000346 2007-05-01 2007-05-11 May 1, 2007 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: PERIOD OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION DURING IMPLEMENTATION

* [2007-05-10] IR 05000346-07-002; on 1/1/2007 - 3/31/2007; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station; Other Activities. ML071240115 2007-05-03 44 05000346 07200014 NPF-003 EA-03-0214 IR-07-002 2007-05-03 2007-05-09 May 3, 2007 EA-03-0214 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Site Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 S

* [2007-05-09] 2007/04/30 - David Geisen - Letter from Lisa B. Clark to Administrative Judges regarding Status of Geisen Hearing. ML071210042 2007-04-30 1 05000346 ASLBP 06-845-01-EA IA-05-052 RAS 13550 2007-04-30 2007-05-08 2007-04-30 April 30, 2007 Administrative Judge E. Roy Hawkens, Chair Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop: T-3F23 Washington, DC 20555-000

May 5, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-05] 05/03/2007, Acknowledgement of Receipt of FENOC Response to Davis-Besse Exponent Failure Analysis Report. ML071240295 2007-05-03 4 05000346 NPF-003 2007-05-03 2007-05-04 ML071240391+ UNITED STATES i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION III 2443 WARRENVILLE ROAD, SUITE 210 LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4352 May 3, 2007 Mr. Danny L. Pace Senior Vice President - Fleet Engineering FirstEnergy Nu

* [2007-05-05] Assessment of Exponent Report Project Number BN63097.001, "Review & Analyses of The Davis-Besse March 2002 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage Event," To Ensure Current Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Inspection Requirements Are Adequate To Prevent.... ML071240254 2007-05-04 9 05000346 NPF-003 BN63097.001 2007-05-04 2007-05-04 ML071240391+ May 4, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: Michele G. Evans, Director Division of Component Integrity Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation THRU: Andrea D. Valentin, Chief Corrosion and Metallurgy Branch Divis

* [2007-05-05] Davis-Besse, Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request 05-0009 - Steam Generator Tube Integrity. ML071160351 2007-04-24 14 05000346 NPF-003 3338 TAC MD2145 2007-04-24 2007-05-04 -FE.NOC FEfO 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 License N

* [2007-05-05] Response To Request for Clarification Regarding Report Prepared by Exponent Failure Analysis Associates and Altran Solutions Corporation Regarding Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant. ML071240299 2007-05-02 11 05000346 NPF-003 3339 2007-05-02 2007-05-04 ML071240391+ FENOC 76 South Main Street FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Akron, Ohio 44308 Danny L. Pace 330-384-3733 Senior Vice President, Engineering Fax: 330-384-3799 Docket Number 50-346 License Number

* [2007-05-05] 2007/05/04 - Davis Besse - Letter of 05/04/2007 to DOJ Regarding FENOC Exponent Report. ML071240290 2007-05-04 2 05000346 NPF-003 2007-05-04 2007-05-04 May 4, 2007 Richard Poole, Senior Trial Attorney Environmental Crimes Section Environment and Natural Resources Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 23985 LÕEnfant Plaza Station Washington, DC 20026-3985 Dear

* [2007-05-04] Davis-Besse, Supplemental Information Concerning Generic Letter 96-06, "Assurance of Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity During Design-Basis Accident Conditions." ML071150077 2007-04-20 10 05000346 NPF-003 3317 GL-96-006 TAC M96803 2007-04-20 2007-05-03 SFENOC " % 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 L

* [2007-05-03] U.S. Dept of Homeland Security/January 2007 Updated Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Radiological Emergency Response Plan (RERP) for Lucas County/Letter. ML071150030 2007-04-18 1 05000346 2007-04-18 2007-05-02 U.S. Department of Homeland Securit!, 576 S Clarh Sticct Chlcdgo. I L 60005- 1 i 2 1 r Chicago Field Office April 18,2007 Mr. Roland Lickus, Chief State & Local Governmental Affairs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region

* [2007-05-03] U.S. Dept of Homeland Security/January 2007 Updated Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Radiological Emergency Response Plan (RERP) for Ottawa County. ML071150021 2007-04-18 1 05000346 2007-04-18 2007-05-02 U.S. Department of Homeland Securit! 536 S Clxh Street Chicago. IL. 611605- 15'1 April 18,2007 Mr. Roland Lickus, Chief State & Local Governmental Affairs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region I11 2443 Warrenville Road,

* [2007-05-02] G20070202/LTR-07-0203 - Rep. Dennis Kucinich Ltr re: FENOC Request to be Relieved from Independent Oversight at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Facility ML071020513 2007-04-18 2 05000346 G20070202 LTR-07-0203 2007-04-18 2007-05-01 April 18, 2007 The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich Chairman, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy Committee on Oversight and Government Reform United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr.

* [2007-05-05] Assessment of Exponent Report Project Number BN63097.001, "Review & Analyses of The Davis-Besse March 2002 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage Event," To Ensure Current Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Inspection Requirements Are Adequate To Prevent.... ML071240391 2007-05-04 ML071240254+ML071240295+ML071240299+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071240391 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME=ml_adams^hqntad01

* [2007-05-04] Davis-Besse, Transmittal of Combined Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report and Radiological Effluent Release Report for 2006. ML071230382 2007-05-03 ML071230385+ML071230387+ML071230390+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071230382 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME=ml_adams^hqntad01

April 28, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-04-24] Davis-Besse - License Amendment Application for Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Power Uprate (License Amendment Request No. 05-0007). ML071030396 2007-04-12 136 05000346 NPF-003 3198 2007-04-12 2007-04-23 ML071070576+ FENOC FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Mark B. Bezilla Vice President - Nuclear 419-321-7676 Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 10 CFR 50.90 L

* [2007-04-24] Davis-Besse, Enclosure 3, AREVA NP Calculation 32-5012428-08, "Davis-Besse Heat Balance Uncertainty." ML071070578 2007-04-12 71 05000346 NPF-003 3198 32-5012428-08 2007-04-12 2007-04-23 ML071070576+ Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Serial Number 3198 Enclosure 3 Enclosure 3 AREVA NP Calculation 32-5012428-08 Davis-Besse Heat Balance Uncertainty April 2007 20697-10 (3I30/06

* [2007-04-24] Davis-Besse, Submittal of February 23, 2007 letter from Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited. ML071030138 2007-04-04 7 05000346 NPF-003 3334 2007-04-04 2007-04-23 FENOC "E%% 76 South Main Street FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Akron, Ohio 44308 Danny L. Pace 330-384-3733 Senior Vice President, Engineering Fax: 330-384-3799 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Se

* [2007-04-24] Transmittal of Davis-Besse - License Amendment Application for Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Power Uprate (License Amendment Request No. 05-0007). ML071070576 2007-04-23 ML071030396+ML071070578+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071070576 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME=ml_adams^hqntad01

April 21, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-04-21] 2007 Davis Besse Submittal of Revision 1 of the Operations Performance Independent Assessment Plan for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Stations. ML071030446 2007-04-12 13 05000346 NPF-003 1-1492 2007-04-12 2007-04-20 . FENOC - FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 550 7 Norlh Sta!e Rode 2 Oak Harbor Ohlo 43339 Mark 6. 6ezrlla Vice Presdenl - Nuclear 3 79-32 7 - 7676 Fax 41.9-327-7582 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-

* [2007-04-21] Davis-Besse, 10 CFR 50.55a Request Regarding Installation of Structural Weld Overlays Third Ten-Year Interval (RR-A30). ML071020195 2007-02-15 52 05000346 NPF-003 3313 2007-02-15 2007-04-20 -FENOC -w 5501 North State Route 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Oak Harbor. Ohio 43449 Mar* B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 6d e'.aevt License Numbe

* [2007-04-20] Davis-Besse Unit 1 Occupational Radiation Exposure Reports for 2006. ML071010146 2007-04-04 3 05000346 NPF-003 3320 2007-04-04 2007-04-19 Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State Route 2 Fe Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449-9760 April 4, 2007 Serial Number 3320 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 REIRS Project Manager Office of Nuclear Regulat

* [2007-04-20] NRC Receipt of Davis Besse, Unit 1 Responses to GL 2003-01, Control Room Habitability. ML063050265 2007-04-11 6 05000346 NPF-003 GL-03-001 TAC MB9796 2007-04-11 2007-04-19 April 11, 2007 Mark B. Bezilla Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 N. State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 SUBJECT: N

* [2007-04-18] Davis-Besse, Unit 1 amendment re:License application to revise TS 3/4.8.1.1 A.C.Sources-Operating. ML060410225 2006-03-02 16 05000346 NPF-003 TAC MC4173 2006-03-02 2006-04-17 ML060410236+ March 2, 2006 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 S

* [2007-04-18] Davis-Besse, Unit 1 amendment re:License application to revise TS 3/4.8.1.1 A.C.Sources-Operating. ML060410236 2006-04-17 ML060410225+ML061040405+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=060410236 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME=ml_adams^hqntad01

* [2007-04-18] Davis-Besse, Unit 1, Tech spec re: License application to revise TS 3/4.8.1.1 A.C.Sources-Operating. ML061040405 2006-03-02 2 05000346 NPF-003 TAC MC4173 2006-03-02 2006-04-17 ML060410236+ ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS (Continued) d. At least once each REFUELING INTERVAL during shutdown by: I. Verifying the generator capability to reject a load equal to the l

* [2007-04-18] Ltr re: 2006 SS&D Workshop. ML061000032 2006-04-07 23 2006-04-07 2006-04-17 ML060940711+ April 7, 2006 Bonnie Bessemer Radiologic Health Branch Division of Food, Drug & Radiation Safety California Department of Health Services P.O. Box 997414 Sacramento, CA 95899-7414 Dear Ms. Bessemer: We have been informed

* [2007-04-17] Davis-Besse, Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding the 2006 Steam Generator Tube Inspections. ML070960442 2007-04-05 9 05000346 NPF-003 TAC MD3378 2007-04-05 2007-04-16 "0N4% Oak1 North State Route-2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company OkHroOi 34 Mark B. Bezilla 419-321-7676 Vice President - Nuclear Fax: 419-321-7582 Docket Number 50-346 License Number NPF-3 Serial Numbe

March 2, 2007

NRC sees Davis-Besse's recent performance as good enough to allow baseline inspection program

There's still extra NRC oversight of the independent assessment programs being conducted in accordance with NRC's March 8, 2004 Confirmatory Order. Those assessments are:
* Engineering Program Effectiveness;
* Corrective Action Program Implementation;
* Organizational Safety Culture and Safety Conscious Work Environment; and
* Operations Performance.

NRC is currently considering, as requested by Davis-Besse in August 23, 2006 letter, rescinding the Order's requirement for independent assessments of Operations Performance. NRC Branch Chief Eric Duncan wrote that NRC plans to announce decision on the matter in near future.

NRC's "Annual Assessment Letter" to Davis-Besse, dated March 2, 2007, which is the source of the above information, is available as ADAMS ACN ML070610174.

* [2006-04-29] Davis-Besse plans to be at full power this weekend
Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

* [2006-04-28] Davis-Besse Returns to Service After Refueling, Increasing Capacity
PR Newswire

* [2006-04-26] Davis-Besse meets NRC goals
Toledo Blade

* [2006-04-25] Davis-Besse expected to return from refueling soon
Platts

* [2006-04-25] NRC to Discuss 2005 Performance Assessment for Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant
NRC

* [2006-04-23] Davis-Besse critic lauds FirstEnergy for upgrades
Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

* [2006-04-05] Trial delayed for 3 in Davis-Besse case
Akron Beacon Journal January 19, 2006

Read the indictment

A pdf copy of today's indictment is available here

* Former Davis-Besse nuclear plant employees, contractor indicted
Connie Mabin, Associated Press/The Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

A federal grand jury Indicted former engineering design manager David Geisen, former engineer Andrew Siemaszko and Rodney Cook, a consultant who was working for Davis-Besse. The indictment accuses the trio of misleading regulators in the fall of 2001 into believing that the plant was safe so inspectors would delay visits until the spring of 2002, during a scheduled shutdown for refueling. All three signed off on reports from the company to the NRC in 2001 that concealed information about problems with the reactor vessel head, where inspectors eventually found the cracks and leak, the indictment states. The indictment also accuses the employees of omitting important facts about previous company inspections, including the fact that employees had trouble accessing the equipment that needed inspecting because of leaks. The three also are accused of omitting parts of a videotape that was sent to the NRC that was to show inspections of the reactor vessel head but parts showing "substantial deposits of boric acid" were edited out, according to the indictment.

FirstEnergy had previously agreed to pay a record $5.45 million Nuclear Regulatory Commission fine related to the reactor head corrosion. Siemaszko and Geisen were barred by the NRC from working in the nuclear industry for five years. Siemaszko has said he was wrongly fired and that he had told supervisors the reactor needed to be cleaned. He said managers rejected his requests.

Davis-Besse spokesperson Richard Wilkins said Thursday that he was not aware of the indictments. "Those are former employees so I couldn't comment on it anyway," he said.

[Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio), front page, January 20, 2006]

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[Source: The Blade (Toledo, Ohio), front page, January 20, 2006]

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[Source: The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), front page, January 20, 2006]

* 2005-05-21: NRC dissolves special oversight panel for Davis-Besse
Dave Scott, Akron Beacon Journal

* 2005-05-21: NRC to disband Besse watchdog panel
Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

* 2005-05-20: NRC panel to review penalty for engineer Former Davis-Besse employee is focus
Toledo Blade

* 2005-05-20: NRC ends special oversight panel for Davis-Besse
Reuters

* 2005-05-20: Davis-Besse to Return to Standard Regulatory Oversight
PR Newswire

* 2005-05-20: NRC panel to review penalty for engineer; Former Davis-Besse employee is focus
Toledo Blade

* 2005-05-20: NRC Terminates Special Oversight Panel, Begins Augmented Reactor Oversight Program for Davis-Besse
NRC

* 2005-05-18: Groups seek hearing for Davis-Besse ex-engineer
Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

* 2005-05-11: Davis-Besse draws siren safety citation; Latest glitch unlikely to end in fine
Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

April 21, 2005

* Ouch - NRC proposes biggest fine ever - $5.45-million against Davis-Besse for reactor head

This is the largest single fine ever proposed by the NRC. The principal violation, assessed a $5 million fine, was that the utility restarted and operated the Davis-Besse plant in May 2000 without fully characterizing and eliminating leakage from the reactor vessel head which led to significant corrosion damage. Additional violations (assessed $450,000) included providing incomplete and inaccurate information to the NRC on the extent of cleaning and inspecting the reactor vessel head in 2000.

In addition to the fine proposed for the utility, the NRC has issued an Order to a system engineer, prohibiting Andrew Siemaszko's involvement in NRC-regulated activities for five years. Siemaszko was responsible for ensuring that the reactor vessel head was cleaned and inspected during the 2000 outage. Records prepared by Siemaszko indicated that the reactor vessel head was cleaned and that no damage to the head was found. The agency found that he had deliberately provided incomplete and inaccurate information in plant documents, which are required by the NRC. Siemaszko no longer works at Davis-Besse. Enforcement action may be taken against additional individuals in the near future.

Recent NRC inspections

* (released Sept 20) Davis-Besse problem ID and resolution inspection report 346-2005-14

* (released May 6) Davis-Besse report 50-346-2005-5

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2004-2

* Davis-Besse corrective action program implementation report 50-346-2003-10

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2003-22

* Davis-Besse RCS leak test report 50-346-2003-23

* Davis-Besse e-plan report 50-346-2003-14

* Davis-Besse safety significant programs report 50-346-2002-11

* Davis-Besse sump system report 50-346-2003-6

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2003-13

* Davis-Besse radiation protection report 50-346-2003-8

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2003-4

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2003-2

* Davis-Besse system health program report 50-346-2002-13

* Davis-Besse service water, hi-pressure injection, 4160vAC systems report 50-346-2002-14

* Davis-Besse "Significance Determination" report 50-346-2002-8

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2002-15

* Davis-Besse report 50-346-2002-19

December 13, 2004

* Fenoc target of federal jury investigation
Platts

October 22, 2004

Released today - Davis-Besse documents of interest

* ML042950159 - Oct 21, 2004 letter from NRC to Davis-Besse announcing special inspection to be conducted during week of October 25, regarding emergency siren program. NRC Inspection Procedure 71150, "Discrepant or Unreported Performance Indicator Data" will be used. The primary objective of the inspection is to review Davis-Besse's activities in response to a siren testing failure, especially with respect to the reporting requirements of the performance indicator program.
During a monthly siren test on May 7, 2004, Davis-Besse determined that the Ottawa County Sheriff dispatcher did not have the capability to activate the emergency planning zone (EPZ) siren. NRC's inspection will gather information associated with the testing failure and associated root cause(s) to help the NRC staff identify and properly characterize the risk significance of the issue.
Following the siren testing failures, Davis-Besse made a significant change in the siren testing methodology and increased the frequency of the siren testing to include silent tests. The significant change in testing methodology was not pre-approved by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (44 CFR 350.14 and FEMA-REP-10), and was a significant departure from Davis-Besse's regularly scheduled testing program that was in use on the first day of the second quarter 2004. NRC staff believes that use of silent tests that were not part of the identified regularly scheduled tests, as described by Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 99-02, Revision 2, of the Regulatory Assessment PI Guideline, is not in accordance with the ANS PI guidance. Therefore, the staff believes that tests that are not part of the regularly scheduled tests cannot be considered valid tests for PI purposes.

[contact: Mr. Tom Ploski, NRC lead inspector - tjp@nrc.gov 630-829-9812]

Note: a PDF copy of the above document is available from NRC at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html, by entering the appropriate accession number (begins with ML) in the search box

March 12, 2004

* Davis-Besse faces minimum of 3-5 years of heightened scrutiny by NRC

* Davis-Besse - two NRC inspectors on duty each shift until further notice

* Davis-Besse - independent audits required for at least 5 years as condition for restart

* Davis-Besse - bare-metal inspections required for reactor head and bottom in coming scheduled outages

* Davis-Besse - maintenance outage scheduled for years before refueling date

* Davis-Besse's close call 'should not have been possible', sez NRC Chairman Diaz

December 16, 2003

The meeting scheduled for Thursday will instead be on Dec. 29

December 8, 2003

* Davis-Besse - Dec 18 public meeting in Port Clinton re: possible restart

December 3, 2003

Davis-Besse license renewal application probably will be filed in 2005

Work on the Davis-Besse relicensing request has been "on hold". It probably will be submitted in 2005, according to comments made by Fenoc President Gary Leidich at a December 3 meeting of financial analysts. The current Davis-Besse license expires in 2017.

[Ref: John Dudley Miller (Platts-Oak Harbor) and Daniel Horner (Platts-Washington), "NRC okay of Davis-Besse restart hinges on remaining inspections", Nucleonics Week,ÊDecember 11, 2003,Êp. 1]

November 22, 2003

Grand jury looking into D-B reactor head maintenance history

A federal grand jury asked FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. for documents and records relating to the inspection and maintenance of the reactor vessel head at Davis-Besse. The documents and materials must be presented to a grand jury of U.S. District Court for northern Ohio. The court is based in Cleveland. The grad jury subpeona was disclosed by FirstEnergy in an SEC filing today. FirstEnergy spokesperson Todd Schneider said "We will comply with the subpoena and fully cooperate with the investigation." Assistant U.S. attorney James Cain said he could neither confirm nor deny the grand jury investigation.

[Source: The Associated Press, "Grand jury wants info on troubled nuclear plant", November 22, 2003 2:30 am ET]

November 20, 2003

diagram courtesy of USNRC

High Pressure Pump Modifications and Testing Underway

During a public meeting held on October 21 at the NRC headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, FirstEnergy officials presented the technical plans for modifying the high pressure injection pumps. An earlier engineering review by the company found that the pumps could malfunction under certain accident conditions. In a pipe break or other loss of coolant accident, the high pressure injection pumps would pump water into the reactor cooling system while pressure remained high. Other emergency cooling systems would start once pressure in the reactor cooling system was lowered.

Both pumps were shipped offsite for modification. Work has been completed on one pump, and it has been returned to the plant; the second pump is still undergoing modifications.

Both pumps must be installed and tested before the possible restart of the plant. NRC inspectors are monitoring the utilityÕs modification and testing of the pumps.

[Source: "Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage: NRC Update - November 2003", November 18, 2003, ML033230052]

NRC's Safety Culture Inspection Continues

An NRC inspection team is continuing its review of FirstEnergy's efforts to evaluate and improve the safety culture at the Davis-Besse plant. This review includes the utilityÕs program to foster a "safety conscious work environment" in which workers feel free to raise safety issues without fear of retaliation.

The remaining inspection activities are (1) review of a recently completed FirstEnergy survey of employee attitudes toward safety and a safety conscious work envrionment; (2) observation of the activities of the plantÕs Safety Conscious Work Environment Review Team; and (3) review of FirstEnergyÕs plan for long-term improvement actions and assessment of plant staff safety culture. FirstEnergy is expected to present its long-term plans at the December 3 meeting with the NRC Oversight Panel.

The results of the NRCÕs safety culture inspection, once completed, will be presented in a public meeting prior to any decision by the agency on restart of the Davis-Besse plant.

[Source: "Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage: NRC Update - November 2003", November 18, 2003, ML033230052]

No Leakage in Reactor Pressure Test

The test of the Davis-Besse reactor coolant system in late September found no evidence of leakage from the reactor vessel, either in the new reactor vessel head or the bottom of the reactor vessel where tubes carry reactor monitoring instrumentation. There was no evidence of significant leakage in other reactor cooling system components.

The reactor was not started up for the test. Heat generated by the cooling system pumps raised the pressure in the reactor and associated piping to approximately 2155 pounds per square inch -- the normal operating pressure -- and approximately 530 degrees Fahrenheit, which is near the normal operating temperature. NRC inspectors observed the test and reviewed the inspections of the vessel and reactor cooling system components. The inspection report on technical aspects of the test will be issued by early December.

During test activities, two incidents occurred involving errors by the operating staff. During preparations for the test, about 1,000 gallons of water was expelled from a pressurized core flood tank into another holding tank because plant operators failed to adequately monitor pressure in the reactor cooling system.

After the test ended, another operational incident occurred. Normal procedures required that one group of control rods be withdrawn from the reactor core while the reactor cooling system test was conducted. Plant operators failed to properly control pressure conditions in the reactor cooling system, and a pressure variation led to the automatic insertion of that group of control rods.

Since the reactor was already shut down at the time, this incident had no safety consequences. Operator performance issues during the test will be covered in two inspection reports - one was issued October 30. The other will be issued in December.

FirstEnergy is expected to discuss its corrective actions for these operator issues during the November 12 meeting with the NRC Oversight Panel.

[Source: "Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage: NRC Update - November 2003", November 18, 2003, ML033230052]

Restart Checklist

The Oversight Panel has created a "restart checklist" categorizing 31 actions in seven major areas which FirstEnergy needs to complete before the NRC can consider making a decision on whether Davis-Besse may restart. The NRC oversight panel has determined that the utility has adequately completed 22 of those actions. A copy of the marked-up checklist is available for viewing here. The completed items are shown in italics and have a check mark in front of the item. For the completed items, the list also includes the inspection report which documents the NRC's review of the item.

[Source: "Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage: NRC Update - November 2003", November 18, 2003, ML033230052]

November 15, 2003

Residents ask NRC to pull D-B license
Rick Neale (staff writer), Port Clinton News Herald (OH)
Davis-Besse: Twenty-one local residents signed letter urging NRC to revoke FirstEnergy's operating license until all systems and procedures at the plant undergo further review and inspections, among other safety-related requests. The letter also asked that FirstEnergy management "forgo raises and bonuses instead of passing along the costs of their mistakes at Davis-Besse to ratepayers and shareholders." About 100 residents of nearby Kelleys Island signed a similar Davis-Besse petition that was delivered to the NRC in October

FirstEnergy reaches deal over failed sale
Associated Press/Port Clinton News Herald (OH)
FirstEnergy will receive $198-million as settlement for a deal to sell two coal plants. The company that was to buy the plants went into bankruptcy, and the settlement is part of the restructuring. The output of the two plants has come in handy uring the long Davis-Besse shutdown. They are not currently for sale.

October 8, 2003

Davis-Besse - $500-million screw-up, and no ok from NRC yet

The meter keeps ticking. FirstEnergy said repairs should be done by mid-November. During a weeklong test of the reactor coolant system, an operating crew mistakenly caused a valve to open in the emergency cooling system and dump about 1,000 gallons of water into a drain. Another crew depressurizing the reactor caused computer-operated equipment to switch into an emergency mode on the last day of the test. NRC's deputy executive director of operations told Associated Press that the plant is about where it should be in the repair and restart process. "Our operators haven't been operating the plant in two years. That's a long time," FirstEnergy's nuclear chief Lew Myers said. The chairman of the NRC panel overseeing restart plans, Jack Grobe, wasn't nearly so complimentary. "It's not the operators; it's the organization," Grobe said. "It doesn't matter what dates FirstEnergy puts up," Grobe said. "The plant won't restart until we're convinced it's safe."

[Ref: John Seewer (AP writer), "Utility: Test errors shouldn't hinder restart plans", The Associated Press, October 8, 2003 4:59 am ET]

August 29, 2003

Undersized air-operated valve actuators has been a common problem in nuclear plants, sez Davis-Besse

Here's part of the section titled "Apparent Cause of Occurrence" from the Licensee Event Report (LER 50-346-2003-001-01) describing the finding that eight valves a Davis-Besse were not capable of performing their intended safety functions for all required conditions:

"Lessons learned from the nuclear power industry's motor-operated and air-operated valve programs indicate that AOV performance can be enhanced by improvements in valve and actuator sizing, setting, testing, and maintenance. It was found that during the original procurement cycle, many AOV actuators were undersized. This was a result of vendors being provided with inaccurate system conditions in combination with less than conservative sizing methodology used at the time, and a lack of formal calculations supporting the design basis and appropriate settings for AOV actuators. There was also the practice of sizing AOV actuators with minimum built-in margin. Similar analytical deficiencies resulted in the design of the air accumulators, used to provide a source of motive power in the event of a loss of non-safety related instrument air, not being sufficient to ensure the valves would perform their intended safety function under all design conditions. This apparent cause applies to valve CC1495."

Other causes were identified for the other seven valves. The full LER is available as a pdf.

August 19, 2003

Kucinich is wrong about Davis-Besse

"In order to protect their stock position, they've made shortcuts on maintenance," Kucinich said of the hole in Davis-Besse's head. "They covered it up and they were given a pass by regulators." He was likable enough as the brash young mayor of Cleveland, but he's talking without benefit of a clue in this case, and that's a shame. The boric acid corrosion went on for years not because of cost-cutting, but because nobody imagined that the boric acid residue would do any damage at all. Acid sounds like bad news, but remember, this boric acid is the same stuff that your grandmother used to wash clothes with -- "20 mule team" Borax. The problem was a lack of a questioning attitude, a lack of curiosity. And part of it is our industry's desire to keep occupational exposure to radiation as low as is reasonably achievable. Part of the foundation of this ALARA philosophy, codified by the NRC as the way to do things, is that every millirem of exposure must have some justification, some expected benefit to counter the hypothesized risk to the worker from being exposed. The corroding head sat there on the refueling floor outage after outage, with hundreds of highly educated and trained craftspeople, operators, managers and inspectors of every shape and stripe seeing the head without anybody finding enough justification to warrant going through the plant job planning processes necessary to get a "radiation work permit" allowing someone to cross into the carefully roped-off head staging area and poke around the boric acid encrusted spot.

The head is massive, but it's not that big. There's dozens of studs with big nuts that have to be removed and replaced every time the head has to be removed. When doing this work, the maintenance crew is a matter of a few feet away from where the hole was growing. The company didn't save a cent by not poking around, and Rep. Kucinich doesn't sound "populist" to nuclear.com for insisting otherwise; rather he sounds simply ignorant.

President Bush may not have read any of the books that Mr. Kucinich has touched over the past thirty years, but nuclear.com has not once heard him jump to the kind of baseless conclusions that the Democratic presidential candidate has done here. You greens out there who are enamored with Kucinich and quick to insult the President's intellect strike nuclear.com as exhibiting the same type of lack of curiosity as those folks who were so close so many times to the hole in the head at Davis-Besse. I must admit to being a bit relieved that the hole in the head is of concern to Democrats. When Bill Clinton's Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown was found dead with an inexplicable hole in his head, the only curious Democrat I recall was civil rights activist Dick Gregory (bless his heart for putting up "crime scene" tape around Walter Reed Hospital at the time). [Kucinich quote reference: Andrew Smith (Newsday staff correspondent), "Not Just a Bad Day For First Energy; Struggling through series of setbacks", Newsday (New York), August 18, 2003 p. A21 (Copyright 2003 Newsday, Inc.)]

August 18, 2003

Davis-Besse's owner under the spotlight as initiator of the blackout

Efforts to nail down the source of Thursday's massive blackout have shifted to Ohio and FirstEnergy Corp., the fourth-largest investor-owned utility in the United States and No. 159 on the Fortune 500 list... FirstEnergy is the owner of power lines that might have triggered the largest blackout in U.S. history... Preliminary analysis shows FirstEnergy - which owns four of the first five lines that failed - was experiencing unusual electric conditions as much as four hours before the blackout hit...

"What happened on Thursday afternoon is much more complex than a few tripped power lines in our system," said Todd Schneider, a FirstEnergy spokesman. ... He said the company didn't consider shutting down lines before the blackout. "At the time there was no reason to isolate it."

FirstEnergy said a system that is supposed to flash a red warning on computer monitors at the company's control centre was not operational when the lines began failing Thursday afternoon.

[Source: Dafna Linzer and John Seewer (Associated Press writers), "Suspected culprit in blackout has history of problems: Firm's nuclear plant shut on safety concerns", The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), August 18, 2003, p. A14, Copyright 2003 CanWest Interactive]

August 7, 2003

Davis-Besse owners have been predicting restart 'in a month or two' for over a year now

Ever since a large corrosion hole was found in March 2002 on top of the plant's nuclear reactor, the company has issued statements saying it believed Davis-Besse would be ready to restart in a matter of a month or two...

"Clearly, management has lost all credibility in being able to predict a reasonable timeframe for restart," Fremont said [Paul Fremont, an analyst with Jefferies & Co. Inc.]. "I think people pretty much ignore (company) statements on restart."

[Source: Jim Mackinnon (Beacon Journal business writer), Analysts, investors recover from loss; FirstEnergy stock gains after shock fades from earnings restatement", The Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio), August 7, 2003]

* TEXT-S&P affirms FirstEnergy 'BBB' corp credit rating
Reuters -- Standard & Poor's statement includes this: "'The affirmation of the existing rating assumes that the company will take appropriate steps to maintain its investment grade ratings, including the issuance of equity or possible asset sales to reduce debt in order to move closer to its deleveraging targets. Failure to take steps quickly will result in lower ratings,' said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Aneesh Prabhu."

August 6, 2003

* Davis-Besse - mounting delays and O&M costs

August 4, 2003

Davis-Besse restart readiness delayed again

Davis-Besse won't be ready for restart until sometime this fall, and that's without considering any NRC approval delays. FirstEnergy had earlier spoken of spring, and then summer, readiness. The cost of replacement power during July and August is estimated at $20-25-million per month, a figure that drops to $15-million a month during the rest of the year. The latest delay is expected to increase the plant's 2003 incremental O&M costs by $30-million, bringing total to $80-million for the year. The company could put the cash to much better use -- paying creditors. It has a $1-billion "revolver" maturing in November and you can imagine the pressure on the nuclear division to get their house in order, pronto. The company has even bigger issues, however. A sell-off of some power plants, which was expected to bring in $1.5-billion, has been deferred. Its credit rating -- Baa2/BBB -- is only a couple of notches shy of dropping below investment grade. The stage is set, says financial publisher Thomson Media's newsletter, "for another borrower/creditor battle in the energy sector in a few months", echoing, it says, "a trend in the rest of the utility industry, which experienced a rash of downgrades in the first half of 2003, according to a recent report from Standard & Poor's."

[Ref: John Hintze, "FirstEnergy's Troubles Loom", High Yield Report, August 4, 2003]

June 25, 2003

* Davis-Besse - criminal prosecution of FirstEnergy and individuals warranted, argues Union for Concerned Scientists

June 14, 2003

* Safety culture - everybody wants it; but nobody can define it, much less measure it

* Safety culture - NRC was so averse to getting into this area that it even prohibited staff from using the phrase in public documents for a while in late 1980s

* Davis-Besse - safety culture defects seen as central problem in head corrosion

* Davis-Besse CEO sez safety culture improvements are amongst the many changes

June 12, 2003

* Boric Acid Corrosion - EPRI embarks on 4-year research program

June 10, 2003

Davis-Besse outage will have cost some $400-million if restart around August

Davis-Besse expects to be ready for restart in August, and puts price tag of $400-million on their shutdown, which began in March 2002.

[Source: Eileen O'Grady (Bloomberg News), "Dominion puts new head on Va. reactor", Akron Beacon Journal, June 10, 2003]

April 15, 2003

Davis-Besse - SPDS computer system penetrated by "Slammer" worm, disabled for almost 5 hours

Davis-Besse found several routes into its computer network which completely bypassed the security firewall. One of these routes allowed the slammer worm to take up residence in the plant's Safety Parameter Display System, used by operators to monitor the status of various safety-related processes and conditions. As a result of the worm's programming, the SPDS was disabled, a condition that continued for almost five hours on January 25, 2003. The operators were able to monitor the normally-displayed parameters by using various gauges and other devices in the control room.

The event occurred in the midst of much industry activity to ensure network security. NEI formed a task force on cybersecurity last year, for example, which is expected to issue industry-wide recommendations soon.

The nuclear power plant industry is expected to become even more potentially vulnerable to network attack in coming years. At present, various plant systems can be monitored remotely, but not actually controlled over a network connection. The efficiency and safety gains possible from remote operation capability are quite attractive, and if a company assures itself that outsiders can be kept out, the prospects for remote operation will be as close to irresistable as can be.

A Davis-Besse report on the slammer worm incident released by NRC is available here.