kucinich.house.gov

Kucinich Contact: Doug Gordon

Washington, Mar 8 -

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave permission to First Energy to restart the Davis Besse nuclear power plant today. This action comes after rejecting Congressman Kucinich's petition last year to revoke First Energy's license to operate the Davis-Besse plant.

"My first priority is to ensure the safety of the millions of people who live in northeast Ohio, as well as the largest freshwater supply in the nation," stated Kucinich. "For two years, I have fought to ensure that Davis Besse is safe before reopening. While the plant may be safer today than it was when a football size hole was found in the reactor head, much more must still be done to ensure public safety. Davis Besse probably could not pass the necessary safety steps required of a new plant today. That is the standard it should have to meet. But, it appears that the NRC and First Energy are determined to put profits above public safety"

In October of 2003, Congressman Kucinich sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that revealed the conclusions to a several month investigation into the NRC reactor safety process. An examination of internal documents and emails revealed that the Reactor Oversight Process remains subjective and is easily manipulated to deliver whatever result the NRC wishes to obtain.

"I will continue to be a watchdog of the NRC to ensure that the millions of citizen living downwind of the Davis Besse reactor remain safe," continued Kucinich.