NRC Proposes Record Fine Against Davis-Besse Plant's Operator
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed the largest fine in its history, a $5.45-million penalty, against FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. for alleged violations of NRC rules at the company's Davis-Besse powerplant in Ohio.
The largest share of the fine, $5 million, is for restarting and operating the plant in May 2000 "without fully characterizing and eliminating leakage from the reactor vessel head," the NRC contends. That problem "led to significant corrosion damage," the commission said in announcing the penalty on April 21.