Watchdog group questions Ohio nuke plant soundness

Watchdog group questions Ohio nuke plant soundness

CLEVELAND (AP) — A watchdog group is questioning the soundness of an Ohio nuclear plant where a 30-foot hairline crack was recently discovered.

The crack was found in the thick concrete on the outside of the reactor containment building at the Davis-Besse plant outside Toledo. Further inspections found numerous, tiny cracks on the building’s facade.

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reports that the Union of Concerned Scientists has written the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission asking whether the concrete walls were built to adequate engineering specifications.

The NRC said Monday that the letter is being reviewed. Plant owner FirstEnergy Corp. says that the walls were designed properly and the building has been inspected thoroughly.

The plant has been shut down for installation of a new 82-ton reactor head, replacing one that cracked.