[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32878]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-315 and 50-316]


American Electric Power Company; Receipt of Petition for 
Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206

    Notice is hereby given that by Petition dated October 9, 1997, 
David A. Lochbaum, on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists, has 
requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) take action 
with regard to Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, operated by 
American Electric Power Company (the Licensee). The Petition requests 
that the operating licenses for D.C. Cook, Units 1 and 2, be modified, 
revoked, or suspended until there is reasonable assurance that the 
Licensee's systems are in conformance with design-and licensing-bases 
requirements. The Petition requests that systems with a safety function 
at D.C. Cook be qualified and capable of performing their required 
function under all design conditions before restart. The Petition also 
requests that a public hearing into this matter be held in the 
Washington, DC, area before the first unit at D.C. Cook is authorized 
to restart.
    As the basis for these requests, the Petition states that the NRC 
recently completed an architect/engineer design inspection at D.C. 
Cook. The Licensee had previously reviewed the same systems as part of 
its design-basis documentation reconstitution program. Findings by the 
NRC inspection team led to a shutdown of both units and has 
necessitated changes to the plant's physical configuration. Therefore, 
the Petition asserts that the Licensee's design-basis documentation 
reconstitution and updated final safety analysis report validation 
programs lack the necessary rigor and focus. The Petition further 
asserts that deficiencies in the Licensee's design control programs may 
also be responsible for similar problems in its safety systems, which 
were not examined by the NRC.
    The request is being treated pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the 
Commission's regulations. The request has been referred to the Director 
of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. As provided by 10 CFR 
2.206, appropriate action will be taken on this Petition within a 
reasonable time. A copy of the Petition is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at the 
Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555-0001.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December 1997.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-32878 Filed 12-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P