WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Report Critical of Millstone (Waterford-WTNH) _ Workers at the Millstone III nuclear power plant appear to be repeating some of their past mistakes. A recent report from the plant's nuclear oversight office cites 'poor planning' and increased chances for an accident. The oversight office acts like an internal watch-dog. In this case, the scheduled refueling of unit 3 was stopped until certain problems could be straightened out. News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our southeastern newsroom at The Day. As of this morning things were said to be back to normal at Millstone. The order that had halted work on unit 3 has been lifted, and any outstanding problems according to the company have been tackled. Terrence McIntosh, Millstone Spokesman: "Oversight felt there needed to be more management attention to certain issues and that's exactly what happened... and it's a true indication of the system working." But that system was shut down last week after a Millstone safety inspector issued an extremely critical report dealing with the effort to refuel the third reactor. The engineer who wrote the report criticized employees for "poor planning". Among the oversights, he said there was a failure to follow procedures, and a failure to take corrective action. He also said there were increased chances for an accident. But NU officials say there was never any danger, and certainly no need for anyone to panic. Waterford's top elected official agrees. Tony Sheridan, First Selectman: "Right now I think it's a good sign. The fact that Oversight did speak up, the fact that management did stop the process of refueling unit 3, all that looks good." But how does it look to the public? Considering the plant's troubled past some believe nothing's changed, and they fear the company's simply repeating its past mistakes. Sally Bishop, Waterford: "They're supposed to know what they're doing. Whether they do or not leaves something to be desired." John Bushman, New London: "They tell you one thing and then do what they want anyway, so that's the way it is. "You trust them?" "No." But NU officials insist that this is proof their system of checks and balances is working, and officials at the NRC agree. They say the oversight office did the right thing, providing tough criticism, stopping work, and helping to prevent workers from making any critical mistakes. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Report Critical of Millstone
(Waterford-WTNH) _ Workers at the Millstone III nuclear power plant appear to be repeating some of their past mistakes. A recent report from the plant's nuclear oversight office cites 'poor planning' and increased chances for an accident. The oversight office acts like an internal watch-dog. In this case, the scheduled refueling of unit 3 was stopped until certain problems could be straightened out.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our southeastern newsroom at The Day.

As of this morning things were said to be back to normal at Millstone. The order that had halted work on unit 3 has been lifted, and any outstanding problems according to the company have been tackled.

Terrence McIntosh, Millstone Spokesman: "Oversight felt there needed to be more management attention to certain issues and that's exactly what happened... and it's a true indication of the system working."

But that system was shut down last week after a Millstone safety inspector issued an extremely critical report dealing with the effort to refuel the third reactor.

The engineer who wrote the report criticized employees for "poor planning". Among the oversights, he said there was a failure to follow procedures, and a failure to take corrective action. He also said there were increased chances for an accident. But NU officials say there was never any danger, and certainly no need for anyone to panic. Waterford's top elected official agrees.

Tony Sheridan, First Selectman: "Right now I think it's a good sign. The fact that Oversight did speak up, the fact that management did stop the process of refueling unit 3, all that looks good."

But how does it look to the public? Considering the plant's troubled past some believe nothing's changed, and they fear the company's simply repeating its past mistakes.

Sally Bishop, Waterford: "They're supposed to know what they're doing. Whether they do or not leaves something to be desired."

John Bushman, New London: "They tell you one thing and then do what they want anyway, so that's the way it is.
"You trust them?"
"No."

But NU officials insist that this is proof their system of checks and balances is working, and officials at the NRC agree. They say the oversight office did the right thing, providing tough criticism, stopping work, and helping to prevent workers from making any critical mistakes.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.