NRC to Hold Informal Public Hearing on Petition to Revoke, Modify or Suspend Operating License for D.C. Cook Plant

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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
	Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
	Washington, DC 20555-001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov

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No. 98-124

July 23, 1998

NRC TO HOLD INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING ON PETITION TO REVOKE,
MODIFY OR SUSPEND OPERATING LICENSE FOR D.C. COOK PLANT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold an informal public hearing August 19 in Rockville, Maryland, on a petition that asks NRC to revoke, modify or suspend the operating license of the D.C. Cook nuclear power plant, Units 1 and 2. The plant is located near Benton Harbor, Michigan.

The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on August 19 in Rooms T-09A1-T-09F5 at the NRC headquarters at theTwo White Flint North building , 11545 Rockville Pike.

The hearing will be held in response to a petition filed October 9, 1997 by the Union of Concerned Scientists regarding safety problems with the ice condenser containment at the D.C. Cook plant. The system uses thousands of pounds of ice to absorb heat energy released during certain accident conditions. The petition was amended January 12, presenting additional information on six other concerns at the plant. It seeks revocation, modification or suspension of the D.C. Cook operating license until NRC has reasonable assurance that the plant meets the design commitments made when the license was issued.

The hearing is intended to provide additional information from the petitioner, the licensee, Indiana/Michigan Power Company, and the public for NRC staff to evaluate the petition. Members of the public who are interested in making presentations should contact John Stang of the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation at (301) 415-1345.