Former Worker Says AmerenUE, NRC Dropped Inquiry

Criscione, who lives in Springfield, Ill., but works for First Energy Corp. at its western Pennsylvania nuclear plant, declined an AP interview request.

While acknowledging that the risk to the public from the Oct. 21, 2003, incident was minimal, Criscione suggests that the plant's handling of what he calls a "cover-up" should raise questions about public confidence in Ameren's operations.

"The real safety significance is that if the operators of a reactor plant cannot be trusted to be honest about mistakes, then they cannot be trusted to inform the public of radiation releases," he wrote in an e-mail, obtained by The AP, to state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, a St. Louis Democrat.

Ameren spokesman Mike Cleary said the company, part of Ameren Corp., doesn't discuss current or former employees "as a matter of policy." But he also said that "employees and contractors at the plant have a right to express safety concerns to either AmerenUE management or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission without fear of retaliation."

"The 2003 incident cited by Mr. Criscione has been thoroughly investigated by both AmerenUE and the NRC, with no findings of wrongdoing in the matter," he added.