The Document That the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Pulled From Its Website

>>> On 28 December 2002, the Associated Press reported that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had deleted a page from its Website. The document was a record of a phone call concerning a hole (possibly two holes) in the Milltown Dam near Missoula, Montana. The FERC claimed that such information would aid terrorists. Other people said that the "national security" excuse was just a ruse to keep crucial information from the public, who have a right to know about the danger. (Facts about problems with dams and nuclear reactors are notorious for disappearing down the memory hole.)

The missing report was nowhere to be found in Google's cache or the Internet Archive. Reader Tim Hill, however, got a copy from Peter Nielsen at Missoula's City-County Health Department and sent it to The Memory Hole. It is reproduced below.

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
PORTLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

TELEPHONE/MEETING RECORD

DATE: October 25 2002 TIME: 11:22AM/4:07 PM

CALLED BY: William Thompson OF Northwestern Energy (NE)

ANSWERED BY: Norm Weseloh OF OEP-D2SI-PRO

TELEPHONE NO. & STATUS OF OUTSIDE PARTY (406) 497-3912 _x_ LICENSEE

PROJECT NAME/NO. Milltown/2543-MT

SUBJECT DISCUSSED: Findings from 2002 Dam Foundation Exploration and Testing Program

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SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION

Mr. Thompson left voice messages at 11:22 am & 4:07 pm that at designated drilling location B-3
(crest near spillway mid section) a void of about 12 to 18 inches was located between the bottom of the
reinforced concrete slab and the settled fill. It was also believed that a similar void existed at the adjacent
designated drill location B-1 (about 20 feet left of B-3, at the crest), but the hole casing had not yet been
removed for verification. There were no voids at designated drill locations B-2 (about 40 to 50 feet right of
B-3) and B-4 (about 30 feet left of B-1). Washington Infrastructure, the Part 12 consultant and engineer for
The drilling program was immediately contacted. Mr. Thompson reported that the void(s) will be filled with
Low-pressure grout and additional 3-inch exploratory holes will be drilled to locate the actual dimensions of
the void. The details as to the void location and filling and consultant's evaluation will be included in the
consultant's addendum to the 2001 Consultant's Safety Inspection Report, scheduled to be submitted to the
PRO to January 30, 2003.


FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED: [followed by 3 blank lines]

Cc: FERRIS_X_ D2SI_X_ DHAC___ FILES___

R/E 10/00

 

Thanks to Tim Hill and Peter Nielsen.

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posted 5 Jan 2003 | updated 03 June 2004
site & original text copyright 2002-4 Russ Kick