ML023430498

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IA-02-041, Diprospero, Nrc'S Reply Letter to Individual'S Undated Response to NOV
ML023430498
Person / Time
Site: Ginna Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 12/09/2002
From: Miller H
NRC Region 1
To: Diprospero D
- No Known Affiliation
References
1-2002-024, IA-02-041 IA-02-041
Download: ML023430498 (3)


Text

December 9, 2002 IA-02-041 Mr. David J. DiProspero

[HOME ADDRESS REMOVED PER 10 CFR 2.790]

SUBJECT:

YOUR UNDATED RESPONSE TO NRC NOTICE OF VIOLATION (NRC Office of Investigations Report 1-2002-024)

Dear Mr. DiProspero:

In an undated letter received by the NRC on November 25, 2002, you provided a response to a Notice of Violation that the NRC sent you on October 22, 2002, detailing a violation of NRC requirements. The violation involved your deliberate submittal of inaccurate information (i.e., an adulterated urine sample and an inaccurate Fitness for Duty (FDD) form) to Rochester Gas &

Electric Company (RG&E) during a random drug screen examination while you were employed as a security lieutenant (manager) by Wackenhut Corporation at the RG&E Ginna Nuclear Power Plant.

As noted in our October 22, 2002 letter, RG&E investigated the circumstances regarding your random FFD test after the laboratory responsible for analyzing the urine sample notified RG&Es Medical Review Officer (MRO) that the pH level of your sample was low (2.73 vs. the normal range of 5 - 7). Although you informed the MRO that you did not take any drugs and you stated that the abnormally low pH value of your urine sample was caused by taking nutrient supplements, you did not provide the MRO any written medical documentation to support your claim. Consequently, after reviewing all the facts, the MRO concluded that you had adulterated your urine sample and RG&E subsequently terminated your employment. The NRC reached a similar conclusion after an investigation by our Office of Investigations (OI).

In your response to the NRCs Notice of Violation, you indicated that there was a lack of evidence to support the violation and you asserted that your low pH during the FFD test was the result of nutrient supplements. You also stated that you were unable to provide evidence to the RG&E MRO to support your assertions, and you were not able to appeal your termination by the company. As noted in our October 22, 2002 letter, the OI investigator consulted a forensic toxicologist employed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Division of Workplace Programs. This expert in the area of forensic toxicology indicated that there is no scientific evidence to support your claim that taking nutrient supplements caused your urines pH to be below 3. In the professional opinion of the forensic toxicologist, the urine sample had to have been adulterated to produce such an abnormally low pH. Therefore, based on the evidence developed during the investigation, OI concluded that you submitted an adulterated urine sample on May 18, 2002, and deliberately created a false document when you signed a Ginna fitness for duty (FFD) form indicating that Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested

2 you had not, in any way, adulterated your urine sample. You have not provided any information which would cause the NRC to alter that conclusion.

In your response to the NRCs Notice of Violation, you also indicated that you were never told that you were under investigation by the NRC, and for this reason, you also requested that the violation be dropped. The OI investigation indicates that the OI agent advised you about the function of OI and the agents role. After providing you with this information, you agreed to continue with the investigation. Accordingly, your assertion that the NRC failed to inform you that you were under investigation, would not cause us to rescind the violation.

Based on the above, the NRC plans no further action with respect to your request. No response to this letter is required. In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, records or documents compiled for enforcement purposes are made publicly available. A copy of this letter, with your address removed, the NRCs October 22, 2002 letter and Notice of Violation, and your undated response to the October 22 Notice of Violation, will be made publicly available. A copy of those documents will also be provided to RG&E. Questions concerning this matter may be addressed to Mr. John White, Chief, Radiation Safety and Safeguards Branch, Division of Reactor Safety, at 610-337-5114.

Sincerely,

/RA/ James T. Wiggins Acting For Hubert J. Miller Regional Administrator cc: (w/ NRC October 22, 2002 letter and Notice, as well as Mr. DiProsperos undated response)

Dr. Robert C. Mecredy Vice President, Nuclear Operations Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation 89 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14649

3 Distribution w/encls ADAMS (PARS)

SECY CA OEMAIL OEWEB WTravers, EDO WKane, DEDR DDambly, OGC LChandler, OGC SCollins, NRR WBorchardt, NRR RZimmerman, NSIR GTracy, NSIR Enforcement Coordinators RII, RIII, RIV BBeecher, OPA HBell, OIG GCaputo, OI DDandois, OC HNieh, OEDO JPeralta, NSIR SRichards, NRR BSheron, NRR MSykes, NRR LDudes, NRR RClark, PM, NRR PMilano, PM, NRR (Backup)

HMiller, RA/JWiggins, DRA WLanning, DRS RBlough, DRP KKolaczyk, SRI-Ginna, DRP RJunod, DRP MEvans/NPerry, DRP JWhite/ADimitriadis, DRS DScrenci/NSheehan, PAO-RI Region I OE Files (with concurrences)

FCongel, OE BFewell, RI DHolody/RUrban, RI SFigueroa, OE EWilson, OI DOCUMENT NAME: C:\ORPCheckout\FileNET\ML023430498.wpd To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RI/ORA RI/ORA RI/ORA RI/DRS RI/DRS NAME Dholody (DJH) Rurban (RJU) Dvito (DJV) Jwhite (JRW) Wlanning (RVC for)

DATE 12/05/02 11/26/02 11/26/02 11/26/02 12/02/02 OFFICE RI/DRP RI/OI RI/RC RI/RA HQ/OE NAME Rblough (ARB) Ewilson (JAT for) JBFewell (JBF) Hmiller (JTW for) Fcongel (RJU for)*

DATE 12/02/02 12/02/02 12/02/02 12/04/02 12/05/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

  • per phone call from D. Nelson (OE)