Press Release-III-04-001, NRC Proposes $60,000 Fine for Fitness for Duty Violation at Kewaunee
| ML040020287 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kewaunee  |
| Issue date: | 01/02/2004 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region II |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2006-0113 Press Release-III-04-001 | |
| Download: ML040020287 (1) | |
Text
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 801 Warrenville Road Lisle IL 60532 Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov No. III-04-001 January 2, 2004 CONTACT:
Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663 E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662 NRC PROPOSES $60,000 FINE FOR FITNESS FOR DUTY VIOLATION AT KEWAUNEE The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $60,000 fine against Nuclear Management Company for a violation of worker fitness for duty requirements at the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, located at Kewaunee, Wisconsin.
The fine stems from a 2001 incident in which a supervisor for a contractor at the Kewaunee plant, failed to require that a worker be tested for alcohol after he detected the smell of alcohol on the worker. The NRC has strict requirements for assuring the fitness for duty of workers at nuclear plants including the testing of workers when drug or alcohol use is suspected.
An investigation by the NRC Office of Investigations concluded earlier this year that the supervisor had deliberately violated the required fitness for duty procedures.
NRC Regional Administrator James Caldwell, in notifying the utility of the proposed fine, said the fine was proposed as a result of...the need to maintain a work environment that is free from the effects of drugs and alcohol.
The utility has taken corrective actions including counseling of the supervisor, modifying the fitness for duty procedures, and improving employee fitness for duty program training.
The notice to the utility on the proposed fine is available on the NRC web site at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/enforcement/actions/reactors/k.html The utility has until January 29 to pay the fine or to protest it. If the fine is protested and subsequently imposed by the NRC staff, the utility may request a hearing.
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