ML12320A393
| ML12320A393 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 10/26/2012 |
| From: | NRC/OI/RGN-III/FO |
| To: | |
| References | |
| 4-2011-059, FOIA/PA-2012-0238 | |
| Download: ML12320A393 (30) | |
Text
EXHIBIT 12 Case No. 4-2011-059 EXHIBIT 12
,A 1.
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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Information In this record v in accordance with the rem Act, *Aemptions FOIA".**IŽ,*D,2tl 25
`'4 lot UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS INTERVIEW I---
x IN THE MATTER OF:
INTERVIEW OF I
(b)(7)(C) 01 Case No.
4-2011-059 (CLOSED) x Wednesday, October 26, 2011 (b)(7)(C)
The above-entitled interview was conducted at 1:40 p.m.
BEFORE:
is derted
)rrL of i,rma0ion
'wgc.
(b)(7)(C)11-059 (202) 234-4433 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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O0F_,JI..PA ]E(S) www.nealrgross.coimn
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P-R-O-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S 1:40 p.m.
(b)(7)(C)
We're on the record and this is an interview of (b)7)(C)
Today's date is October
- 26th, 2011.
It is approximately 1:40 p.m.
The location of this interview is in the I
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
Present at this interview are SpecialAgn
-, (b)(7)(c)
J nd I (b)(7)(C)
I This investigation involves an allegation of discrimination against theI (b)(7)(C) for reporting nuclear safety concerns to the NRC as recorded under 01 Case Number 4-2011-059.
)7a(C) as I explained, the NRC 01 protocol includes a swearing in of the witnesses.
Do you have any objection to being sworn in this afternoon?
(b)(7)(C)
No I don't.
(b)(7)(C)
Can you raise your right hand, please?
Do you swear that the information that you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (b)(7)(C) 1I do.
(b)(7)(C)
Thank you. Sir, can you give for the record your full name, please?
I (b)(7)(C)
I (b)(7)(C)
And what's your middle name, sir?
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
An your current position, sir?
II(b)(7)(C)
I
'm a
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
I cd what ' s (b)(7)(C)
S(b)(7)(C)* syour employer?
based out of, by the way?
(b)(7)(C)
F (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C I Where are they
) Okay.
And you' re--
working as a (b)(7)(C)
E I
I (b)(7)(C)
I And do you have any other experience in the nuclear industry?
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IIhave significant experience 2
in the nuclear industry having worked at San Onofre as 3
the (b)(7)(C) for Southern 4
California Edison.
And prior to that I worked at a 5
consulting firm, (b)(7)(C) 6 7
8 9
(b)(7)(C) 10 11 12 13 14 (b)(7)(C)
Okay.
15 (b)(7)(C)
This was all forl (b)(7)(C) 7 16 (b)(7)(C) 1as well.
17 (b)(7)(C)
When you were 18 working at SONGS how long were you the (b)(7)(C) 19 (b)(7)(C) 20 (b)(7)(C)
I started there, let's
- see, 21 fromI (b)(7)(C) 22 (b)(7)(C)
And how long did 23 you work at SONGS in total?
24 (b)(7)(C)
That was, the total period of 25 time was at SONGS.
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(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
Can you give me a brief description of your position as the (b)(7)(C)
I.
(b)(7)(C)
Yes.
I was responsible for thel (b)(7)(C) as well as the (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
Did you have any responsibilities as far as Human Resources was concerned?
(b)(7)(C)
I was not, I mean, I had (b) staff.
I had (7) employees.
But I was not, I'm not an (C)
HR person.
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
I was just curious.
(b)(7)(C)
ýes.
I was a manager and I had staff working for me.
(b)(7)(C)
All right.
Any military experience?
I (b)(7)(C)
No.
(b)(7)(C)
All right.
When we were talking off the record I was explaining how my investigation was focused on some allegations that NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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(b)(7)(C ade to the NRC.
2(b)(7)(C) had stated that he was 3
discriminated against by management of SONGS because 4
he was engaged in protected activities there.
Did you 5
have any daily interactions with (b)(7)(C)
ýhen he was 6
employed there?
7 I used to exchange greetings.
8 And I had (b)(7E(c) :
for, you know, as part of 9
the (b)(7)(C)
[him.
And I
saw him 10 because he worked in the same area.
And was asking 11 how he was acclimating and how he liked the job.
12 And so I
did have an opportunity to 13 interact with him more in a social nature.
Not in 14 terms of looking at his work or anything of that 15 nature.
16 (b)(7)(C)
I think when he 17 hired, at least for the (b)(7)(C) lat SONGS, this was 18 in (b)(7)(C) if my memory serves me correct, right?
19 t(b)(7)M=C)
That' s correct.
20 (b)(7)(C) rHe was 21
)
(b)(7)(C) 22 (b)(7)(c)
That 's correct.
23 I(b)(7)(C) 24 (b)(7)(c)
All right.
And who else was on the 25 F
(b)(7)(c)
Do you remember?
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[
7)7]
Well, I know it was 2
(b)(7)(C) 3 J
(b)(7)(C) and myself an (b)(7)(C) 4 And we did the rating ofi (b)(7)(C) uring his 5
interview.
6 (b)(7)(C)
Okay.
How did 7
you get involved withJ(b)(7)(C))(
It's my understanding 8
that, we're skipping ahead a little bit here.
But on 9
the day that he was terminated you were present in the 10 office with 7
(b)(C) Jhen he was notified that he was 11 being terminated?
12 (b)(7)(C)
Yes.
13
[
(b)(7)(C)
How did you get 14 involved in that?
.15 (b)(7)(C)
Forked to 16 me in the office area.
And she had informed me about 17 difficulties she was having with him.
And 18 consequently she was a bit concerned about giving him 19 the news that he was terminated.
Because this was 20
- not, you know, this was going to be on the spot 21 termination.
22 And was advised that she should have 23 another member, another management team member present 24 to participate in this termination process just in 25 case there were allegations, statements, or it got NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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unpleasant.
And I saidi (b)(7)(C) 2 3
(b)(7)(C) 4 (b)(7)(C)
When was the 6
first time thati (b)(7)(C) kad any conversations with 7
you about (b)(7)(C) 2nd anything related to his work 8
performance?
9(b)(7)(C)
It was probably three months 10 prior to the terminations.
She had informed me that 11 she was very frustrated with him.
That he appeared to 12 have some sort of attitude and didn't want to 13 cooperate.
And that she had received a lot of 14 complaints from other staff that worked for him, that 15 he was very difficult.
16 He was not, he was a difficult supervisor 17 and he didn't handle staff well.
And that he had made 18 the statements that she didn't, he didn't do well 19 because he wasn't a woman.
She only liked women and 20 not men supervisors and that.
So she informed me 21 that he made a statement like that.
22 (b)(7)(C)
Did she just 23 volunteer this information?
24 (b)(7)(C)
Yes.
25 (b)(7)(C)
Or did this come NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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up in some other context?
2 1
e(b)(7)(
She was frustrated and was 3
venting to me, as she did a lot of times.
Because I 4
had a lot of management experience and I've also hired 5
and fired staff.
And she looked at me as someone who 6
had a lot of experience outside of the utility.
And 7
I could handle and give her advice on kind of how to 8
deal with, you know, these kind of situations.
9 She vented and said she was having a lot 10 of challenges with him.
And he seemed to be, you 11 know, trying to butt heads with her and it was getting 12 very unpleasant.
So that's how I came to learn that 13 she was having some difficulties with him.
14 (b)(7)(C) was 15 fired (b)(7)(C) is that correct?
Do you remember?
16 (b)(7)(C)
You know, I don't remember 17 the date.
It's
- probably, if memory serves me 18 correctly, it might have beenI (b)(7)(C) 19 I
(b)(7)(C)
I Okay.
So would 20 you say that about three months prior (b)(7)(C) ame 21 to you and gave this information aboutL (b)(7)(C)
IThis 22 would have been maybe J (b)(7)(C) 23 (b)(T)(C)
I'm thinking around(I is 24 when things were starting to surface.
Because he was 25 hired and, you know, he was hired in and then things NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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-ted demonstrating that he was going to be a
- ic employee.
(b)(7)(C)
IOkay.
So we're in, on or about thel (b)(7)(C) time frame.
Other than the fact that youI (b)(7)(C) or his
- position, and that you might have exchanged pleasantries with him in the hallways, did you have any other interaction with him around that time?
(b)(7)(C)
I did not socialize with him.
I only talked to him at work where he would, you know, tell me he was frustrated or whatever.
But that's 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 about it.
I (b)(7)(C)
I Between the I
1 (b)(7)(
time frame and the time that I j
)(Cj was terminated, do you recall any other conversations wit (b)(7)(C)I about (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
She told me that she had met with HR and also with, I guess, another representative of HR that was going to help her on dealing with progressive discipline.
And I don't remember the person's name at this point.
But that she would probably have to start documenting all actions and keeping a log of the interactions withl (b)(7)(C)
I because it was starting to deteriorate.
And, you know, she was putting him on NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 probation and giving him tasks to do.
And he didn't appear to want to perform and meet those probationary requirements.
So I said well, keep a good tab on that kind of stuff.
- Because, you know, when people are in that role it's very difficult with them.
(b)(7)(C)
Was he under probation as far as you know?
I mean, let me ask you this?
From what you recall at
- SONGS, are new employees placed under probationary period?
(b)(7)(C)
- Well, all employees, I
believe, that are hired into a management role are hired as at-will employees.
Whether, you know, they can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all.
At will or not at will for the convenience of the company or not.
Likewise, the employee has the right to walk out as well without a two week notification.
So that is a provision of hiring.
So there isn't a
probationary period, depending on the level.
And I can't be certain that he didn't have a probationary period.
But clearly within thel (b)(7)(C) he was working there, things were starting to surface that indicated that this was not a good match where he was.
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And working for Z(c as not working well.
(b)(7)(C)
Now I understand that you're on the periphery as far as (b)(7)(C) is concerned.
And you may or may not know the answer to this question.
But to your knowledge wasm7)(C) placed on a F (b)(7)(C)
I (b)(7)(C)
There was discussion that he was going to go that direction.
But I
can not ascertain whether or not he physically had sat down for a (
I believe there was plans to put him under there.
But I don't really know, because I wasn't directly involved, that he was under the (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
I I believe he could have been because I think we gave him specific requirements that he had to do to measure up.
You know, I'm about 80 percent sure that he was.
But I can't, you know, absolutely confirm because he wasn't my employee.
But I believe he was.
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
Is it uncommon for someone at SONGS to be terminated without even going the route of the I (b)(7)(C)
Have you ever heard of that happening?
(b)(7)(C)
Yes.
(b)(7)(C)
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(b)(7)(C)
Yes.
I(b)(7)(C)
Because I've heard from, well,I (b)(7)(C)
Iin this case.
He said, well, they didn't even bother giving me al (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
I.
They just went all the way and just terminated me without giving me much of a chance.
And I was wondering if that was a common occurrence or if he (b)(7)(C)
Well, unfortunately, it has been a common occurrence at the plant.
There was a (b)(7)(C)
I believe my (b)(7)(C) II (b)(7)(C)
And well, they told me that (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
Ii not safety concerns so it doesn't have an NRC thing.
So I said, well, this is not a palatable environment if I can't do the job, so I'd like to (b)(7)(C)
And they said sure and they gave me a, you
- know, I was treated a little differently.
I wasn't terminated.
(b)(7)(C)
But it had changed the environment directly when they brought in the new management team.
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
Who was NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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that team led by?
Do you remember?
2 (b)(7)(C)
I Well, it was, prior t j
b7 3
(b)(7)(C) well, when they terminated, not terminated, 4
when they announced the resignation of the CEO of 5
Southern California Edison things started changing.
6 They broughti (b)(7)(C) in. Well, and who was the 7
Lb)7)C) hel (b)(7)(C) 8 (b)(7)(C)Would that b (b(7 9
J b)(7)(C) 10 (b)(7)(C) i1 yes.
Because I'm linked in with him at (inaudible),
12 I couldn't remember his name.
AfterI (b)(7)(C) 13 I guess it was obvious that he was asked to consider 14 stepping down, as the term was used.
So he stepped 15 down.
16 Then they had an interim there, who was a 17 member of the Board for Safety Review.
I have his 18 name in here, I can look it up.
And then they brought 19 (b)(7)(C)
In the meantime they brought in 20 (b)(7)(C)
And then they had the plant manager who 21 was a very challenging type of individual.
22 (b)(7)(C)
Who would that 23 be?
Do you remember?
24 (b)(7)(c)
I just drew a blank.
It's 25 starts wit
)7)(C) I'll come back to him.
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (phonetic)?
(b)(7)(C) 15 (I7we ell, (bI<(c) j so had his moments when he got mad and resigned.
I(b)(7)(C) okay.
(b)(7)(C)
He worked for the (b)()(C) now the b)(7(C)(Inaudible)
()7()Oh, okay.
C (b)(7)(C) that's it.
Okay.
(b)(7)(C)
All right.
(b)(7)(C) lHe's a very tough guy.
Then they brought i (b)(7)(C) ho was also a very strong, so they brought in new management that were less employee oriented, more let's get the plant fixed up, which probably was some of the shake up they needed.
But it certainly caused some changes in morale at the plant.
(b)(7)(C)
I Okay.
Do you remember any other conversations you had wit J
Cbou (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
All that was indicated to me is that she said that she is spending more time on NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 dealing with
- him, his discipline, his being recalcitrant, his talking back and saying, hey listen, you know, I don't know what you want from me.
You don't like me because I'm a male.
And it was just more of this type of thing.
And she would just keep detailed logs of conversations she's had, and what he said today.
And she was typing it all up, and writing it, and keeping a detailed log book.
And she said, this is so difficult because I have no time to do my other work.
It's taking so much time for me.
So that's the only conversation where she let me know that there was tremendous frustration with dealing with him.
And it became very bad blood there.
(b)(7)(C)
All right.
Do you remember any conversations you had with anyone else at the plant regardin (b(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
I did not discuss[
(b)(7)(C) with other people.
I didn't, you know, he was not at the (b)(7)(C)
I that I was dealing with, where his name would come up and stuff like that.
So I didn't really hear routine kind of things.
He was dealing more with the (b)(Z)(C) and things like that.
So that, you know, it was NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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probably not as much focus on him.
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(b)(7)(C)
You didn't hear 3
any other complaints about him from other people?
4 (b)(7)(C)
There were some people that 5
said, that were ii (b)(7)(C) rganization that, you know, 6
there was some scuttlebutt and some hull talk that 7
C was, you know, he was a really difficult guy to 8
work with.
He was hard to get along with.
9 (b)(7)(C)
Was that his 10 reputation pretty much, from what you could tell?
11 (b)(7)(C)
- Well, given the people who 12
- were, I
think because (7c)Had a very difficult 13 relationship withJI7c it soured his ability to work 14 with his own staff.
And his own staff had worked with 15 b7(c)or years.
So because of that, I think it was a 16 difficult relationship.
17 If he wanted to get tough with them or he 18 wanted to follow certain things, I think it would have 19 been difficult in the sense they would complain to (C)
I IC 20 and to other managers who worked foxII(IiI And it was 21 just difficult for him to work in that situation.
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(b)(7)(C)
Do you remember 23 any people specifically complaining about him and how 24 hard it was to work with him?
25 (b)(7)(C)
.No I don't have the, they NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 were more clerical, and I did not have, they were not in my realm (b)(7)(C)
Right.
(b)(7)(C) 7 of discussions with my, in the areas that I interfaced with people.
So I would not have routinely worked with some of the clerical staff.
(b)(7)(C)
I But you remember them saying something to the effect thatI (b)(7)(C)
Jas hard to get along with and hard to work with?
(b)(7)(C)
IYes.
(b)(7)(C)
About how many times did you hear that?
(b)(7)(C)
I Maybe three, four.
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
(b)(7)(C)
But I heard the most detail fro{IEc7 I She used to vent that just so, just eating her the w ole time to do this kind of. stuff.
And then she read me some of the stuff that, you know, that she had to deal with.
And I said, well, just keep good logs, and don't say anything.
Just try to work with him and be professional.
I(b)(7)(C)
I haven't met (7 E.
But, you know, how is she as an individual to work for?
You know, everyone has a reputation of NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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being some sort of boss.
2 C(b)(7)(c) IYes.
3 (b)(7)(C)
Whether good, bad 4
or indifferent.
5(b)(7)(C)
Well, I think you'll probably 6
hear the gamut about E
]c She's a long time employee 7
there.
She's been with San Onofre and Southern 8
California Edison for many years, has moved up the 9
ranks.
She probably has overt (b)(7)(C)
I in there.
10 And she moved up from working in 11 to where she is now.
And she's very much, very 12 company oriented.
And so consequently she, you know, 13 doesn't take a
lot of, she'll take matters of 14 discipline into her hands that need to be done.
And 15 put people on disciplinary measures if necessary.
16 1 don't thin s7)(C) the only person that 17 got up there.
If, in fact, I don't know, even like I 18 said, don't know for sure, but I believe it was going 19 in that direction.
She had others who were on PIPs.
20 And then there are others.
21 I was talking to a (b)7)C)
I 22 don't remember.
She's aI (b)(7)(C)
N 23 and I really won't remember her name, who thinkslcji 24 you know, is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
25 So there are some managers that think she's such a NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 wonderful person and a wonderful manager.
Then there are others who will disparage that her capabilities, and very difficult, and she doesn't interface with (inaudible) on the staff and has a dysfunctional organization.
(b)(7)(C)
What do you recall from the day thaF (b)(7)(C) kas terminated? You sat in.
(b)()(C)Yes.
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C) informed him that he was terminated.
(b)(7)(C)
Yes.
I (b)(7)(C)
Anything else
.1 m
occur?
Was --
I (b)(7)(C)
J No.
She
- said, it's unfortunate but today, you know, we're terminating your employment.
You just haven't fit the (inaudible) requirements.
- And, you know, we tried to work with you and you haven't improved performance.
You haven't met these things.
So therefore, based on that you're being terminated today.
You'll be mailed a check.
Any questions, concerns, whatever.
And he goes, no.
She says, anything?
No.
So she said, okay well, (b)(7)(C)
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
I He didn't push back at all?
He didn't say anything, you know, going back toI (b)(7)(C)
-in her office?
He didn't contest the termination?
(He didn't contest.
In fact, I was a bit surprised.
I expected him to be explosive and saying well, this is totally unfair, you know, you'll hear from me or whatever.
But he didn't.
He just sat there and said, yes.
Didn't say a word.
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C) you know, to vent or whatever he wanted to do because I wasn't his manager.
So I figured if, you know, he wanted to say something NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 he could.
He didn't.
(b)(7)(C)
(b)(7)(C)
And that's how he left it.
So it was quite a surprise how quiet, how non-combative it was.
And no statement at all.
So I came back and [7cEjsked me how it went.
And I told her that it was a non-event.
He said nothing.
I said, of course, what that usually means to me is he's probably going to seek an attorney.
And he'll probably file a complaint with NRC.
That's the usual route that happens when they're quiet like this.
So I said, so buckle up.
(b)(7)(C)
During any time in this whole process, you know, we've been talking about the times that you were dealing wit(b7c)\\
And ther (b)(7)(C) as complaining to you about
(
work performance and his attitude.
And then on the day that he was terminated, were you ever aware ofl (b)(7)(C) aising a NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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23 1
concern about employees of his, or subordinates of his (b)(7) 2 being told by management in the (c) department about, 3
if you're going to raise any concerns, raise them to 4
management first before going to ECP, or to the NRC, 5
or anyone else.
Did you hear any sort of concern like 6
that?
7(b)(7)(C)
J Where he was saying that he 8
was not given that prerogative?
9 1
(b)(7)(C) jNo.
He had heard 10 from employees, specifically employees from the 11 department 12 (b)(7)(C)
Yes.
13 (b)(7)(C) clerical staff 14 15 (b)(7)(C)
Yes, yes.
16 (b)(7)(C)
J front line 17 supervisors.
That they were told by one of the 18
- managers, I believe it was (b)(7)(C) 7I-19(b)(7)(C)
That's the person I
was 20 trying to tell you about.
21 (b)(7)(C)
Right.
22 (b)(7)(C)
That's the lady I was trying 23 to tell you about.
24 (b)(7)(C)
They had some 25 type of meeting and (b)(7)(C) informed them that, hey NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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24 1
if you ever have any concerns don't go to (b)(7)(C) 2 you know, don't go to anyone else.
But come to us 3
first so we can resolve it.
4 And he took that as meaning well, you can 5
not go to ECP.
You can not go to the NRC.
You can't 6
go to anyone but your management to resolve an issue.
7 And, you know, he raised that --
8 (b)(7)(C)
No.
It was, there was one 9
thing that was totally stated at the plant b(7C 10 (b)(7)(C)
J That all the plant managers and 11 everybody else, we've heard time and time again, right 12 now or at the time, I won't go there, this C) 13 is going to drive me crazy.
14 But we always heard the same thing.
The 15 same speech is that you have avenues.
We would prefer 16 that you speak to your direct supervisor.
And if you 17 don't have an answer feel free to talk to the manager.
18 Talk to the Vice President.
19 And certainly you can talk to the NRC at 20 any time that you feel a concern.
But we prefer that 21 we go through channels first so we can hear the 22 concerns and resolve them.
23 If you don't feel
- adequate, talk to 24 another manager.
Talk to whatever it is.
But please, 25 if you have any safety concerns, please raise them NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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because we want to address them.
2 So I do believe that, you know, that at 3
the plant there was no attempt by senior management to 4
withhold anything for plant safety.
Because, I mean, 5
they might have been not that great to people, but 6
they certainly were worried about the plant safety.
7 (b)(7)(C)
Iokay.
8 (b)(7)(C)
Oh, (b)(7)(C) -
a+ s the 9
at the time.
10 (b)(7)(C)
Oh, he was?
11 (b)(7)(C) 12 L
(b)(7)(C)
That' s the 13 name I'm trying to remember.
14 1
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
Do you 15 think someone could have misunderstood anyone in 16 management when they make those requests to the rank 17 and file?
You know, come to us and we'll try to 18 resolve it.
And people take that as meaning well, you 19 know, we can only go to our management, we can't go to 20 anyone else like NRC, ECP.
21 (b)(7)(C)
- well, you
- know, there's 22 always a potential that someone could misinterpret.
23 Although, there was all hands meetings.
We had stand 24 ups.
I conducted many stand ups myself where we had 25 these Tuesdays, and we had numbers of things on NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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employee concerns, results of it.
2 And we were supposed to make sure that we 3
had the party line and we posted it.
If you have a 4
concern please come to the Employee Concerns Office.
5 They were hosting an open house so you know who they 6
are.
7 You know, you'd have to either never walk 8
out of a welding pit, or never leave a containment, or 9
somehow be here and you couldn't, I think that was 10 broadcast throughout the plant that there was an 11 Employee Concerns Program.
12 There was a prerogative.
The NRC numbers 13 are posted.
The resident inspectors are there.
I 14
- mean, it's, wherever you go you would see it.
So it 15 would be unusual to hear, considering the number of 16 times that we had all hands meetings.
They had them 17 in the tent up on top there.
18 We had, I don't know, they spent so much 19 time on it, that it would be, you know, maybe because 20 I was in management, maybe, you know, that's the case.
21 But I think it would be very unusual.
22 Now I do know that there are pockets in 23 the (b)(7)(C) where they had problems with 24 supervisors that were difficult.
- And, in fact, said 25 do it my way or it's the highway.
But that's a NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W.
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.0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 separate issue that involveq()7(
I (b)(7)(C)
I Okay.
Were you ever aware that he went to the ECP just before he was terminated?
(b)(7)(C)
No.
(b)(7)(C)
Maybe a couple of weeks before?
Are you aware that he ever went to the, well, until I contacted you, were you ever aware that he went to the NRC and made complaints?
(
lNo.
No, I'm sure that, I'm not sure but I'm almost positive that he would have kept that silent, and gone to the NRC on his own without informing management that he was going to do that.
(b)(7)(C)
Okay.
- Well, I
appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me this afternoon.
I certainly appreciate it.
You know, you were working there at the time.
You're familiar with all the parties involved.
(b)(7)(C)
Yes.
I (b)(7)(C)
Is there something I
didn't ask you about this afternoon involving (b)(7)(C) hat you want to add for the record?
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 (b)(7)(C)
No.
I think we, you know, given the limited relationship I had with him and the few interactions, there's not much more I can add outside of the facts I stated, the termination process and procedure, and the fact that I had no interaction with him.
So I don't have anything else beyond that.
I(b)(7)(C) okay.
have I
or any other NRC representative threatened you in any manner or offered you any rewards in return for this statement?
(b)(7)(C)
INo.
(b)(7)(C)
Have you given this statement freely and voluntarily?
(b)(7)(C)
Yes (b)(7)(C)1 At this time the interview will be concluded.
The time is approximately 2:10 p.m.
(Whereupon, the interview in the above-entitled matter was concluded at 2:10 p.m.)
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CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the attached proceedings before the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the matter of:
Name of Proceeding: Interview of I
(b)(7)(C)'
Docket Number:
4-2011-059 Location:
(b)(7)(C)
I were held as herein appears, and that this is the original transcript thereof for the file of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission taken by me and, thereafter reduced to typewriting by me or under the direction of the court reporting company, and that the transcript is a true and accurate record of the foregoing proceedings as recorded on tape(s) provided by the NRC.
(b)(7)(C)
Official Transcriber Neal R. Gross & Co.,
Inc.
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